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CU-Boulder nation's No. 1 party school, thanks to 4/20, pot, beer
Playboy magazine today crowned the University of Colorado the nation's No. 1 party school, citing the Boulder campus' annual 4/20 smokeout, as well as the city's numerous medical-marijuana dispensaries and its status as "a beer drinker's paradise."
The magazine today unveiled its list of Top 10 party schools, part of a feature that will be included in the issue that arrives on newsstands Friday.According toPlayboy's website(click at your own risk; there is nudity on that page),CU received the party school crown because:
"CU-Boulder is home to reefer madness. Not only does Boulder have 50 medical-marijuana dispensaries within its city limits, but every April nearly half the university's 24,000-plus undergrads turn out for the annual 4/20 smoke-out on school grounds. Boulder is also a beer drinker's paradise, with four breweries in town. 'There are a lot of distractions from school-snowboarding, mountain biking, super hot girls,' says one alum. Literally dozens of world-class ski resorts are a drive away. You know Boulder is a party school because whenever you tell someone that you went there, the first thing they ask is, 'Did you graduate?'"
CU's Boulder campus previously has been named the No. 1 party school in the country by Princeton Review, on its 2003 list. Last year, Princeton Review -- which is not affiliated with Princeton University -- ranked CU No. 6 for "Reefer Madness," No. 13 for "Lots of Hard Liquor" and No. 16 for top "Party Schools."
Henry "Hank" Smith, a CU sophomore who is from the Los Angeles area, said when he was applying for colleges, his parents dissuaded him from going to the University of California's Santa Barbara campus because of it's party school reputation. (Incidentally, UC Santa Barbara landed at No. 10 on Playboy's new list.)
"Every school is a party school," Smith said.
Smith said that he saw some push among students on Facebook to get CU noticed by Playboy in the rankings.
Smith said that given the scope of the 4/20 marijuana smokeout -- which is slated for April 20 -- the Playboy ranking is probably warranted. He's had friends he hasn't heard from in years ask if they can come stay with him so that they can witness the smokeout on Norlin Quad. But, like last year, he'll likely be in class that day.ck on any photo to see full gallery
Already, the advertising student has had two internships -- both at firms in Los Angeles, where higher-ups are CU grads. The bosses have joked about CU's "party school" reputation. He doesn't worry too much that the latest ranking will haunt him as he's applying for jobs after graduation.
According to a news release from Playboy, the rankings were determined by input from students, "fans" of Playboy's Facebook page, alumni and several interviews. Other factors taken into consideration included "male-female" ratios, academics and the winning percentage of sports teams, as well as the proximity to beaches -- or ski slopes -- and lively music scenes.
CU-Boulder spokesman Bronson Hilliard said the ranking give an inaccurate picture of the campus's total student experience. And, he sarcastically quipped: "I'm disappointed we didn't do better in Playboy's rankings of the atomic, molecular and optical physics programs -- which U.S. News and World Report ranks us as No. 1, tied with MIT."
The number of alcohol-related cases at CU has dramatically decreased over the past couple of years. In 2007-2008, the Office of Student Conduct, formerly known as the Office of Judicial Affairs, dealt with 3,134 alcohol-related cases, which includes students busted for underage drinking. In 2009-2010, the numbers dropped to 2,484.
For some CU students, the new Playboy ranking garnered just a a few chuckles.
"I don't care," said Sarah Mathews, a CU junior. "I'm in the music school and I don't think we're real party-y."
Beth Barnadyn, who was visiting the campus from Phoenix today and will be starting graduate school next fall in Boulder, said the party reputation doesn't concern her. She'll likely be living in Longmont, or outside of Boulder, she said.
"I won't be partying, and I don't care what others do," she said.
meh must be some bull shit. i witnessed some fuckin crazy shit in madison this past weekend