This week’s question: Is the University of Iowa’s reputation as a party school deserved or overblown? What would you do to change it?

From our inbox:

Polls without a point are of little value. If being the top party school had a high crime rate or high freshman dropouts or had more alcoholics later in life it would be valid. Quit making problems out of polls.

Steve Carroll

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Every underage student who is arrested or just picked up for drinking, using drugs or acting in behavior unbecoming to the school should have to use their after school hours cleaning up after others who have acted in the same manner. The tuition should be increased to cover the extra expense of the police and the university staff.

It is my understanding the parents can't be notified because of privacy of the student, so if it happens a second time kick them out of school, this includes the jocks; let the parents figure it out.

Downtown Iowa City is not the place to go if you are an adult when school is in session and I have no idea how the University fell from first place.

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I have two grandchildren at the UI. Being a graduate program, there is plenty of opportunity for under agers to find alcohol. It is also hard to turn down a top ranking for any reputation, no matter how questionable. I think the student body is good and overall the faculty and students are doing a good job. Hope the news people can finding something constructive, like the churches and their activities around the campus.

Jerry Seidl

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Yes, the reputation is well deserved, not overblown at all. Have you ever attended an U of I football game? The number of people drunk even before the game starts is ridiculous. Seems like College-age people don't know how to have fun without alcohol being involved. It is very sad. And since there is no way to control anyone but yourself, not sure there is much anyone can do about it at this point, except the young people themselves and they don't seem to be so inclined.

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It's over blown and I don't think anything needs to be done.

Cindy Pattee

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I am 59 years old so I don't quality as a kid any longer. But give me a break, we worry way to much about kids growing up and having fun. We use way to much hand sanitizer, we are too politically correct, and we stick our noses into way too many personal privacy issues.

The only thing the party school ranking does is generate a great deal of notoriety for the school. It has probably increased enrollment dramatically since the announcement. I wouldn't be surprised if the administration wasn't privately thrilled because of the national publicity the ranking brings with it.

As the saying goes, all publicity is good publicity, right?

Jim Koester

Cedar Rapids

This is overblown. Additionally, what are the metrics that are being used in creating this list of party schools?

To help counter this awkward publicity for the school, they need to continually get the word out on the various programs and highlight the scholarly accomplishments.

Lisa Peloquin

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