On Oct. 21, Taj Kniceley, ‘20, reported that she and a few of her close friends had an encounter with several freshman the previous Friday around 11:00 p.m. on W. College Ave.
Kniceley and her friends were walking home from a yacht club meeting to a friend’s house when a group of drunken freshmen began shouting at them, asking if there were any parties they knew about.
When Kniceley and her friends told them they didn’t know of any parties that were open, the freshman began following them to their destination.
After reaching their destination, Kniceley recalls the group of students peering into her friend’s front windows to see if there was in fact a party at the house.
“There is nothing here!” she exclaimed at them. “This is just our friend’s house. Go away.”
Kniceley says that she in fact knew where parties were, but because of the students’ demeanor, she decided not to disclose that information.
“If they would have been nice and been like, ‘Hey! Do you know what’s going on tonight?” we would have been like, ‘Oh! Yeah, there’s stuff going on here and here,’” Kniceley said. “The way they approached us was just not good.”
This excursion is a case of what many people call a breach of party etiquette, the balance between things Wittenberg students should and shouldn’t do when they go out partying. Here is what students had to say about partying and party etiquette.
First, don’t go to a party unless it is open, or you were invited.
Wittenberg students say that if someone tells someone about a party and doesn’t invite them or tell them it’s open, they shouldn’t go.
“Assume that it is closed if someone says they are going to a friend’s house and don’t invite you.” Kim Estenson, ’19, said.
Additionally, Malik Clayton, ’19, says that a way to know that it would be okay to go to a party is by knowing the host of the party or one of their close friends.
“I don’t think you should go to a party of someone you don’t know,” Clayton said shaking his head and furling his brow. “Only if you know someone that knows them. Ask them and see if you can swoop through. That’s fine.”
Second, make sure you bring the essentials to a party.
Students say that you should bring the following to a party: cell phone, keys, wallet (identification, cash, debit card).
Megan Winters, ’20, recommends bringing a fanny pack to a party to carry these items in.
“My fanny pack is pretty laid back,” Winters said with snicker.
If the event is, “Bring your own bottle,” Wittenberg students advise that students take their own alcohol in a closed container, but only if they are of legal age.
Third, don’t get too drunk.
Though being too drunk is subjective from person to person, Wittenberg students say that students shouldn’t drink too much.
Kristen Feigel, ’19, says that she knows when she has had too much to drink.
“I know that I have had too much if I am asking for more,” Feigel said. “In my right mind I can gauge how much I can drink until I am in a good place.”
As an extension of the last point, Wittenberg students say students should also know exactly what party goers are drinking.
Ted Graeter, ’19, says that you should always know what you are drinking.
“If someone offers you something you didn’t see them drink, don’t take it,” Graeter said. “Also, keep an eye on your drink.”
Fourth, leave with the people you came with.
It is advised that students leave the party with the people that they came to the party with to ensure that everyone gets home or to the next event safely.
Winters says that she often finds herself being the “drunk mom” in her group of friends.
“If that is me for the evening, you gotta put on your big girl pants and say, ‘Alright, here’s what we’re gonna do,’” Winters said.
Students also say that if someone isn’t leaving a party with the people they came with, they must make sure that they are going home with someone they trust.
