As a part of The Hustler's work hard, play hard series, freshmen and seniors were asked to comment on their views of the party scene (or study scene) on campus.

 

FRESHMEN
Kara Boldt
• Conversations about how “hard” someone went or how much they “raged” the previous night pepper the daily chatter.
• Class is always optional on Fridays. And usually Monday through Thursday, too.
• Homework is done 10 minutes in advance; night plans are made multiple hours ahead of time, and rarely ever start before 11:30.
• Multiple fraternities a night will have live bands, and half the time they’re even ones people have heard of.

Scott Marquart
• With only a few exceptions, I've been out every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night of the school year and have had a great time every night. 

• Initially my schoolwork fell by the wayside, but I've started to discover that partying can be motivation for working. Nowadays, I come back from class and work hard for a few hours so that I can go out and have a good time at night. 
• Now, I think I've at last come to learn the true Vanderbilt spirit: balance.

Victoria Wright
• It’s not rare for me to find students carrying their textbooks and notes to lunch or dinner with them, or for students to skip meals/bring meals back to their dorm room to continue studying.
• On the other hand, I have found many more freshmen who party much harder than they work. I feel as if the party scene is awesome at Vanderbilt. There is always somewhere to go, something to do and people to hang out and party with
• I feel like we are slowly learning how to balance working hard with partying hard.


SENIORS
Diane Floyd
• I'm not sure if Vanderbilt has toned down since 2006, but I know that I certainly have. Maybe I just got it all out of my system freshman year.
• I hardly ever felt a desire to go downtown (freshman year). In my mind there was no need; frat row was much more exciting! Besides, my cave-woman costume was totally acceptable on Kensington. Downtown, not so much.

• (I remember when I was a freshman) looking out for Chancellor Gee and his bow ties in the dining halls, at sporting events and on Saturday nights on Greek Row.

Matthew Clark
• As the years roll by and fraternities come and go, it seems that, in terms of numbers, the amount of partying going on at Greek Row is around the norm this year, in comparison to the past three years. However, it seems that many more are taking this opportunity to drink to excess than in years past.
• Students are certainly apt to take advantage of a light academic start to the term, and this seems to have been a regular trend from my first to now senior year. Many see this as the “honeymoon” phase of the college year, a time ripe for reacquainting with friends and partying as hard as they can any and every night of the week.

Janelle Stokes
• I party a lot more than I did freshman year. Freshman year I thought a big night consisted of watching a movie and having pizza with friends until 2 a.m. Now, four years later, I consider it an early night if I am able to make it home by 6 a.m.
• Vanderbilt is definitely a party school. I am amazed at students who are able to party any night of the week and manage to make it to a majority of their classes. I thought it was a big step when I started considering Thursday to be a part of the weekend.
• I think it says a lot about the student body that we are able to have fun and be responsible and successful in classes and in our personal lives.