Sunday, February 10, 2008

When Is Being a Top 5 Party School A Bad Thing?


Very often when I go out to Frats or house parties it seems like
people are looking for trouble. Over the past weekend random people
have attempted to start fights with friends of mine over dumb things
like the line for the keg. What is the point of this? Coming from
Philadelphia I know that it is not worth it to get into a fight over
something as dumb as who gets their beer cup filled first. The past
night my neighbor was pushed down a flight of stairs at a house party
for accidently breaking a window. These actions are negative for all
parties involved. I think many of the students at WVU can say that
they or someone they know have been in a situation where trouble has
been started due to a miniscule event. I believe that the frat
atmosphere does encourage an attitude of many males attempting to
assert their toughness. Part of this could be due to the melting pot
that college creates. Many people from different places and most of us
are proud of where we come from. Overall I would like to see more of the students at WVU at with maturity in these issues and realize that all of us have a lot to lose.

-- Greenwood

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, what do you expect? Your putting yourself into a situation that obviously isnt the smartest. If these frat boys are so ridiculous with starting something out of nothing, why do you go? If you continually see trouble at these places why go back? Rather than go and hope something doesnt happen, how bout you just not go and then know nothing will? Another thing, (that totally sucks about your friend getting pushed down stairs), but how the hell do you break a glass window accidently? Last time I checked they are pretty sturdy. I think you bring up a couple of good points though. The first being that people need to show maturity (like having the maturity to realize they are breaking the law? or have the maturity to realize that drinking till you vomit on yourself isnt cool?). Second good point you made was about pride (its not hard to figure out that you put a group of guys together who dont know each other + beer + competition for girls = trouble. But pride isnt always a bad thing, like say perhaps someone had enough pride in their character that they didnt feel the need to poison themselves for others acceptance?). Your final good point was you have a lot to lose by going (so much so that I dont understand why you would. Lets weigh the costs and benefits, you can not argue that a party is not a long term enjoyment since after all, every party has to end eventually, even at WVU. But the risks... you could be arrested for breaking the law, probation at school (continued use could lead to expulsion), you could get hurt, not to mention the fact you could die (from alcohol poisoning, choking on your own vomit, or years later down the road from damage you put on your liver). There are obviously more serious things to consider here besides if frat boy wants to fight because you took his spot in the beer line. But then again, I think you said it all. It boils down to maturity.

Anonymous said...

Why are you going to Frat parties and house parties are you looking for trouble? There is no point to the fights there never is.I believe it is the alcohol and large number of people at these parties rather than than the atmospher of the frat or the attitudes of males.Some guys joining a frat for the parties while some do it for the brotherhood. They are there to meet new people and make friends for a lifetime, how would they do that argueing over dumb stuff all the time. I agree that a certain level of maturity is needed with some of the issues you discuss.However it is always easier to look back on a situation in hindsight with a substance clear mind and see how the situation could have been better resolved.

Mo said...

It takes some people more time to mature and fights are going to happen. The ones that get out of control are the ones that need to be watched but we don't live in a perfect world so everyone isn't always going to get along. Fights don't just happen at parties. I mean yeah it would be nice for people to mature and not fight but realistically it's not going to happen and I don't think it's just guys either. I've seen a lot of girls fighting at the bars and even in the dorms since the school year started.

JG said...

Back in the ancient days of my undergrad (several years ago), it was though people didn't know what to do with themselves socially if there wasn't copious amounts of beer involved. Totally a maturity issue.

I think everyone wants to know why you keep going, if you claim you don't like it.... :D

Anonymous said...

I personally love going to WVU but i HATE alcohol. I've never drank and i never will, but yet i've gone to frat parties with my friends just to stand around and talk to them. Many times i've seen them yelling and carrying on by the end of the night and i know its not them. i feel that the whole reason anything immature is happening at all is somewhat deserved since drinking is a stupid idea in the first place. if you want to be mature and stay out of trouble, go to WVU up all night or just have a movie night w/ your friends. these are the nights i find way more fun, but maybe i'm just a party pooper.

Anonymous said...

People know what they have a risk of seeing or being a part of when going to a party, club, or bar. Where ever you go there is a chance of a fight and of course there will be one over beer thats what everyone is there for. Your always putting yourself at risk of being in a fight or witnessing one wherever you go especially parties.

Anonymous said...

To be clear on my post I never said that I did not like to go to parties. So for everyone that has asked why I still go to them read the post more clearly in the future, it to have a social life outside of sitting around doing nothing. In college it is essential to attain people skills and going out helps to improve these.

Rnak said...

According to Princeton review. WVU is number one, not just top 5. http://www.rnak.com/Universities