Party school rep will not necessarily defame degree
By Megan Krause, Campus Life writer
November 5, 2007 | 6 a.m.
Ohio University lost the top party school reputation to Wisconsin on RedEye.com. While some seem glad to ditch the reputation, others believe a degree from a party school doesn’t hurt graduates in the job market.
Students seem to like being number one
Ohio University student Tammie Imel started a Facebook group entitled "Are we the number 1 party school or what" in order to inform students of the opportunity to vote Ohio University as the number one party school on Redeye.com, a publication of the Chicago Tribune.
“When I saw that we were losing, I decided to make an event to get the word out so other students could also vote,” Imel said. “I think that just letting people know that a poll was going on was half the battle.”
The group attracted 1,185 students who confirmed their attendance to this voting event. In order to get a more accurate view of the interest of OU students, five similarly titled events can be added for a grand total of 1,934 people. Imel was shocked by the numbers.
“I never knew it would get as much attention as it did in the end,” she said.
Based on these numbers, it is apparent that being the number one party school is something that OU students are interested in. Imel explained that the desire to win comes from having pride in the school.
“It’s how parents always want their kids to be number one at all things," she said. "I also want OU to be number one at all things.”
After the final tally, Redeye.com dubbed Wisconsin number one party school to the dismay of the 17,006 people that voted for OU. A grand total of 52,122 people voted concerning this match-up, but in the end OU finished with 32.6% of the vote.
Party school rankings cause controversy
While some fight to be number one, others feel colleges should not have top party school rankings at all. According to a report from the Early Show on cbsnews.com, in 2002 The American Medical Association called for the Princeton Review to remove “Top Party Schools” from its rankings. The AMA argued that these rankings misled potential college students who were referring to them.
However the AMA failed to change the Princeton Review’s rankings. The review argued that it was providing information about colleges based on student responses, according to cbsnews.com.
The current Princeton Review Web site has two major sections for party schools: Party on, and The Party has left the building. Each group includes sub-sections such as Reefer Madness, Major Frat or Sorority Scene, Stone-Cold Sober Schools and Scotch and Soda, Hold the Scotch.
Director of Career Services Thomas Korvas agreed that the rankings from the Princeton Review can be a positive tool for prospective students. He explained that rankings might help students decide which college is right for them.
While accurate reports of the social scene could be helpful for students, inaccurate results can portray a false image that may mislead students. Accurate data depends on the honesty of the 120,000 students that the Princeton Review claims to poll. According to Korvas, the statistics could be improved by adding administrators’ opinions to the students' opinions.
Party school ranking will not defame degree
Another issue with party school rankings is the image they present to the public, including future employers of OU students. Korvas said that this image tends to be dictated by the media.
“The media tends to focus on those sensational things, the bad things,” he said.
However after speaking with employers whom have visited OU, Korvas said reality is more important than reports. “I think that their experience tends to overshadow what may be written in a document like the Princeton Review,” he said.
No matter what number OU is on the party school list, the image seems to stay constant, according to Imel.
“I think that whether we’re in the top ten party schools or not according to surveys, people will still think of OU as a party school,” Imel said.
Korvas agreed that party school title won’t affect students to a large extent. While he acknowledges that it cannot help, he does not think it will necessarily hurt students to have a degree from a decreed party school.
“I think it’s up to the individual to sell their qualifications,” Korvas said. “As long as students do well academically, build credentials and learn how to do a job search they will not have any problems."
The atmosphere of a university is defined by alumni, students and faculty, according to Korvas.
“We all have a duty and a responsibility to our institution,” he said.
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