2008 Woodie Awards
Staff Editorial
New Party Policy Proposals Inspire Doubt and Disappointment
Issue date: 9/29/05 Section: Opinion
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The fact that Smith is attempting to buckle down on party policy makes one wonder what sort of fun this college expects its students to have. Of course, there is a perfectly decent amount to do at Smith and in the Five College area, from art openings to movies to concerts, but it shouldn't be forgotten that we are all college students, and as such, occasionally want to have the sort of fun that can be found at most other colleges, without having to get on the PVTA and risk being stranded at some frat house.
A clear step forward by the administration is its assessment of Smith's party policy, ostensibly giving everyone's idea of a good time a chance. Ideas worth exploring are the extension of party hours and experimenting with allowing Five College students to attend without a host. The guest sign-in procedure does seem like a reasonable security precaution against people who make certain assumptions about the vulnerability or naiveté of students at a women's college. However, requiring a Community Service Officer almost cancels out those amendments to party policy. There may have been incidents in the past, but not everyone should have to suffer for the irresponsibility of certain individuals. There are bigger problems on this campus, to be sure, but the college is focused on pre-emptive strikes against relatively ordinary and normal behavior at parties and on campus during weekends.
Let's face it, the parties here aren't exactly ragers, and Smith students are generally fairly responsible. Even with the current party policy in place it's difficult to get many Smith students to attend Smith parties, either because they prefer other sorts of social situations, or because they've given up on having a good time at a Smith party. We are young, we do want to have fun, and those who want it deserve some semblance of a normal college life here at Smith College. After all, it may be only once in a blue moon that students actually get a chance to party. It's too bad that opportunity may very well be curtailed by the unnecessary presence of a public safety officer.
A clear step forward by the administration is its assessment of Smith's party policy, ostensibly giving everyone's idea of a good time a chance. Ideas worth exploring are the extension of party hours and experimenting with allowing Five College students to attend without a host. The guest sign-in procedure does seem like a reasonable security precaution against people who make certain assumptions about the vulnerability or naiveté of students at a women's college. However, requiring a Community Service Officer almost cancels out those amendments to party policy. There may have been incidents in the past, but not everyone should have to suffer for the irresponsibility of certain individuals. There are bigger problems on this campus, to be sure, but the college is focused on pre-emptive strikes against relatively ordinary and normal behavior at parties and on campus during weekends.
Let's face it, the parties here aren't exactly ragers, and Smith students are generally fairly responsible. Even with the current party policy in place it's difficult to get many Smith students to attend Smith parties, either because they prefer other sorts of social situations, or because they've given up on having a good time at a Smith party. We are young, we do want to have fun, and those who want it deserve some semblance of a normal college life here at Smith College. After all, it may be only once in a blue moon that students actually get a chance to party. It's too bad that opportunity may very well be curtailed by the unnecessary presence of a public safety officer.