ISB 200. ATL 150. College Parties 101. Yes, a campus organization is living the dream job of almost every student - studying parties.
Well, almost. Off-campus parties are the focus of a new study by MSU's American Campus and Alcohol Team. The study will concentrate on safety and health concerns at parties in at least 16 college towns nationwide.
It is unfortunate that parties have to be studied in the first place. The purpose of parties is to kick back, relax and be social every once in a while. It's sad that off-campus partying and safety issues have grown to be such a concern that the leaders of 16 college towns want to participate in this study.
But off-campus parties don't have to be a problem. If cities and students worked together to ensure safety and still have a good time, out-of-control parties wouldn't be an issue, and a study such as this would be completely unnecessary.
Getting a college town and its young, enthusiastic residents to cooperate is a difficult task but is worth the effort.
If city leaders and student bodies made some behavioral and structural changes, off-campus parties wouldn't be a problem.
The first issue to be dealt with is the location of celebrations. Students leave campus to party because there is no common place of gathering at which they can socialize or celebrate. As the night rolls on, consumption of alcohol and energy levels rise while inhibitions decrease, causing initially innocent gatherings to quickly spin out of control.
Witness the March 28-30 disturbances - a large populous of students was concentrated in Cedar Village and then many dispersed into the city streets and onto campus, causing $40,000 in damage.
If there had been a common place for students of all ages to celebrate without getting out of control, the city would have saved itself a lot of money.
Cities also could try not bullying students into behaving. The pre-riot show of force by East Lansing police last March was unnecessary.
More recent scare tactics have included the new East Lansing noise ordinance and the Michigan legislative proposal to serve jail time to minors in possession.
Other moves for enforcing positive and safe student behavior would be for city shopowners to stay open later, allowing alternative places for would-be partyers to socialize. Liquor stores might join the cause by limiting alcohol and keg sales.
If cities can be as nonconfrontational as possible in their handling of student affairs, students will be more likely to respond in a positive manner.
Students also need to do their part by making responsible choices when celebrating. They also can make sure their house is up to city code and register parties ahead of time with police.
Off-campus parties are not just a "phenomenon" waiting for scientific study.
Each party involves two sides - the city and the students - and if both work together to ensure peace and safety, studies such as this will be unnecessary in the future.
Until then, get ready to be under the microscope.
