Young Life

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Partying Peaks at UGA

By Brooke McMillan

aThEENs staff

A national publication recently ranked the University of Georgia as the top party school in the nation, but Athens area teens’ perceptions remain unchanged. They still consider attending the university, and do not think less of it just because it was ranked No. 1 in the country for parties. “Despite the title, it’s a well rounded school with good academics and sports,” said 16-year-old North Oconee High School sophomore Preston Devancy.

The Princeton Review released the ranking in early August which they came to by surveying over 100,000 students through email. The party life is stereotyped as a huge component of the college experience—participation optional. UGA sophomore Cayla Miller defines partying as a bunch of people together celebrating any type of event with music and drinks with or without alcohol. Likewise, 16-year-old sophomore Caleb Hayes from Clarke Central High School defines partying as a bunch of friends and people having fun with music and drinks.

A busy night on Broad St in downtown Athens, Ga.

 

The public university spans across a large campus in Athens, Ga reaching Downtown Athens. This location boasts streets lined with bars of every style creating a perfect place to promote partying. The official Downtown Athens website lists 79 bars and taverns. Although Downtown Athens caters to and contains those partiers age 21 and older, checking licenses at the door, there is a whole section of Athens that most of the college partiers do not see.

There are three public high schools in the Clarke County School District, and two high schools in nearby Watkinsville, Ga. Clarke Central High School sits closest to UGA, centered on Milledge Avenue, which is commonly referred to as “Fraternity Row,” sandwiched between fraternity and sorority houses.

Many local high school students are affiliated with the college through activities such as the local swim club, Athens Bulldog Swim Club. The team practices in the pool at Ramsey Student Center for Physical Activity where they catch a glimpse of the college campus at daily practice.

“It’s a good school, nice area. I did hear that is has some big parties, but that it is still pretty challenging,” said Joey Materne, a 17-year-old senior at Oconee County High School.

When considering different colleges many teenagers said that their most important decision is whether they feel as though the school is a good fit for them. Other criteria included possible distractions that the area presents. Academics are extremely important as well, but such a ranking would not change their minds. Materne said that many of his friends’ siblings who attend UGA still keep their grades up despite the vast party scene downtown and the temptations it presents.

Other area teens did not realize UGA became known as the No. 1 party school. Junior Ashley Cown, 17, of North Oconee High School admitted that she heard the news on a local radio station, but did not really believe it was true.

Socially, the Athens teenagers said they do not feel like partying has increased among their high school friends. Cown giggled when asked if her friend’s have changed socially.

“No, everyone still feels the same,” she said reinforcing the attitude that they do not need to compete with the college students who have partied to the top of the list.