Between noise citations, party sanctions and immediate write-ups, recent administrator emails to Village A residents this fall have demonstrated a clear crackdown on on-campus partying. This comes as little surprise to returning students who remember the wristbands and Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) officers that restricted last year’s Georgetown Day celebrations.
While the desire to encourage safety is well-intended, the administration fails to realize that policing on-campus parties drives many students to attend off-campus social events. This trend accentuates socio-economic divisions and separates students from key university safety resources. The Georgetown administration should scale back on-campus partying restrictions, and in turn, student groups should host free and accessible on-campus social gatherings.
The events of last Georgetown Day provide a perfect example of the risks associated with restricting on-campus partying. Georgetown Day, held on the last day of classes, is the largest university tradition of the year and is often celebrated with parties on the Vil A rooftops. However, last April, despite repeated efforts from the Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA), university administrators severely restricted access to the complex. GUPD closed and patrolled the steps, allowing access only to residents and a small number of approved guests.
Unsurprisingly, these regulations drove students off campus in hordes. Instead of partaking in open celebrations like on Homecoming or St. Patrick’s Day, a group of my friends, along with hundreds of other students, begrudgingly purchased tickets costing up to $50, hopped in a $30 Uber, and headed 30 minutes off-campus to the “Gtown Day at Hook Hall” event.
Upon arrival at Hook Hall, students were met with a large, clamoring crowd, all attempting to push past bouncers and enter the venue. Several students fell in the crush of people, while others entered verbal altercations with venue staff. Once through the doors, my friends noticed that the crowd was primarily rich, white and wealthy. Many other students had chosen not to go due to prohibitive costs. My friends — and probably many others there — would have rather gathered with a larger group on the rooftops of Vil A, but university rules made this impossible. Instead of a unifying celebration of Hoya pride, the day was fraught with chaos and split along economic lines.
This is not just a Georgetown Day problem. Each week, the social app Posh is flooded with events like “Bulldog Blastoff” or “White Lies at Wilson’s”. While these parties take place at downtown venues, they are typically hosted by Georgetown fraternities and draw a group of almost entirely Georgetown students. Between tickets, Ubers and drinks, parties like these often total upwards of $50 a person. It’s no wonder that Georgetown is criticized for having an elitist and exclusive social life, when students who cannot — or just don’t want to — spend this kind of money are forced to miss out. While there’s nothing wrong with choosing a night in, no student should be held back from a full college social experience because of their financial status.
Luckily, there’s another option. In a viral video from St. Patrick’s Day, students from different majors, financial backgrounds and organizations gathered to participate in the annual “Run of the Gingers,” and their joy is palpable. With open access to Vil A rooftops and a myriad of accessible on-campus celebrations, this year St. Patrick’s Day celebrations were far more united than Georgetown Day.
Open and accessible on-campus parties give students a chance to make memories and foster friendships outside of preexisting divides. On Vil A rooftops, students can relax and get to know each other beyond pre-professional or academic contexts. As members of a generation suffering from a challenging job market and record-high levels of loneliness, these opportunities are crucial to happiness and balance. Furthermore, on-campus parties are simply more convenient. Without travel time and pricey tickets, it is easier to spontaneously join a celebration.
It would be naive to claim that there are no risks associated with these on-campus parties. Yes, when alcohol and drugs are involved, students are far more likely to make dangerous decisions. However, the Georgetown campus is full of supportive and accessible safety resources that students are educated on before they even set foot on the Hilltop. If something goes wrong at a Vil A party, Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service (GERMS) will respond within minutes. If something goes wrong at a downtown club, students are left to call 911 — or figure it out all on their own.
Administrators must dial back sanctions on on-campus parties, allowing students to gather without fear of shutdowns or write-ups. In response, student social groups should host open and free events in places like Vil A rooftops and townhouses. Hosts should move away from apps like Posh with cost-restrictive tickets and seek to invite a diverse range of attendees. Students also must be responsible and open to working with administrators on safety concerns, acknowledging the dangers of drinking culture.
If administrators loosen restrictions on on-campus parties and students host more accessible on-campus events, Hoyas can have a safer, cheaper and more convenient social life.
Hannah Gilheany is a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences. This is the first installment of her column “Life Outside of Lau.”
