Babson Survival Guide Part 8: Parties at Babson
It's common knowledge around here that the social life is lackluster at best. Kids sitting around, getting drunk alone in their rooms, is not uncommon. Most students drink to forget how bad Babson is (due in part to the tremendous workload) and a lot drink "because there is nothing else to do." (That's a quote from numerous survey results.)
But as bad as the social scene is, there are still plenty of parties and more than enough alcohol. And that's what this section is for.
In general, parties at Babson involve lots of Busch Light, rap music, and dancing. Nothing too unusual. Parties in freshmen dorms during Orientation involve lots of drinking, puking, and trips to the hospital due to alcohol poisoning.
You'll soon find that the party dorms are Canfield, Kieth, and Pietz. That's where the senior suites and frat towers are.
These parties are pretty self-explanatory. What needs explained are these weird parties Babson puts on...
Knight Parties
Knight parties are the party to go to according to the Campus Activities Board (CAB.) The general student opinion, though, is that these parties are pretty lame. They are held in Knight Auditorium (hence the name) and consist of a dance floor, a DJ, shiny lights, and some free drinks (whether that be beer or soda.)
The parties are held about once a month on a Saturday night from 10 PM till 2 AM. They don't actually "start" till about midnight. The only reason to go at 10 is for free food or beer (if you're 21.) People usually show up at 10, drink some free beer, then go to some other parties. Then people will make their way back to Knight at about 12 for some dancing.
A term you should be familiar with is "pre-gaming." That is when you drink a lot before going out to an event such as a Knight Party. This is quite common at Babson - common enough that students pre-game almost any event, so they're not so bored at it.
Pub Nights
Pub nights are special events at the pub every Thursday night. It's nothing more than going to the campus pub for some dollar drafts and dancing. Sometimes it's free and sometimes there is a $2 cover to benefit the organization sponsoring the event. Some pub nights are sponsored by Babson and usually offer free admission, free drinks, and maybe even door prizes. (They have to do this to entice students to actually show up.)
These go from 10 PM till midnight, with most people showing up at 11 PM. Then everyone gets forced out at midnight.
The pub is actually open every weeknight, but hardly anyone shows up. They rarely card anyone on Monday-Wednesday, so it's a good chance to drink if you're under 21. Not that you should try. You'll probably have early morning class every day of the week anyway.
Festival Weekends
These weekends consist of Fall Weekend, Winter Weekend, and Spring Weekend. The few times per year that Babson actually has events on campus. There is usually a pub night, knight party, maybe a barbeque, and a comedian or some sort of performer. They usually hand out free Babson shot glasses or mugs at these events.
Spring Weekend is the one weekend where there is a real concert. It's too bad they blow a ton of money on one concert, but that's how it goes. The past few years have brought in bands such as OAR, Wyclef Jean, The Roots, and Third Eye Blind.
There is also Alumni Weekend in the fall, which is the only time of the year you can drink outside and get away with it. Babson eases off the rules a bit so that any visiting alumni have a great time and feel like donating some money back to the school.
< Back to Part 7 | On to Part 9 >
