UCSD’s depressing social scene needs no further belaboring. Unfortunately, there isn’t much my little ol’ column can do to make you leave Geisel, but, through my efforts to establish a healthy social life in my first year at UCSD, I’ve prepared some helpful strategies to make the most of our party-deprived weekends.
Because of UCSD’s large size, its social scene is inevitably divided into smaller subgroups. Whether it be through an athletic team, a Greek gathering or’ your awkward dorm socials, it’s easier to collect guaranteed weekend party-mates in structured social cliques. But, as freshmen shop around to find their most comfortable party pit stop, they’ll inevitably experience all of these options before they settle down and find their niche. It is understandably awkward, however, to be a freshman surrounded by seasoned sorority girls, binge-drinking boys and unwelcoming glares. Feelings of discomfort are common enough to be considered a freshman initiation, but it’s time you face the facts and prioritize. What is college if you can’t spend your Friday nights numbing stress by getting rip-roaring drunk? Besides, party sampling might be the only way you can break out of your Friday night ‘Office’ marathon ritual.
If you don’t want to buy the car without a couple test drives first, here are a few helpful hints that might lead you to some inner circles, or at least some free alcohol.
To earn some clout within the Greek system, target the same few fraternities and make friends with a few members. Freshman pledges are ideal, as it’s their job to promote the chapter and bring people to ragers. You’ll need to become friends with these token brothers in the beginning of the year and make an effort to tune into the things they like (and flattering text messages complimenting their classic frat-boy muscle shirts won’t hurt). Little acts like these will guarantee a quick reply with all the weekend party deets. Once you’ve received the address and confirmation that there will be unlimited jungle juice at your beck and call, it’s time to plan your first impression. To guarantee entry, make sure you or someone you go with is a scantily-clad woman. Although this could lead to potential harassment, making connections with a group of younger fraternity brothers just might be your ticket to those weekends to remember ‘mdash; or, better yet, not remember.
It’s no shocker that athletes train, eat and party together, and it’s exciting when they open these parties to the public after home games because you can feel the excitement in the air. But beware; while these parties will most likely be filled with washboard-abbed athletes, it’s difficult to break the sports-clique seal. Keeping up with sports jargon is no easy feat, especially in a room of lanky, towering basketball players who smash beer cans onto their foreheads and subsequently shoot them into trash cans. To fit in, I recommend you adopt a sporty attitude before getting to the party. Also, don’t attend unless the home team just won ‘mdash; chatting with pissed-off athletes who just lost a big game is depressing. Spend a few minutes memorizing s
ome statistics and brush up on your athletic lingo before wandering into the party so you can strike up a conversation. For bonus points, challenging basketball players to a game of beer pong will not only show them you can bank a shot, it will also get you drunk for free.
As for dorm parties, you must show up with a bottle of alcohol in hand. Choose a specific area (Sixth College apartments tend to be the best thanks to their secluded location), and follow the hip-hop to the nearest party. It might be intimidating to knock on a random door, but when it comes to underage drinking, anyone who shows up bearing gifts is a welcome addition. Plus, your handle of Popov will do wonders for your initial hesitance, making that apartment feel just like home.
If you find yourself desperate for action, hit up International House. Most residents are European students whose main goal is to live it up in sunny San Diego, so you’ll be hard pressed to find a dry room on the block. Those Euros know how to dance and will probably be less stingy than any American when it comes to booze.
It isn’t easy to come to a campus as big as ours and dive right in to a group of people who have already established their social circles. My tips are surely not foolproof, but entertaining weekends will surely come to those who make an effort. It’s up to you to change UCSD’s socially dead reputation, and when all else fails, find your favorite party partner, wade through the sweaty crowd to the alcohol table, tap into the keg of cheap beer and get wasted. Parties seem much more entertaining when you’re too foggy to notice how awkward you might look.