Many Syracuse University students are aware that our school knows how to party. In the months leading up to the 2019-20 academic year, The Princeton Review released its annual series of national college rankings. While Syracuse has ranked among the top ten party schools for a number of years, this was the first time since 2014 that SU has claimed the No. 1 spot.

The article headline was reposted and reblogged across social media, often accompanied by a caption from a Syracuse student gloating about the school’s new status. Many students seemed thrilled with their school’s ranking — a bragging-right, a badge of honor.

Yet such a title inevitably leads certain audiences to question if the party culture here at SU interferes with academic engagement. Sure, cases exist where a student allows their grades to slip at the expense of partying, but that’s not the prevailing SU experience. Syracuse offers students a plethora of opportunities and sufficient resources to be successful and most students take advantage of that.

Sophomore Chelsea Debrot said she was excited when she learned about SU’s new title, and she said that the party ranking unites proud students.

“They were all so excited about it, so it just made me even more excited to go to Syracuse,” Debrot said.

This title was likely not praised quite as much by parents and others who might be questioning if all the partying is interfering with the academic work happening at SU.

But it’s not fair to make assumptions about scholarship or school culture based on the rankings of a single source.

“I wouldn’t really take it too seriously because it’s only one ranking,” Debrot said. “It changes every year and there’s like five different lists.”

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The Princeton Review rankings are anticipated and well-read, but many similar media outlets produce rankings they say rely on similar research tactics. And yet Syracuse University often fails to rank among their top 10, or in some cases, even their top 20. Barstool Sports recently released their “Top Twenty-Five Party Schools” which excluded Syracuse altogether.

It’s also important to consider where these rankings come from. The Princeton Review states that its rankings are derived from student surveys that ask students about alcohol and drug consumption, the average number of hours they spend studying and the presence of Greek life at their school. Schools where students reported high levels of alcohol and drug consumption and a low number of hours spent studying received the highest positions on the “Top Party Schools” chart.

While The Princeton Review is transparent in explaining to audiences that their results stem from student surveys, the organization doesn’t reveal details about how students were selected and how many were surveyed. It’s possible that the responses used to generate the ranking doesn’t even reflect the outlook or experience of a majority of the student body.

Even if it is true that a great deal of partying goes on at SU, that isn’t necessarily representative of the school’s overarching culture.

Dolan Evanovich, Senior Vice President of Enrollment and the Student Experience, said the ranking isn’t a fair portrayal of life at SU.

“This ranking is not an accurate reflection of today’s student experience at Syracuse University,” Evanovich said in an emailed statement. “Nor is it a reflection of our distinctive approach to education that includes expanded academic and career advising services; hands-on research opportunities; personalized majors; interdisciplinary studies; new recreational, health and wellness resources and facilities; and global experiences for each student.”

To discount those programs would be a mistake. Syracuse should be characterized by its accomplishments and offerings, not by the partying that goes on at virtually every college.

For students at any university, college largely signifies a balance of social interaction and hard work. Syracuse University is no different. There are occasionally students that find they put too much emphasis on the social scene and not enough on schoolwork, but this story is not one unique to Syracuse.

“I think any campus that you go to, people are going to be going out and partying,” Debrot said. “I don’t think that really has anything to do with Syracuse.”

Syracuse students like to party. But they also engage in a rigorous academic program that opens doors of opportunity.

“By all measures, our student experience is rooted in the programs and services available to facilitate both personal and professional success while at Syracuse University and beyond,” Evanovich said.

It’s the school spirit and pride that accompany these programs and services that best represent Syracuse University — not some arbitrary ranking.

Amelia Fischer is a sophomore public relations major. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at alfische@syr.edu. She can be followed on Twitter at @ameliafischer11.

Published on September 26, 2019 at 3:53 am