Do's and don'ts of the party scene

By Nicholas Weiss

Santa Clara is by no means a party school - the various local authorities seem to be doing as much as they can to keep it that way - but fun can still be found.

It seems that the easiest ways to find libations are to either join a fraternity, be an attractive woman, be of legal drinking age - or have a good fake - or have some combination of these factors.

While I am certainly opposed to the bro-code institutions, otherwise known as fraternities, I must admit that some of their exclusive events sound like a lot of fun.

As Santa Clara has no official sanctioned fraternities, a sports team can serve as a substitution for the Greek system in a pinch. Athletes drink, both to celebrate their wins and forget their losses. Off campus houses will also host their own parties-"Maples," "Alvisos" and "Bellomy" are common stops-giving non-lettered males a better chance at inebriation, but fraternities are still the most frequent party hosts around campus.

In addition to the various sports teams, houses and frats, there are also a few bars around campus; Blinky's and The Hut, as the most popular, often have drink specials to compete with one another.

The bars are a bit far apart to travel by foot, so it may be prudent to do your research before going out to have a clear idea of the scene you're getting into.

The Hut has put a lot of effort into becoming the unofficial Santa Clara student bar. They have a Facebook page that keeps you updated on all the festivities surrounding SCU event parties.

However, for incoming freshmen this advice is basically a moot point as most are not yet 21, and therefore are unable to get into bars-especially The Hut.

Hookup culture around campus seems to be highly correlated with the party scene. The people who generally do a lot of one are likely to do a lot of the other.

Equally obvious are the standard warnings about both alcohol and sex safety. Our school is very concerned with student well being on both fronts and you are bound to see about fifteen publications about avoiding the ambulance, the health clinic and the somewhat zealous police force.

Because the police station is across the street from campus, officers are readily available in the case of emergencies, which is helpful. But they are also readily available in the case of parties, which can become a nuisance.

Aside from the slight religious bend, the school has a pretty average party scene and hook-up culture. I have gotten the impression that not many of us will find our future spouses at SCU, at least not while out partying.

My most important advice, however, is to be mindful of the school officials around you. Most CFs and DRs don't like getting you in trouble, but it is part of their job and they will write you up if you give them a reason.

In contrast, the cops are definitely more dangerous - they spend lots of their time breaking up parties and patrolling the streets.

So go out, have fun, be safe and remember that almost 20 percent of marriages are started on dating web sites these days.

Nicholas Weiss is a senior psychology and philosophy double major.