As a commuter, I often feel I’m out of the loop when it comes to on-campus activities. During my first year at UVic in 2021, my friends living in dorms would constantly talk about the parties. “Come down and check them out!” they’d say, or nudge me in class: “Hey, there’s a party at cluster tonight. You should come!”
Initially these offers sounded appealing, and as a first-year student living off campus, I wanted to have that experience and meet new people. That’s what university is about, right? I will say, as someone who has grown up and lived in Victoria their entire life, that I have never heard of UVic as a “party school.” But then again, I’ve never been much into the party scene anyway.
While I’ve never attended one of these on-campus parties, I did watch content people posted about them online. Snapchat stories in 2021 looked especially wild–people climbing poles, the police presence, fireworks set off in crowds… to me, it looked less like a party and more like drunken recklessness.
So, is UVic considered a “party school”? I asked a few students about their thoughts and experiences.
“I think in comparison to some other schools, yes, [UVic is a party school]” says Jesa, a second-year student. “There are definitely specific times when people go hard and party, like Halloween. But I think people just use the word ‘party’ as an excuse to go absolutely feral.”
Luella, another second-year student, says that she heard that UVic was a so-called “party school” after she had applied. “People would talk all the time about how there were these crazy parties. But when I got here, it was kind of not really that.”
Taylor, an exchange student from Glasgow currently living in cluster housing, says that UVic is not considered a “party school.” “Oh, absolutely not,” she says. “Coming from Glasgow, a place considered a party city for students, people rent out bars and stuff for uni students to party. They don’t loiter outside shooting off fireworks in the freezing cold.”
Students also note that the police presence on campus has become central to the UVic party culture. “People would walk around with open containers, and the police were just there,” Luella says. “Police are always there checking if people are underage or [not] UVic students. They’ve become a staple of campus parties,” adds Jesa.
The strict patrolling by police officers on campus limits the opportunity for student partying. “People here want it to be a ‘party school,’ but it’s not allowed to be,” Taylor points out. “[UVic] can’t be a ‘party school’ without even being allowed to have people in your dorm.”
The COVID pandemic might have also contributed to the rise in people wanting to party on campus in recent years. “I heard that the parties the year before [in 2021] were pretty crazy,” Luella says. “That might be because the bans were lifted and people could get together.”
Abby, a third-year student at UBC Okanagan (UBCO) and a Victoria resident, agrees that the pandemic may have heightened university partying tendencies. “When I first got to my school in 2021, everyone was partying. I think the short-lived stint of parties right after COVID probably gave UVic that reputation.”
Abby agrees that she hadn’t heard of UVic being called a “party school,” despite growing up in Victoria. “I know at UBCO it’s a lot smaller, but I’ve never heard of UVic being called a ‘party school,’ even when I lived [in Victoria]. In Kelowna, we just went to a gravel pit and called it a party, but we aren’t considered a ‘party school.’”
According to these students, having to live off campus also changes the game for parties. “The people I know in second-year right now agree it’s not really our priority. But I think [in] first year it was, and that’s why I think it may only [be] considered a ‘party school’ in the eyes of first years,” Jesa says. “When you’re in dorms, it’s different. You’re just there, so you kind of have to socialize.”
So what’s the consensus? While it sounds like UVic may have some partying tendencies (cue students posing for photos with police officers), the “party school” mindset wears off a bit after first year. Not to mention that party fever while living in dorms during the pandemic should be factored into the idea that UVic fits the “party school” bill. While the topic is fully up for debate, on-campus parties at UVic do provide entertainment, but may not help it to fit the true definition of a “party school.” So, to my fellow commuters–don’t worry. I don’t think you’re missing out on much.