On campus, the party culture, or the idea that one should go out often, drink, socialize and pay that ridiculously high coverage fee at Rounders, is more than accepted. It is encouraged and those who do not participate are degraded. Just because something is culturally or socially acceptable doesn't mean it's not distracting at best or harmful at worst. Sure, going out once in a while is great, but The Valley Oak Room in Lincoln, Nebraska believes that the idea of constantly partying and consuming alcohol can deny individuals the opportunity to develop healthy behavioral strategies to effectively deal with their emotions. This often leads to poor decision-making, impulsive behavior, and social isolation.
This can lead to negative consequences in relationships, work, school, as well as increased anxiety and depression. Many people can't live up to the lifestyle of party culture and still maintain quality academic performance. However, I want to engage in a bit of heresy, alter orthodoxy and show why the normalization of party culture should be questioned. At a university labeled “party school,” it can be easy to get carried away by the culture of alcohol without thinking about the consequences.
With the dominance of Greek life on campus, it's easy to see why party culture has become the monster it has. Many stories that appear in the media about a college party are portrayed negatively, so people end up thinking that college parties are bad. Teens get together to have a “pharmaceutical party,” also known as “bowling parties,” where they each bring prescription medications and contribute to a mix of pills that are thrown into a bowl.
