OPINION: Navigating the realities of a party school

“Blue House in 2014,” Photo by Ken Steinhoff

Jessica Horner is a freshman studying journalism with a minor in political science. She is an opinion writer for The New Political.

Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.

In 2015, Ohio University was ranked the #1 party school in the nation, known for Welcome Week, HallOUween Weekend and Fest Season.

In the same year, 82% of Ohio U student survey respondents reported experiencing sexual misconduct on campus. 

Ohio U's party school legacy creates an unpredictable social scene for its students, primarily underclassmen, who have little to no experience living on their own. A reputation for partying comes with the harsh reality of doing so unmonitored and without regulation. 

Once the weekend hits, students take full reign of the town, and when class resumes Monday morning, Ohio U is an entirely different campus. Associate Director of Prevention and Education Ann Brandon said, "Underage students are getting into bars without much resistance. Meet that with low-density, cheap, accessible alcohol creating little to no barrier to younger students getting into bars and parties. Ending in higher rates of violence." 

Students get in dangerous situations and become overtrusting in their ability to remain safe. It's not just at Ohio U; across most universities, too many questionable situations occur at parties and bars. 

Often, students don't want to interject when they see something and won't hold their friends accountable for their actions.

"There are assaults that happen without alcohol. A survivor is not responsible for drinking. The worst thing you should have is a hangover, not being sexually assaulted," Brandon said. 

Seven years later, we have slipped to 12th on the party school list, and although some students may disagree, Ohio U has become a safer campus. The university is working toward becoming a safe, worry-free campus, but so far, there have not been effective or noticeable changes.  

Stopping sexual violence on campus in its tracks is just not realistic. "There's no magic wand to stop people from being harmed, but the messaging that we can do on all levels, students and staff, is 'we're not going to tolerate this and this is how we enact that and that toleration," Brandon said.

There are still countless dangerous situations for students to find themselves in and plenty of places where they aren't guaranteed to be safe.

One party house has gained a reputation for being arguably the most unsafe party spot on campus. Blue House residents are 'notorious' for drugging and raping girls, according to The Athens NEWS. 

The fraternity loosely associated with Blue House has faced backlash, accusations and legal confrontations over the years, and stories of the dangers that go on inside still manage to surface. No conclusions or actions came from several investigations.

I reached out to the fraternity president, who left no comment on the claims against them. 

It takes one Google search of the fraternity's name to find stories on accusations and even a petition from 2014 advocating to ban the Ohio U chapter altogether. One petition signer says she went to a party hosted by the fraternity where her friend was roofied by a member, resulting in her being rushed to the hospital where doctors said she was "one sip away from a coma." 

In an Instagram post giving "freshman advice," the account "ohiouchicks" told freshmen Blue House was the place to go for free drinks. Almost the entire comment section included backlash for that one comment, the post still made an impression on its followers, including freshmen who may be more susceptible to take that advice.

The problem is that everyone knows what happens, but it doesn't stop anyone from actually going. According to Brandon, "85-90% of the time, it is someone the victim knows. No one is just jumping out of a bush."

"We can talk about all these things that are so important to a bigger picture, but we all have to come together and say violence shouldn't be tolerated and everyone should be doing something about it. Even staff and faculty. This isn't just a student issue," Brandon added. 

Coming from the perspective of a student, Megan Handle, Ohio U Student Senate women's affairs commissioner, said of the party site: "I don't think there is enough accessible information about where is safe and where is not safe … People are going to do it because they think it's fun but we need a way to teach them about the safety and actual importance of not just going out and instead, thinking about what you're doing beforehand."

Handle also shared the safety measures she takes when going out to parties and bars.

"My roommates and I all share our locations. We tell each other where we're going, with whom and when we should expect them to be back, said Handle. "I always go out in a group with at least two or three other people. If you're going out, make sure it's at least three of you. Protect yourself by not just being alone." 

Multiple investigations and attempts at addressing the problems at Blue House have not provided any real outcome. Kim Rouse, the director of Ohio U's Survivor's Advocacy Program (SAP), said that "handling situations like the Blue House is more than the school's responsibility. It's everyone's responsibility to be better bystanders. It starts with bystanders interjecting when they see concerning things happening, not just interjecting to save a survivor but when they see anything questionable. That's when we need people to intervene when we see small things to prevent big things from happening."

The university has decided to focus on its response to sexual misconduct and harassment by exploring new ways to connect with its students. 

Rouse explained that "regardless of what a survivor does, reporting or not, when they come through our doors they never question if they are believed nor judged on what they choose to do."

SAP is working to make resources more available by adding coasters to bars with bystander tips on one side and the SAP hotline on the other to encourage people to act if a situation arises. 

"The message should never be, 'Protect yourself from sexual assault' because that's not a reality, it's not your fault," Brandon said. "The message can be, 'make sure your friend doesn't get left behind. Have a plan. It's taking care of each other.'" 

The effective approach isn't to attempt to prevent perpetrators from assaulting but to train the students to recognize the danger signs before it's too late. 

“Members of the Ohio University campus and community participate in the annual “Take Back the Night” march on April 5, 2018,” Photo by Meagan Hall.

Brandon proposes the campus's best option is to implement systems reaction systems to help out its students and set up preventative systems like Green Dot. 

Green Dot is a bystander intervention program that works in awareness and prevention. It is working on changing the stigma around assault. They are working on breaking down any tolerance we've created for sexual violence rather than a victim-focused curriculum.

The program ensures that more bystanders are trained to recognize the signs of sexual misconduct. It is meant to normalize speaking up and modeling bystander behavior.

Most students know to watch their drinks and be aware of their surroundings. But often, when alcohol and drugs are involved, you take the rest of the half-empty drink sitting at the bar, or you watch your friend leave with someone you don't know and assume they'll be fine. We owe it to ourselves and our friends to be more aware of our surroundings.

I've already been persistently bothered, unwantedly touched, and followed multiple times at night. In my experience, it's the unassuming predator rather than the typical intimidating perpetrator. Terrible things can happen in very public places when people are unaware. Getting caught up in the college atmosphere and letting your guard down is easy. 

College students are going to drink, go out with their friends, have a good time and that's their right. But they are unprepared. They're invited out to settings they don't know with people they likely just met. Along the way, they will meet people who choose to look out for them in passing. I asked a freshman student how their mindset changes when they see something unsettling happening in a bar or party. 

"I make sure I am aware of my surroundings. Whether I am under the influence or not, I look around and make sure I know where my friends are and where I am at," the freshman said. "If someone is in a rough situation I also try and help them and make sure they have a way home." 

Part of what makes this school reliable is the community the students build with each other. Ohio U has developed a very supportive community that will warn you about roofing, tell you to avoid Blue House and walk you home no matter how sure of your sobriety you are. Newcomers will adapt pretty fast; for the most part, you will learn how to have fun, stay safe, and avoid dangerous situations.

That's the real support system of this campus. Among students and faculty, the biggest support system for students is other students. Bobcats, watch out for other Bobcats.