The “where” and “when” of off-campus alcohol consumption have students at North Central College favoring the freedom of it, according to The Chronicle’s most recent survey results.
Sixty students participated in this week’s survey about their off-campus drinking habits. The results are as such. The majority of students who took the survey:
- Were female
- Were of the legal age to consume alcohol
- Drink at least once or twice during a typical week, including weekends
- Drink the most during weeks one, nine and 10
- Prefer to drink at a house party hosted by a friend or acquaintance
- Prefer to drink hard liquor such as mixed drinks or shots
- Do not own a fake ID in order to get into bars or purchase alcohol
- Choose to walk home as their main transportation after a night of drinking
House parties as the preferred location to drink all night is common in a town like Naperville. While more lively locations like restaurants and bars were considered, students enjoy more private settings with less risk of getting caught.
So, why not host a party in the Naper Place apartments since it’s off-campus? Well, it’s still owned by the college and the Campus Safety office is only a mile away. That’s why some students who don’t live on campus rent houses with their friends. A whole house gives enough space to host a party for a group of 50 people. It still costs money to order to a keg of beer or cheap spirits, but the hosts only need to provide part of the fun.
It is understandable, however, to see the limitations being set for house parties away from a small, private college like NCC. After all, the college is not like the University of Illinois. On a recent Halloween night down at the Champaign campus, thousands of students and non-students hopped between parties hosted by at least seven fraternities.
“The alcohol never ran out and no expense was spared to make it look like a scene out of ‘Project X,’” one student said.
From looking at NCC’s off-campus surroundings, hosting or attending house parties are the cheapest ways to drink on the weekends. On an economic level, it makes sense for students to be at houses rather than local bars. All the hosts and attendees need to do is pitch in one source of alcohol and you are set for the whole night. However, a sense of caution appears when you have to protect your booze from the predators who arrived too late and were hoping to sneak some drinks for free but now have to pay.
While it may or may not be an eye-opener as to where students like to drink, it’s no surprise as to when they drink. The majority of the survey-takers also preferred to drink during weeks one, nine and 10 of a typical term at NCC.
It’s pretty clear as to why these three weeks spark a craving for alcohol. Week one is the beginning: a chance to start fresh with new classes and a new schedule. With all the “new” events going on, a time to celebrate at a bar or a house is called for. At the beginning of the year, week one is also Welcome Week for all students. All the new freshmen are ready to live their fantasies of what college is like through a cinema perspective and everyone is simply happy to be back with their friends and away from home once again.
Weeks nine and 10 are just the same, except everyone is celebrating the end of another stressful term. Both weeks are Finals Week to students, so the temptation to binge drink before exams is high.
Be on the lookout for the next topic of The Drinking Culture: fake ID’s.
