St. Cloud State University No Longer Considered a Party School

Recently the annual list of "party schools" came out.  And for years SCSU was on that list.  Not as the biggest party school in the country, but it was up there.  I think usually the top party school was University of Wisconsin - Madison.  I have never been on that campus, but for years they were either at the top, or were the top party school.  Also - what consitiutes a "party school"?

WHAT MAKES A PARTY SCHOOL

If you do a quick Google search as to what a party school is, you will first get a list that doesn't seem that bad.

-What students think they have as a school/social life balance

-Access to bars and nightlife

-Sports and students participating in and cheering on their school teams.  Spirit

There are also some negative ideas that come to mind with the term party school.

-Events involving drugs and alcohol

-More of a focus on social aspects of college life instead of academics

-Students wanting to go to a particular school just because of the social scene

WHAT HAPPENED TO SCSU

St. Cloud State University was considered as one of the party schools throughout the 80s and 90s, and probably the early 2000s.  But that has changed so much.  The downtown scene here in St. Cloud has changed quite a bit.  SCSU no longer has a football team, which mostly bounced out the Homecoming activities.  That was so much fun in the 90s.  Also- so many more students opting for online learning, and many more non-traditional students attending the college than in former years.  Plus, a ton of International students that do focus much more on academics as opposed to participating in both the social scene and classes.

REPUTATION

If you were around back in 1988, like I was, and experienced the "riots" at SCSU, you know now that over the years it has been blown WAY out of proportion.  Yes, there was a sort of riot.  The police were sent out in full-on riot gear complete with tear gas.  That was the bigger issue than anything else.

There was a dumpster on fire in the Holes Hall (dorm that no longer existes) parking lot. There were also a couple of cars that were flipped over.  What I like to call disposable cars.  They were small like a Geo Metro, or a Colt, or a Yugo.  Something along those lines.  And someone was blaring Revolution by the Beatles.  The officers in riot gear actually escalated the situation, to be honest.

WHAT DIDN'T HAPPEN

Over the years, this story has been blown up to the point where I heard that people now believe that Motley Crue was playing at Acacia Fraternity  In 1988!!?? That was basically at the height of their career.  That absolutely did not happen.  Nor does their song Wild Side mention St Cloud State.  But that certainly would have been fun if it did!

The city and the administration have been working very hard to change the reputation of the school.  Personally, it seems to lack the fun that it used to have when I went there.  It was one of the best times of my life.  Even though Motley Crue didn't play there.

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