Anyone get tired of the college binge-drinking party scene?

[Alexander]

I'm an ASU student, which had the dubious distinction of being rated the #1 party school in the country a few years ago.

Unfortunately the scene has gotten quite boring, with endless tales of people doing keg stands, drinking shitty beer just to get drunk, passing out, vomiting, having sexual relations they didn't remember, etc.

Frequently at parties I seek out people who will discuss good music/philosophy/movies/books and other random stuff besides politics, which I guess is too "heavy" for a lot of people - I've been asked "why are you talking about THAT? You should drink more" about a thousand times.

So, it seems that most of the people I meet here are shameless alcoholics, and I'm quite tired of the bad vibes, drunken idiotic behavior, and anger problems that usually result.

It looks like I'll be hanging out with more moderate drinkers or teetotalers for the duration of my stay here - however most of the people I've met who don't drink are right-wing Christians who think evolution is bunk and want to convert me to Jesus.

Anyway, just hoping DUers will share their thoughts and experiences with situations like these.

:hi:

[bluedigger]

1. It's not you, it's them!

As a graduate of another former #1 party school (UMaine - the 70's) I'd advise you to just be yourself. Binge drinking and partying at college are rites of passage and forms of socializtion for many students. Most work their way through it sooner or later, you are just ahead of the curve! A big school like ASU must have a zillion non-alcohol focused student groups and organizations where you can make friends with others who share common interests. I joined a service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, when I was a junior, which was a little late in the game, but a great experience - and we did have a few beers now and again still!

[hickman]

2. I'm sorry but all my stories are 30+ years old.

We got shit faced drunk too, and spent a stupid amount of time talking/arguing about who was better, Eric Clapton or Jimmy Page. I clearly remember someone trying to shout about Bertolt Brecht to me while J Giles was blasting. That's college. Find some people who live to learn, and know how to have a good time. One dorm I lived in had a group of people who were into silent film. I wandered down to the lounge one night and saw Nosferatu for the first time.

on edit I forgot to mention that I went CMU in Michigan. Sometime in the 80's it was the #1 party college in the country.

[BarenakedLady]

3. I have my own binge-drinking parties

Except I'm alone...and old...and not in college...

man, I'm pathetic.

[hickman]

4. It's not pathetic if you enjoy your own company.

I know of what you speak. I enjoy my binges.

[JVS]

13. Rock on!

[ZombieNixon]

5. Huh...I've been known to discuss string theory when drunk...so...

:shrug:

[survivor999]

6. Anybody who goes to college

and wastes time drinking or partying is a loser, IMO.

[Fuzz]

7. Can I get an invite?

I'm almost 40, married and need some excitement in my life. :D

[Porcupine]

8. I get tired of cleaning up after spoiled children.

I live and work in Chico CA. where CSUC also has a legendary party reputation. What they don't tell you goes along with that party reputation is alcohol related deaths, rapes, arson, riots and property damange. The level to which the party crowd has damaged our town is immense.

Putting aside the outright deaths I have often had to go clean up some mess where students destroyed the (pick one or more) toilet, other plumbing, doors, windows, lights, carpets, landscaping ets. Generally on the premise that somebody was supposed to be having fun. As the only sober person in the room as I attempt damage mitigation I can tell you they aren't haveing fun.

I would suggest taking the suggestion of the poster above and joining one of the clubs or groups with an athletic or service orientation. Locally we have a group of college students that dances swing, lindy and general ballroom. I am sure that they are having a hell of a lot more fun sober than the boozers are drunk. You could do worse than being passed from one cute college girl to another for several evenings a week. There's a shortage of guys in dance classes so they have to share. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/asuswingdevils/

Get out, join a club or three; you will soon find yourself without time to consider getting drunk.

Try the SCA- they're weird but they have fun

[crim son]

9. It's the same in most colleges and of course it gets old.

If you don't drink to excess, it can be downright ugly. But if you don't like it, stay away from the parties and keep your focus on your studies. There are other people in school who think like you do, but obviously you aren't necessarily going to find them when you're out partying.

[Scooter24]

10. I think the trend is starting to go towards classier and thematic

parties. The whole point is to be more creative than just playing music and having lots of beer.

I've actually designed a few parties for a fraternity, and to keep them from being redundant I've had to scope out unique locations and give them an interesting theme. My favorite party to date was the Bunnies & Bitches Easter party that had a playboy theme complete with a "bunny" pool among other things.

*sigh* good times...

[rockymountaindem]

11. My school isn't like that

I know a lot of people get really drunk/high, but they do it on their own time, and my school is so big that you can always find a group of people who are always willing to do the same thing as you. I never got binge drinking anyway.

[WindRavenX]

12. I used to party like that

Back in Freshman year. But it made me feel cheap and hollow inside. I don't like not being able to have long conversations with people, the loud music hurts, and it makes me feel nervous.

Now I just chill with my friends and smoke a lot of weed and watch good TV shows and talk about whatever we want :smoke:

[BreweryYardRat]

14. It's fun on occasion, but it shouldn't be the be-all end-all of things.

Look on the bright side.

At least if you're partying with frat dudes (as opposed to geeks/goths/punks), there won't be a 50-something naked guy wandering around. :puke:

I still want bleach for my brain.

[Downtown Hound]

15. My first semester in college was like that

And I had fun for about three weeks. After that it became redundant. It changed when I moved out of the dorms and eventually found new friends. We still drank here and there and smoked weed but it wasn't done to excess and we still did lots of things totally sober. That's when you know you've found a group of friends you can keep. When you hang out with people that can't do anything without getting fucked up then you really need to find new friends.

As some other people here have suggested, the best way to do this is to try some extra-curricular activities. Since you seem to have an intellectual bent, try some stuff along those lines. You'll meet other people who share your interests.

And just so you know, what you're experiencing is quite common when people are new to college. Eventually most people break out of the scene and find new ways to entertain themselves. With enough effort you can too.