Students: Partying & academics not mutually exclusive

It wasn't necessarily their GPAs, their nationally competitive awards or their community service (though undoubtedly the class did have an extraordinary academic record as well). It was the seniors of 2010's epic partying that went down in OU history, for better or for worse, that made national headlines this summer. After two years of being stalled-out at No. 5, the university found itself No. 2 in the Princeton Review's top party-school ranking released in early August.

For many of the seniors, this was an affirmation of something they knew all along. Our stately neighbors at Penn State University (3) and West Virginia University (4) really don't know what a true college party is.

The outgoing seniors watched as fires burned in the streets during two consecutive Palmerfests and during one Oakfest. They mud-wrestled through Palmer Place Fest, and spent 4- , 5- , 6- and 7-Fest rolling in mud and bonging beers.

"The seniors lived through the Palmerfest and Oakfest fires and saw the numberfests when they were completely rainy and muddy," said Zach Swartz, a 2010 alumni. "I'm pretty sure when we were freshmen OU still had its No. 2 party school ranking, so I think when we came in, we had that ingrained in our minds. I think it definitely was a goal for a lot of people to make OU continue to be known as a party school."

The big-name events that found themselves on these pages time and time again might have contributed to the ranking. But in reality, it was all the Liquor Pitcher Wednesday nights at Lucky's, the seemingly bottomless MegaMugs every night of the week at Red Brick, and the Prime Times filled with Black Outs at PawPurrs that set Athens apart. It was bringing friends from other schools down Mill Street on any given Friday and having them gawk at the rows of porches filled with beer-pong games, in disbelief that authorities allowed students to drink on front porches.

"Our love for our school might have had something to do with the No. 2 spot," said Nikki Lawler, an OU alumna from Columbus. "I believe that the students would do whatever we could to get at the top of lists to show that our school is better than any others (including party school). It not only has to do with drinking but the social aspect. We all know how to interact and have fun... creating parties."

Lawler, a former community assistant for OU who lived on both Palmer and Mill streets, noted that students could have raised OU's ranking without the riots and the fires. In her two years as a community assistant, Lawler said she sat through meetings with police, university officials, students and residents. All parties recognized how privileged students in Athens are to have such huge street fests every spring, and how students should enjoy them without being disrespectful to one another, to the police or to Athens residents.

"I will admit I did get drunk, and I did have the time of my life with friends I plan on having for the rest of my life," said Tyler Hennen, a senior in 2010 who will be spending 2010-2011 as a second-year senior. "But to say that OU 'is basically just a party school, there is nothing else' to me undermines everyone here getting their education and the people that have graduated."

Hennen said that in his time at OU, he and his friends worked hard in the classroom, no matter how much time they spent playing beer pong or shuffling on Court Street.

"When I graduate I will be proud to hang my degree from OU because it shows the hard work and effort that I put in to bettering myself and since I will be an educator bettering others," Hennen added. "The No. 2 ranking is neither fair nor foul. If you go by the last couple years and the 'riots' at Palmer Fest, sure I guess No. 2 is fair."

One thing most OU seniors can agree on: the last four years went way too fast.

"As for the people still at OU, my one piece of advice is just to enjoy your time there while you still have it," Swartz said. "The thing I learned most at OU was how to balance social life with preparing for the future. And I think one of the best ways to prepare for your future is to learn how to relax and enjoy yourself in the midst of working hard. And never take for granted the experience that the college life is."

But, if you're an incoming freshman worrying about whether or not you can help uphold OU's ranking, don't worry too much. There are still plenty of "seniors" from 2010 making a victory lap in 2011, spending their fifth year as Bobcats enjoying all Athens has to offer.

(Those who recoil from the whole party-school hubbub at OU can take solace in the fact that OU didn't win a spot in Playboy magazine's annual party-school ranking for 2010 (though it did get an honorable mention for Best Halloween Party). In the past, OU has been mentioned among Playboy's best party schools several times, including No. 7 in 2008.)