IU was once named the “No. 1 Party School” in the nation by the Princeton Review based on student reporting of alcohol and drug use, number of hours spent studying outside of class and the presence of sororities and fraternities on campus.
More than ten years later, in 2014, IU didn’t make the list.
Despite the lower ranking, parents might still worry that exposure to partying, alcohol and drugs are part of many students’ college experience. However, it doesn’t have to be that way at IU.
“This school is diverse in many ways, and the character of its students is one of them,” former student Danny Alexander said. “There are plenty of students who do not engage in drinking and partying while still having fun.”
Alexander pointed to the variety of clubs, sports and activities available on campus as evidence that there are students out there with other interests.
He suggested new students look for ways to get involved on campus as a means of meeting new people and finding alternatives to drinking.
“There are many things to do on campus and around Bloomington that don’t involve drinking,” he said. “Join a club or become a part of a community floor in a residence hall. I personally like to go to Rachael’s Café on Third Street and enjoy free music.”
Former student Tara Harr was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She said greek life is a great way to get involved on campus and do service work. She also explained that being in a sorority or fraternity isn’t all about the parties.
“My sorority put together a kickball tournament in order to support the Ronald McDonald House,” she said. “From doing things like this, I not only got to meet more people in the greek community, but also people outside the greek community.”
If a student’s interested in athletics, IU offers more than 20 different intramural sports. A number of students also choose to participate in Little 500, an annual cycling race.
Harr was captain of her sorority’s Little 500 bike team. She said it kept her busy since she was continuously planning things surrounding the women’s race.
“I was constantly planning and preparing for the race,” Harr said. “I recruited girls to be on the team, made workout plans, scheduled team meetings, ordered and updated equipment. It was one of the most exciting and rewarding things I have done at IU.”
Similar to Alexander, former student Lauren Knueven advised new students to take advantage of the variety of other events occurring both on campus and in Bloomington.
“There are free movies at the Union,” she said. “And sometimes IU sponsors cultural events on weekend nights.”
Both students emphasized the importance of finding good friends at the beginning of the year, since this is when the majority of new students establish the habits and relationships that will last through their first year.
“No matter what school you go to, there will always be a few students who drink and do drugs, but I think it’s a lot smaller number than people think,” Knueven said. “Most of my friends that I have met at IU don’t do any of these things, and I’ve never felt pressured to do so here.”
Samantha Felix contributed to this report.
