Four Putnam County Hospital visits, three welfare checks and hundreds of rumors later, the class of 2015's first week of college came to a close.
Alcohol-related incidents in freshman dorms for the first week of the fall semester have decreased from 2010 figures, Public Safety director Angie Nally confirmed.
Last year, the freshman class had five alcohol violations and six welfare checks in the same time.
Nally said she attributes the reduced numbers of alcohol-related incidents in part to educational programs, including Party House.
"There have been a couple instances where students were good bystanders for their friends, which is impressive being this early in the year," Nally said.
She said the next step for the freshman class is learning how to stop alcohol consumption before extra help is needed.
One freshman, who chose to remain anonymous, attended dorm parties over the weekend and said students need to be smart when it comes to drinking.
"A handful of freshmen don't know their limits and therefore act differently when alcohol enters the situation," he said.
This freshman has hosted parties in his dorm room and said he doesn't worry about getting caught because he follows the three golden rules of dorm parties.
"First: don't have too many people. You have too many people, and you're going to get caught," he said. "Second: no screaming or shouting. Loud noises attract attention, which is the last thing you need. And third: you have to watch out for those around you. No one can get too intoxicated."
The student said college is all about learning how to be an adult, and being an adult entails responsibility.
"You have to make choices that affect not only you but also everyone around you," he said.
Freshman Erin O'Brien said she lives in a high-traffic area for dorm parties where she deals with issues of noise and drunken friends.
She has decided against participating in dorm parties but would never consider herself to be a "stick in the mud."
She doesn't participate in the parties because she doesn't want to put herself in a situation that could lead to trouble.
O'Brien said these illegal parties for freshmen have not affected her social or academic life.
She has still been able to develop a group of friends and complete any homework professors assigned on the first few days.
Nally and both students agreed that if a student decides to drink under the legal drinking age, he or she takes a risk and needs to make decisions accordingly.
Nally said students should learn their limits, know of safe environments and trust their companions.