Recent Trouble at WSU. Truth to the "Party School" rep?
I don’t know if I’m noticing this more now because my baby sister just started college there, but it seems that WSU is popping up everywhere in the news lately … in very negative ways:
- Police: Porn actor wanted in WSU assault turns self in
Porn star sought for WSU sorority sex assault
Drunken man injured in Pullman balcony jump
WSU student injured in fall at sorority
Now, I’m not even a parent, but these articles make me cringe. I scan them for the name of my sister’s sorority and send them along to her in an email peppered with, “Be safe!” “Don’t go here!” “Don’t do this!”
God, I feel like I’m 86 years old and lecturing her on the lessons of life.
I imagine Washington State University’s public relations department is working two-fold right now for concerned parents, or to tell the world, “Really! We’re not one of the biggest party schools in the nation! We’re an established and reputable university!” An argument they seem to have been trying to counterbalance for years now. (In 2000, The Princeton Review named WSU as one of the top 10 party schools in the nation.)
Now, I’ve always heard that WSU is known for partying, and I rolled my eyes at it because every college student I have known, and know, parties. However, I don’t see these types of articles popping up everywhere about Western or the UW…
Metblog WSU Alumni Readers: What’s your take on this stereotype? Some truth to it? Or do you think the school just gets more press for their students’ mishaps? Parents: How do you feel about your son or daughter attending WSU?
I went to WSU and it is a party school, but it’s also a safe little town. You should read the police log in the college newspaper, it’s pretty ridiculous. Paper stolen from front porch, loud dog noises at neighbor’s house, someone throwing pumpkins down the road, etc.. Pullman is a great place to experience the college live and make great friends. Of course, there is going to be crazy partying, since the whole town in college kids.
I went to WSU and it is a party school, but it’s also a safe little town. You should read the police log in the college newspaper, it’s pretty ridiculous. Paper stolen from front porch, loud dog noises at neighbor’s house, someone throwing pumpkins down the road, etc.. Pullman is a great place to experience the college life and make great friends. Of course, there is going to be crazy partying, since the whole town is college kids.
If you were really 86 years old, you’d realize that kids are kids and that kids will be kids, and you wouldn’t fret about it.
Your reaction is more like a 46 year-old, who wants to wrap your precious treasures up in bulletproof bubblewrap and never see them grow up and go out into the world on their own…
Jodi, that’s what I figured.
MMBB, you’re exactly right! I want to wrap my sister up in bulletproof bubble wrap. I don’t want her involved in an attempted rape, or jumping from balconies and paralyzing herself. I’m totally a 46-year-old woman in the body of 25. Weird.