About that ‘party’ ranking

The Gazette Editorial Board

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The University of Iowa's ranking as the nation's top party school created plenty of buzz. But we doubt there will be much of a lasting hangover.

The Princeton Review's ranking, based on a subjective survey of a small fraction of University of Iowa students, caused a brief public relations headache for school officials. On the bright side, scores of University of Iowa students and alumni took to online social media to brag, lament, joke and crack wise about the ranking. That kind of spontaneous, virtual reunion can't be all bad.

And the high-profile story gave the university a chance to point out that progress is being made on reducing high-risk drinking behaviors among students.

In the wake of various initiatives and education programs, high-risk drinking, the number of drinks consumed and the number of students drinking during the past 30 days each has dropped significantly since 2009, according to the National College Student Health Assessment survey. The party school ranking may be a lagging indicator as the campus culture slowly changes.

We also agree with university officials and local leaders who say Iowa City's ordinance prohibiting patrons under the age of 21 from being in bars after 10 p.m. has had a positive effect on underage drinking. Opponents of that law have managed to once again call for a public vote on its fate. The party school ranking would seem to underscore the continued need for 21-only to remain on the books.

The university has an obligation to educate students on the risks of drinking and provide any necessary assistance. But, ultimately, it's students who are responsible for their behavior, or misbehavior, and whether “party school” is the best label for a the university they're paying a sizable sum to attend.

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