The number two party school in the nation is cutting back on alcohol violations

By Kiley Beykirch, Staff Writer

Published Oct 19, 2023

Alcohol at a football game. (Heesoo Yang / Staff Photographer)

The Wall Street Journal ranks TCU second in the nation regarding student satisfaction with the party scene, but that doesn’t mean students are racking up alcohol violations.

Last year, 412 AVs were issued, according to the 2023 Crime and Safety Report released last month by the TCU Police Department. That’s a 63% decline since 2020 when 1,117 violations were issued.

The Wall Street Journal’s Top U.S. Colleges for Partying was derived from a survey of over 60,000 students and recent graduates. The survey contained questions about the learning experience, career preparation and other aspects of their college life, such as the students’ satisfaction with their college’s party scene.

“I think that without alcohol, TCU’s party scene would not be nearly as strong,” said Presley Cofield, a sophomore fashion merchandising major. “Drinking one to three nights a week is so normalized.”

Whether TCU are students cutting down on on-campus drinking or TCU is becoming more lenient is up for debate.

Cofield added that in her experience, TCU authorities have been more concerned with alcohol safety than prevention.

“Our team does alcohol education programs within the halls,” Missy Draper, the assistant director of housing, said. “Information about safely consuming alcohol and expectations around alcohol are discussed in all of our welcome meetings.”

Milton Daniel Hall. (Heesoo Yang/Staff Photographer)

The American Addiction Center conducted a study that listed college towns with high alcohol consumption rates. None of the schools known for their town’s high alcohol consumption levels, besides Tulane University in New Orleans, made the Wall Street Journal’s list of top party schools.

This could suggest that students do not base their satisfaction with their college’s party scene on alcohol consumption.

Todd Sam, a junior economics major, predicted that 2023 might have even fewer alcohol violations than 2022.

“Since students do not frequent the West Seventh area bars as often anymore, drinking on campus has declined. Students do not need to drink in their residence halls before they go to bars,” Sam said.