Party school? Not a big deal

IU administrators were up in arms last Tuesday when the Princeton Review named IU the No. 1 "party school" in the nation. With the University's recent efforts to reduce alcohol abuse, it is not surprising that they were less than pleased with the attention. But the University is blowing the whole issue out of proportion.\nCollege is as much about learning academically as it is about growing socially. The freedom of college gives freshmen and all students the chance to grow up, and it also introduces them to the usage and sometimes abuse of alcohol. \nThe average freshman is 18 years old; the average senior is 21 years old. The mixture of underage and of-age students makes underage drinking accessible and desirable. Classes are not structured by age, and neither is partying or drinking. IU administrators have to understand that they will never get rid of drinking. Alcohol has its place and time, and partying does not automatically translate into alcohol abuse. Everything needs to be taken in moderation and students need to be given the chance to let go and have fun.\nPartying is a large part of the college experience, especially at a large state school like IU. When alumni return to campus, they go to Nick's English Hut. Many students' grandparents still talk about The Regulator, a Bloomington bar frequented by students during the 1940s and '50s. When seniors leave IU's campus in May, they will remember the 2002 basketball team's road to the NCAA championship. Watching the game with friends at Kilroys, Sports and at home will be memories IU students will hopefully never forget. \nIU is known as much more than a party school, and the ranking says nothing about its value as an academically sound institution. Ideally, all students are taking full advantage of classes, professors, lectures and cultural events. Hopefully, they are also making new friends, getting to know Bloomington and learning how to live in a world free of parental restrictions. Part of growing up is learning how to handle liquor. \nOur current IU Student Association executives ran on the motto "Work hard, play hard." All students need to learn to balance work and play because these two worlds will constantly come into conflict throughout life. \nStudents leave IU with an excellent education, but the memories that will stay with them will not be of sitting in class and writing papers. Students will remember the good times with friends, hanging out and relaxing. Alcohol is a substance students will confront not only in college but also in the outside world. Learning is growing from mistakes and realizing your limits, and college is a chance for students to learn about alcohol, get used to alcohol and get over the attraction to it.