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Party Schools -- Years Of Fun Mostly At Other People's Expense, But Not Much Learning
Forbes ^ | March 7, 2014 | George Leef

Posted on 03/14/2014 12:30:02 PM PDT by reaganaut1

Almost as much awaited as the yearly U.S. News & World Report college rankings is the annual Princeton Review ranking of the top “party schools.” By Princeton Review’s analysis, the top party school this year is (drumroll)…the University of Iowa. Congratulations, Hawkeyes. You beat out the University of California at Santa Barbara, the University of Illinois, and West Virginia University in a close race.

Quite a lot has been written about the phenomenon of the party school, which is to say, a college or university where a high percentage of the students engage in a great deal of partying. Murray Sperber’s Beer and Circus got into it (although the main focus was on the big-time sports environment; the two go hand in hand), Craig Brandon advised parents to avoid the booze-soaked atmosphere of party schools in his book The Five-Year Party, and last year’s Paying for the Party by Elizabeth Armstrong and Laura Hamilton examined the effects that a major state flagship school’s sports and party mania has on different kinds of students enrolled there.

Now there is a new book on this distressing subject, Party School: Crime, Campus, and Community by sociology professor Karen Weiss.

(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 03/14/2014 12:30:02 PM PDT by reaganaut1
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To: reaganaut1

“The University of Iowa” huh, I don’t “get it”, Iowa City is not that big. Someone from E/ Iowa PLEASE enlighten me.


2 posted on 03/14/2014 12:33:15 PM PDT by US Navy Vet (Go Packers! Go Rockies! Go Boston Bruins! See, I'm "Diverse"!)
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To: reaganaut1

I graduated from “Midwestern University” in 1981. It was most definitely a party school and I say so from personal knowledge. After graduation, I went to law school. I deliberately did not attend “Midwestern University’s” law school, even though I had been admitted there, because of all the partying, and that so many of my friends were still there. It was probably the most mature decision I’ve ever made.


3 posted on 03/14/2014 12:36:29 PM PDT by henkster (I don't like bossy women telling me what words I can't use.)
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To: US Navy Vet

Dude, U of I has been in the top 10 for party schools since the 60’s, at least. You obviously have no idea of what the place is like.


4 posted on 03/14/2014 12:38:25 PM PDT by Free Vulcan (Vote Republican! You can vote Democrat when you're dead...)
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To: US Navy Vet

Not much else to do in Iowa except party.


5 posted on 03/14/2014 12:39:19 PM PDT by Rennes Templar
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To: Free Vulcan

“Dude”, I am from C. Iowa and Now live in W. Iowa. My mother spent 4 months at University of Iowa Hospital in mid 90s and from what I saw it didn’t look very big to me. When I think NCAA Div 1 I think ISU/Ames and Nebraska/Lincoln.


6 posted on 03/14/2014 12:41:52 PM PDT by US Navy Vet (Go Packers! Go Rockies! Go Boston Bruins! See, I'm "Diverse"!)
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To: US Navy Vet

When all of the sex, beer, and dope is within easy reach, what other element is missing?


7 posted on 03/14/2014 12:42:01 PM PDT by G Larry (There's the Beef!)
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To: Rennes Templar
Not much else to do in Iowa except party.

Cow tipping.

8 posted on 03/14/2014 12:42:05 PM PDT by henkster (I don't like bossy women telling me what words I can't use.)
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To: reaganaut1

One of my alma maters. Top Country Club school in the nation

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/09/college-of-your-wildest-dreams_n_4508077.html


9 posted on 03/14/2014 12:43:47 PM PDT by AppyPappy
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To: henkster

What about corn?


10 posted on 03/14/2014 12:44:39 PM PDT by AppyPappy
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To: US Navy Vet

I really don’t know what to say to that. Guess ignorance is bliss.


11 posted on 03/14/2014 12:49:13 PM PDT by Free Vulcan (Vote Republican! You can vote Democrat when you're dead...)
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To: reaganaut1
“Partying” is a natural part of humanity and brings people together. I'd say all top entrepreneurs and business leaders I've met were very fun at a party.

I was always somewhat successful but antisocial. My life really took off after I went to Penn State and broke my social barriers.

Excessive booze, drugs and sex are obviously bad but moderate amounts give you a better understanding of the world and why it is so.

12 posted on 03/14/2014 2:56:56 PM PDT by varyouga
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To: reaganaut1
At West Virginia, Weiss states, about 25 percent of the students are “light partiers” who usually drink less than five drinks per night no more than once per week; 40 percent are “heavy partiers” who usually have five to eight drinks and go out two to three nights per week; and 14 percent are “extreme partiers” who consume nine or more drinks each time they “party,” which they do four or more nights in a typical week.

By that definition, I guess my supposedly "elite" east coast alma mater was a party school. Just about everyone I knew went out a least 2 nights a week and drank heavily. A significant plurality added Thursday night to the mix to make it 3 nights. However, there was serious studying going on Sunday through Thursday. I don't remember anyone who wasn't competitive about getting good grades. My idea of a party school is one where a sizable number of students are going out 4 or 5 nights a week, missing a lot of classes, and just not that serious about school.

13 posted on 03/14/2014 3:27:29 PM PDT by Defiant (Let the Tea Party win, and we will declare peace on the American people and go home.)
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To: Defiant

Right. Thursdays were dollar pitchers at the Whiskey One and quarter drafts at the Rusty Nail. Who could say no?


14 posted on 03/14/2014 3:46:58 PM PDT by ez (Muslims do not play well with others.)
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To: reaganaut1

My school was the number one party school two years running before I arrived... Potsdam State, Potsdam Ny. The last beer blast my band played had 700 kegs, 8000 people and that doesn’t count the fraternity after party.


15 posted on 03/14/2014 3:50:43 PM PDT by ez (Muslims do not play well with others.)
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To: US Navy Vet
“The University of Iowa” huh, I don’t “get it”,

Obviously you haven't met my azzhule neighbor, an alum of that fine center of learning.

16 posted on 03/14/2014 3:50:45 PM PDT by workerbee (The President of the United States is DOMESTIC ENEMY #1!)
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To: ez

Not me. Although our pitchers were $3. It worked out to 50 cents a beer.


17 posted on 03/14/2014 6:56:02 PM PDT by Defiant (Let the Tea Party win, and we will declare peace on the American people and go home.)
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