Empty vodka containers, Budweiser 40s and Mike’s Hard Lemonade bottles filled the rooms of the Student Recreation Center on Thursday night as more than 1,000 students participated in the staged event “Party House 2001.”
Several campus groups, including Greek Life and the Office of Student Life, helped organize the mock party. Its aim was to show students the consequences of irresponsible partying and expose them to resources available at the University.
Between 8:30 p.m. and 1 a.m., organizers led students in groups of 30 through different rooms that presented skits dealing with issues such as alcohol poisoning, MIPs, fake identification, bias and sexual assault.
In one room, a boy drank too much on his “21-er” and ended up at the hospital. Next door, the Eugene Police Department crashed a party and passed out more than $1,000 in MIP fines. Down the hall, a girl threw up in a fraternity bathroom.
Lining the hallways, some partygoers danced on chairs to booming electronic music, a few laughed and talked in groups and others passed out on floors and couches.
Jackie Reed, one of the lead coordinators of the event, said the staged party was meant to inform new students about experiences they may have in college and also show them campus organizations and resources.
“We wanted to introduce them to the party atmosphere on college campuses so they can think about these situations before they happen and what they should do,” she said. “It also showed them places they can go to.”
Dave Crouse, another coordinator, added that organizers did not aim to deter people from partying, but wanted them to be cautious.
“We’re not saying don’t do that, but be aware of the consequences,” he said.
Freshman Bryan Donovan said that while some scenarios showed him the hefty fines partying can lead to, most of the information was not new to him.
“It’s nothing I haven’t heard before,” he said. “I’ve seen it all happen before. But it will make me think about it more when I party.”
The skit that appeared to grab most people’s attention was the “MIP” room. Officers from the EPD and Department of Public Safety marched into the party as people stiffly lined up against the wall. Students had to take sobriety tests and both underage drinkers and 21-year-old suppliers received expensive tickets.
“This is just to give you an idea of what you will have to deal with and different fines you will have to pay,” DPS officer Sean Strahon said afterwards. “Fines for MIPs are $250, misrepresentation of identification is $265 and open containers are $115. So let’s make some good choices.”