It takes dedication from students to earn a spot on the Princeton Review’s top party school list – a dedication to drinking.

Every year, the Princeton Review surveys 65,000 students nationwide. Based on questions relating to alcohol and drug use, the amount of time spent studying outside of class and popularity of greek systems, they compile the top 20 party schools in the United States.

Topping this year’s list was Indiana University-Bloomington. IU officials are skeptical about their status as the nation’s top party school, however. According to a USA Today report, the university said that they have toughened alcohol policies since the 1998 alcohol-related death of a student.

Although the Princeton Review credits IU as the top party school, the IU Hoosiers were nowhere to be found on Playboy Magazine’s 2002 Party school list, which was crowned by the Arizona State Sundevils.

No. 1-ranked ASU also happens to be home to several clips of girls flashing cameras and making out with each other on the notorious “Girls Gone Wild” videos.

Playboy compiled its 2002 university rankings based on e-mail submissions from students. The students were asked to give reasons why their school is the best place to party.

Not only did they consider alcohol and drug use to rank universities, but also the number of arrests made at parties, access to other top party spots and how “hot” their female co-eds are. The associate editor of Playboy Allison Lundgren said in a press release that the more attention that they receive from one school, the more consideration they will give to that school to be ranked as a top party school.

Playboy also said in a press release that they weren’t just looking for a party school, but a well-rounded university.

“We want a school where people party hard and study hard as well,” Lundgren stated.

But the e-mails they have posted on their site don’t tend to highlight academics.

One student from No. 2-ranked California State University-Chico wrote to Playboy, “The day I moved into the dorms, 22 flyers were slipped under my door telling me where to find the hottest co-eds looking to take me home. That night, I didn’t sleep because my arm was stuck underneath the girl I lost my virginity to.”

An Ohio State University student wrote, “The parties never stop. Girls drop their panties on every possible occasion.”

The Princeton Review goes even further with its rankings.

It also ranks specific aspects of the party school criteria. They include “Reefer Madness,” “Lots of Beer,” “Lots of Hard Liquor” and “Major Frat and Sorority Scene.” On its Web site, it issues a “warning” about top party school students who may not be the “party type.”

“Not that we want to spoil the surprise, but dry, mellow, studious types should think twice before attending Indiana University – Bloomington,” the Web site stated.

Majoring in the party scene

NIU gone missing from top party school list in three different surveys

By Kristin Cavarretta

Staff Reporter

It takes dedication from students to earn a spot on the Princeton Review’s top party school list – a dedication to drinking.

Every year, the Princeton Review surveys 65,000 students nationwide. Based on questions relating to alcohol and drug use, the amount of time spent studying outside of class and popularity of greek systems, they compile the top 20 party schools in the United States.

The Party Scene

Heather Myles, center, of Ohio University, dances the night away with friends at Zubar in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

KRT Direct Photo

Top 5 Places

Princeton Review Top 5 Party Schools

1. Indiana University-Bloomington

2. Clemson University

3. University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa

4. Penn State University Park

5. University of Florida

Source: www.princetonreview.com

Princeton Review Top 5 “Stone Cold Sober” Schools

1. Brigham Young University

2. Wheaton College

3. United States Air Force Academy

4. United States Naval Academy

5. United States Coast Guard Academy

Source: www.princetonreview.com

Playboy Magazine Top 5 Party Schools

1. Arizona State University

2. California State University-Chico

3. Rollins University

4. Louisiana State University

5. West Virginia University

Source: www.playboy.com

Topping this year’s list was Indiana University-Bloomington. IU officials are skeptical about their status as the nation’s top party school, however. According to a USA Today report, the university said that they have toughened alcohol policies since the 1998 alcohol-related death of a student.

Although the Princeton Review credits IU as the top party school, the IU Hoosiers were nowhere to be found on Playboy Magazine’s 2002 Party school list, which was crowned by the Arizona State Sundevils.

No. 1-ranked ASU also happens to be home to several clips of girls flashing cameras and making out with each other on the notorious “Girls Gone Wild” videos.

Playboy compiled its 2002 university rankings based on e-mail submissions from students. The students were asked to give reasons why their school is the best place to party.

Not only did they consider alcohol and drug use to rank universities, but also the number of arrests made at parties, access to other top party spots and how “hot” their female co-eds are. The associate editor of Playboy Allison Lundgren said in a press release that the more attention that they receive from one school, the more consideration they will give to that school to be ranked as a top party school.

Playboy also said in a press release that they weren’t just looking for a party school, but a well-rounded university.

“We want a school where people party hard and study hard as well,” Lundgren stated.

But the e-mails they have posted on their site don’t tend to highlight academics.

One student from No. 2-ranked California State University-Chico wrote to Playboy, “The day I moved into the dorms, 22 flyers were slipped under my door telling me where to find the hottest co-eds looking to take me home. That night, I didn’t sleep because my arm was stuck underneath the girl I lost my virginity to.”

An Ohio State University student wrote, “The parties never stop. Girls drop their panties on every possible occasion.”

The Princeton Review goes even further with its rankings.

It also ranks specific aspects of the party school criteria. They include “Reefer Madness,” “Lots of Beer,” “Lots of Hard Liquor” and “Major Frat and Sorority Scene.” On its Web site, it issues a “warning” about top party school students who may not be the “party type.”

“Not that we want to spoil the surprise, but dry, mellow, studious types should think twice before attending Indiana University – Bloomington,” the Web site stated.

Where does NIU fit in?

NIU may not be ranked by the Princeton Review or Playboy Magazine as a wild and crazy university, and it might not have “Girls Gone Wild” knocking on DeKalb’s door, but NIU students say that doesn’t mean that the Huskies don’t party.

Junior deaf education major Beth Dominguez said it doesn’t matter if a school is ranked or not as a party school.

“At every school, there are always going to be the party people who will find a way to party anywhere,” Dominguez said.

Although she has heard NIU has an image of being a party school, Dominguez hasn’t found that to be true, but she said she still finds plenty of ways to party.

Freshman electrical engineering major Bill Jackson said if you aren’t Greek it is harder to find stuff to do, but he also has no problems finding his own ways of partying.

Some students said schools in warm weather climates are more apt to be considered party schools, but that theory is squashed by schools like Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and University of Wisconsin-Madison, both of which made Playboy’s list.

Stephanie Jurs, sophomore political science major, said that the atmosphere in Carbondale is much different than NIU, which is why it is considered more of a party school than NIU.

“Carbondale felt boring – there was nothing to do but party,” Jurs said. “It doesn’t seem to have the unified, coherent atmosphere that NIU has.”

Packin’ it up

NIU students have mixed feelings about why it may not be ranked as a party school, and some believe that NIU is considered by many to be a suitcase school.

Student Association Director of Greek affairs Mike Evans said that it seems that students say they go home on the weekends because there is nothing to do, but there is nothing to do because people go home on the weekends.

“There are enough alternatives,” Evans said. “That is just an excuse.”

Dominguez said she doesn’t see the party scene being much different here if we weren’t a suitcase school.

Jurs said although the partying might increase if we weren’t a suitcase school, that factor alone is not enough to make us “one of those huge party schools.” In fact, she thinks that being a suitcase school has its benefits and might even help students focus on their academics.

Do Greeks have more fun?

One aspect of the Princeton Review party school ranking was the popularity of Greek life. But does that make a party school? Some agree and others disagree.

Evans said that here at NIU, Greeks provide one of the only social outlets on campus. Although it seems that schools with huge Greek systems are more party schools, he doesn’t think that increasing the Greek system would change things. Rather than increasing the number of chapters on campus, he would like to see more growth within the chapters.

Dominguez said although the Greeks on this campus do provide most social opportunities, some of the parties are “selective” as far as who can attend.

Jackson said it is difficult to find out about and get into some Greek parties unless you are in a fraternity or a sorority.

They all agreed, however, that if you are not Greek, it doesn’t mean that you don’t party. You might just have to work a little bit harder to find out where they are.

Is recognition even worth it?

The American Medical Association believes that the top party school ranking should be removed completely from the Princeton Review because it “gives college students a skewed perception about ‘partying’ on campus.”

Richard Yoast, director of the AMA’s Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, said in an AMA press release that “The Princeton Review should be ashamed to publish something for students and parents that fuels the false notion that alcohol is central to the college experience and that ignores the dangerous consequences of high-risk drinking.”

Not only that, but the AMA says that appearing on the party school list can hurt the reputation of universities that offer a quality education. Students who are academically focused may steer clear of universities that are considered to be party schools for fear that they will be distracted from their studies.

Dominguez said that while the reputation of a university may be hurt by such a label, that doesn’t mean the academic quality of the education has to be compromised, and a classification as a party school would not deter her from attending a “party” university.

Jurs, however, said that since she is very focused on her academics, she doesn’t think she would want to be at a place that houses such a party atmosphere.

“I am reminded of those awful Girls Gone Wild videos when I think of a party school,” Jurs said. “We are not [in college] to drink and party and flash people.”