We know it may be beating a passed-out horse, but we just felt the need to express one more time how incredibly excited we are that we are a top-10 party school based on the comprehensive mathematical model used by the Princeton Review. It is our hope that someday, everyone in the world will know that DePauw really knows how to party.
Over the summer, don't forget to tweet, Facebook, text and even yell that we drink a lot of beer. If you are in a job interview or talking to a DePauw alumnus, skim past all the academic stuff and make sure to remind them that DePauw knows how to have fun. The interviewers will know that you will interact well with colleagues and be fun to hang out with after work. Alumni — understanding our love for partying — will probably donate in record amounts. After all, that's why we're here, right?
We were thoroughly disappointed to see that Forbes ranked DePauw as 64th on a list of the nation's top universities without even a mention of how many parties we throw. It is this type of shallow journalism that ruins the good name of our university. Let's stop all the nonsense about honors programs, extracurricular activities and devotion to preparing students for the world.
It is time for our school to start writing to all major publications in the world denouncing our commitment to learning, and spill a little bit of beer on the envelope for effect. This is also important for admissions. If we allow the advertisement of our high academic standards to sully the name of DePauw, we might attract nerdy recruits who will add to the problem of academic excellence.
While it is natural that people our age like to have a good time while reserving some time for studying, we cannot realize how cool we are without sharing it with the world. Don't just party because it's fun and can be a viable way of winding down after a difficult week; party to show the world you're cool! The more that we share our culture with school administrators, alumni and prospective students, the more respect and understanding they are sure to show us.
With less than two weeks until graduation, our seniors have only a short time left on this campus to demonstrate their partying prowess. They must grab the beer by the neck and continue to glorify what should be part of DePauw's mission statement. Upon receiving your diploma, take with you the spirit of uncommon (partying) success and throw out all else. Though you may hardly remember your four years on this campus, what you do remember through the haze will be worth never forgetting.
For all of us returning in the coming semester, do not return for academic achievement, community service or true intellectual growth. Return to show the world that we are the true number one party school.
In reality we really do like that students can have a good time, relax, and build interpersonal skills in a party setting on our great campus. We in no way advocate toning down the social life of our campus. We, and I'm sure every graduating senior in search of a job, would prefer if the world thought of DePauw the institution it is, committed to academic excellence, and well suited to springboard all its students to be all that they can. So, this summer, with a quiet smile of the fun you had this year, tell the person next to you on the plane about the academic excellence that makes DePauw great.
— Burns is a sophomore from West Lafayette, Ind., majoring in political science and Kirkpatrick is a sophomore from Overland Park, Kan., majoring in political science. They are the co-hosts of "DePauwlitics," heard Tuesdays from 8-9 pm on WGRE.
opinion@thedepauw.com