<p>How are the parties at brown and how do they compare with parties at other ivies (particularly Princeton)? I would like to know how often they happen, where they take place, and what substances are used. Any additional information on Brown Nightlife will be appreciated.</p>
<p>…which substances are used? Is this what you’re going to college for? Wow.</p>
<p>Uh. There are parties if you want them. None of the following information should imply that these are the only social options on a weekend night, ok? This is just what I have observed after seeking out a party.</p>
<p>There is alcohol. There, at certain parties, will also be other drugs, the most pervasive of which is weed. According to surveys doctors perform of Brown students every year, there is a huge cliff between the percentage of students who have tried marijuana (which is something like a quarter) and the percentage of students who take harder drugs (which is never more than about 5%). </p>
<p>There is music, often well-chosen but almost as often just loud and sleazy. There is dancing, very little personal space, and sticky floors. We are looking at an extremely typical college party.</p>
<p>Some of the parties are more formal. Some are cocktail and are downright classy (i.e., non-sticky floors). </p>
<p>Unlike at some schools, there is usually a fee to get into the party (a few dollars), and then a fee to purchase beverages (a few dollars), unless you are a friend of the house, which usually happens for students who still want to go to these past freshman year.</p>
<p>Outside of these “ragers”, as they are called, there is the room party, the few-friends-sharing-some-wine-and-a-movie-party, the joint-smoking session, the non-alcoholic get-together (which is very common), etc.</p>
<p>You make your own social life if you don’t see what you like already available.</p>
<p>I agree with everything that hollyert has said but let me try and add a few things with my experiences:</p>
<p>I have found that for the majority of “party-goers,” people party Wednesday to Saturday nights. Now this isn’t to say that everyone goes out all 4 nights a week or even at all, but from what I have observed, this is when the highest contingency of people party. Things do occur throughout the week however, as athletes often can only party specific nights of the week because of schedules. I would say something is probably going on somewhere on campus any night of the week.</p>
<p>Brown offers a great mix of the bar/club scene (not big city caliber but more than your one bar town), frat parties, and “independent parties” as i will call them. Wednesday nights are known for Brown Fish Co. Wednesdays down near the waterfront and you usually find a mass exodus of people heading down there on Wednesday evenings. Thursday seems to be more chill but I do know that Viva, a club on our “main st. drag” Thayer st., markets itself to Brown students on Thursday nights.</p>
<p>Friday and Saturday seem to be the big Frat part nights. Because all of Brown’s Fraternities are located on campus in a special quad, all open (big) parties have to be registered with the University. This means that there is a public safety officer at the door checking id’s (under 21 doesn’t matter, i feel like its more of a formality and from my experience anyone can get served at a frat party). One great thing about frat parties at Brown that I have found somewhat unique is that no one is ever not admitted because of a bad “girl:guy ratio” or being unattractive (things I have heard are quite common at schools with larger Greek scenes). Everyone seems to be very open and accepting. As for cost, sometimes Frats will throw free parties, no cover and free drinks. But, other times there is a small cover ($5) and drinks are usually always $1. After freshman year, the draw of going to frat parties certainly dies down, as all the frats have basically the same layout and are the same scene.</p>
<p>I will call everything else “independent parties,” which in my opinion constitute for at least 50% of the party scene at Brown, if not more. These tend to be the most chill parties. The larger ones tend to be thrown by specific off campus “sports team houses,” “club houses,” or just random students. And, as hollyert mentioned, most people tend to party in their small social groups in dorm rooms or lounges. One great thing about Brown is that RPL’s (Residential Peer Leaders) in the dorms are no there to “bust you.” So, as long as you aren’t making to much noise and disturbing other people/harming people, you are pretty much free to do what you want. I know some of my favorite party memories from this past year were just throwing impromptu themed dance parties with friends in our dorm rooms.</p>
<p>As for drug use, weed is definitely the most prevalent. I don’t know the numbers but freshman year i lived in the largest freshman dorm, Keeney quad, and i could smell weed quite periodically (at least once a day maybe). As for other harder drugs, I’m not sure. I think it is pretty scene specific. The only time i know of a lot of people really taking hard drugs (mostly mdma/e) was for Spring Weekend (our huge party/concert weekend).</p>
<p>So, as you can see, the “party scene” is really whatever you choose to make of it (like most everything at Brown). There is no pressure to engage in one activity or party lifestyle which is great!</p>
<p>The use of marijuana is much higher then 25%.
Student smoke it openly and nobody really cares.
One of my friends went on a tour and they looked at a dorm room. Supposedly the kid was rolling a joint…</p>
<p>CaptainHarkness, I am not sure when you friend took a tour, but as a current Bruin Club tour guide, I know for a fact that we do not lead tours into student dorm rooms and it has been my understanding that we have not done so for awhile. Any room that your friend saw must have been under a different arrangement.</p>
<p>Also here is a link to a substance use poll published this past fall by the Brown Daily Herald. [The</a> Brown Daily Herald - Substance use steady, poll shows](<a href=“http://www.browndailyherald.com/substance-use-steady-poll-shows-1.2092651]The”>http://www.browndailyherald.com/substance-use-steady-poll-shows-1.2092651)
77.9% said they had used alcohol within the last month, 33.2% had used marijuana, and 19.8% said they had used none of the substances listed.</p>
<p>Yep, definitely lots of dorm parties, especially with friends and social groups. There is always at least one huge, more inclusive party every weekend though, such as a house or frat/sorority party.
Then there is fischo, this pretty popular night club every wednesday and weekends.
And also lots of drugs on campus. No one is pressured to do it, but you should expect to smell marijuana and whatnot every dorm you go to, basically. Lots of kids drink and I know of only two people who don’t drink on a “regular” basis.</p>
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<p>For anyone who would find this to be a problem, substance free housing might be a good option. Most of the kids will go to parties or drink occasionally, but you won’t deal with other substances. I know that even cigarette smoke bothers me greatly, so I’ve done substance free all 3 years at Brown.</p>
<p>Do any of you know if Greek Life at Brown is exclusive? By that, I mean, do those in Greek Life all fit one stereotype/pattern?</p>
<p>And h2polo, I think this is one of the most important questions to ask. College is college, but college is also more than reading a book and studying, it’s also about a social lifestyle/environment that one can be comfortable with.</p>
<p>Greek life is anything but exclusive. I think the most exclusive house isn’t even Greek: about 1/3? of applicants to Buxton (International House) are admitted. And it’s somewhat more of a challenge to get into West House (they actually had a waitlist last year). But basically, if you show up to 2 or more rush events in the spring, and “fit in” with the house, you’ll get an invite.</p>