Do university students consider partying an important part of their experience?
For this research project I am planning on questioning if students consider partying an important part of their university experience. As someone who enjoys going out and participating in social events, this topic is quite close to my heart. However, I am no expert. Partying and going out are activities that are of different value and have different impacts on everyone. I am therefore curious to know more about how these two different aspects of life work together and how much it affects their performance at university. Todd Wyatt, a doctoral candidate at George Mason University, says “I am confident that studying and alcohol are playing their part in predicting student success.”
I would say I have a reasonable amount of experience on this topic, both good and bad. Although I have definitely gone out on a uni night and have found it hard to complete an assignment because of a hangover, I have never considered going out to have a significant impact on my overall experience at university. However, I do know that for some students, partying is a very important aspect. I am interested in analysing the different perceptions of partying among students and how opinions and actions differ between those who live on campus compared to those who don’t. For example, Cynthia K Buettner found that “the increased likelihood of engaging in heavy drinking when attending a party is particularly large when the individual is hosting an off-campus party.”
Partying and going out is experienced among students on a universal scale, and is therefore a highly relevant topic. More specifically, the party and drinking culture at the University of Wollongong is prevalent and further supported by the Uni Bar, where students can purchase alcohol, the Uni Hall, where music and other social events are held, and the annual O-Week organised by surrounding clubs in Wollongong. These locations and events ensure that all students attending this university will experience or witness this culture first hand. This topic’s relevancy is also supported by the vast range of reasons for, and effects of partying. The Australian National Union of Students found that “76% say there’s an expectation for students to drink to get drunk and 79% agree that drinking and getting drunk is part of university culture.” In addition, a report by the Canberra Times proved that the high levels of importance placed on party culture can lead to dangerous behaviours, finding that “the vast majority – 80 per cent- who drink did so to get drunk, with almost a quarter doing so at least once a week.” These factors prove that researching the importance of partying to university students is an appropriate and timeless topic. It is important to make sense of something that is so common and firmly established in university culture; something that we are all involved in, one way or the other.
Researching the importance of partying for this assessment is highly achievable, given that I follow a strict timeline, remain focused on my specific topic, and utilise the resources I am supplied with e.g. lecture and tutorial content and my fellow BCM212 students. Solely focusing on whether or not university students consider partying an important part of their experience will ensure that my topic is achievable. Initially, I wanted to focus on the physical and emotional impact that party culture has on students. But, I realised that the question may be too broad and that asking students about possible violence and mental health issues etc. would be unethical. My chosen topic is a lot clearer and more straightforward, allowing students to provide simple answers but also providing them with an opportunity to expand further if they desire. Although this topic will require my hard work and dedication, I believe I have chosen something that is timely and will not entail a rigorous process in order to achieve high quality results.
The four sources I have included throughout this proposal justify the relevancy and necessity of this project. The information indicates that the party culture among students at university is highly valued and impacts lives in more ways than one. The sources prove that among partying at university, there is an issue to be explored.
References:
https://www.nus.org.uk/en/news/press-releases/new-survey-shows-trends-in-student-drinking/
https://www.thedailybeast.com/drinking-and-grades-how-student-alcohol-consumption-affects-gpa
GEMMA 