Every Monday morning, the buzz of what everyone did over the weekend circulates my freshmen filled classes.  While so-and-so explains to what’s-his-face how wasted she got on Saturday, I am quietly reliving the movie and cup of hot chocolate I was with on the same night.  I go to a party school.  That’s fine and dandy, except for the fact I don’t party.  Alcohol?  Nope.  Drugs?  Never.  Going out on a Saturday night to some place other than dining?  Never in my wildest dreams.
Let’s get one thing straight: the University of Oregon is a party school.  I’m not just saying this to add dramatics to my piece.  Our lovely place of learning is actually nationally recognized as a party hot spot.  According to the Princeton Review, we were ranked 19th for biggest party schools in the United States for the year 2014.  And in case you were wondering, a party school is simply a school that has a reputation for heavy drug and/or alcohol use.
Now let’s get another thing straight: I do not believe I am all high and mighty because I do not party, drink, smoke or any of those things associated with college weekends out.  I am not writing from atop of a high horse.  I’m just here to shed light on the other side, give a voice to the people who don’t stay up past two in the morning.  The people who spend their evenings with a good book or watching the gang get together on Friends.  According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism – also referred to as the NIAAA – four out of five students enrolled in college consume alcohol.  I’m here to speak for the 20 percent who don’t.
I remember the first time I realized how big the party culture at this school was like it was just yesterday, which it practically was since I’ve only been attending UO since September.  I was just starting to get to know people in my classes, and they were always sharing how “turnt” they were over the weekend or planning to get over the next weekend.  Fellow classmates were even going out on school nights.  School nights!  I did not understand how everyone was able to party and sleep at the same time, let alone get any school work done.
On Sunday mornings I enjoy going for an early run around campus.  No run is complete without seeing students walking back to their respective halls in obvious party attire.  I am forced to reflect on how different our lives are.  Their night is ending, while my day is just beginning.  Quite strange if you ask me.
Attending a party school, while most would argue is fun and part of the college experience, can also be dangerous.  I’m sure you’re thinking, “She’s just a freshman–she has no idea what she’s talking about.”  Well, I have numbers on my side.  I’m not just a freshman; I’m a freshman who knows how to Google stuff.  The NIAAA notes on their website that about 1,825 college students die each year as a result of alcohol-related injuries.  They also note that 150,000 college students each year begin developing alcohol-related health problems.  Those numbers mean something about college and partying.  What can begin as having a good time and making memories can be destructive and possibly deadly.
But the main issue here is that party culture and living in the setting of a party school affects everyone.  There is always the constant threat of peer pressure.  I have been in too many situations where people can not accept that partying, drinking or doing drugs just does not interest me.  While I respect their choices of how to spend their time, a majority of the time they do not respect mine.
And that’s my issue with attending a party school.  I can look past the loud, drunken conversations right outside my door at four in the morning, but I will not look past the peer pressure placed on me and people like me.  Let us enjoy our tame nights in.  Please don’t judge us, we certainly don’t judge you.