You have got it right. This university does not offer a "university experience" as you'd know and expect as there is hardly any nightlife in the town.
There is one club, but as they're the only ones they can get away with horrible service. The student union is likewise a big joke, even if it is cheap, as the dance floor at night is the university cafeteria by the day and you have to pay to get in. Paying to dance in a canteen just makes me laugh. There was an "events manager" but he was recently sacked, probably because he only went out to get with the students. He was also a joke as he hyped up terribad events.
The entire town, even the church, is owned by the university. There is simply no variety in scene. I visited my housemates hometown last weekend and we were shocked by how much fun we were having. All of my happy memories from my university time have all been in fact outside university. It's a bit sad really.
It's us, kids at the local Latin school, or old people. The university is currently buying so much private housing to keep up with the demand (only 1000+ students after all, so it won't take much to increase it) that I doubt they can keep up with student demands. I have a friend who moved into such a house via the university and still has no internet... five weeks into term.