After being a big hit last semester, the St. Thomas Neighborhood Student Advisers in Off-Campus Student Services brought back its Party Packs, and they didn’t stick around for long.
The packs were handed out Wednesday afternoon in the John P. Monahan Plaza and quickly disappeared into the hands of students walking by. The bags contained items to encourage a safe party environment, including bottles of water, wrist bands, garbage bags and lists of convenient phone numbers.
“This is just one of those things that maybe it can help out a little bit because it’s going to happen, to some degree no matter what,” said Josh Hengemuhle, Off-Campus Student Services area manager. “But if we can help make it more responsible, lessen the impacts afterward and help students reduce the risk of the social host ordinance or those sort of things.”
Senior Tony Forneris said that he picked up one of the packs and found that it contained some items he would definitely use, along with great information. He said he doesn’t think they endorse partying but help with something that is inevitably going to happen.
“I think St. Thomas recognizes the fact that being a college student there’s going to be partying,” Forneris said. “We’re going to go out and party and for those of us who aren’t 21, I think they provide information that allows it to bring attention that it can be done more safely than just binge it until you black out.”
Freshman Taylor Fleege and senior Britt White also scored a party pack while out enjoying the warm weather. They said the bags contained items that would be helpful.
“I think it’s a good thing because people are already going to have parties. It’s giving you tools to make it a cleaner party and more safe,” Fleege said.
Hengemugle said he has talked with many students who were planning a small get-together and it grew into a huge party. The party packs are meant to control the unexpected.
“If it’s something that some folks wouldn’t spend money on because they are going to spend money on other things, we can do this to at least help them be a little more responsible,” he said.
Kristopher Jobe can be reached at jobe1276@stthomas.edu.
Just a quick note: The Wellness Center (http://www.stthomas.edu/wellness/) also helped support/sponsor the party packs this semester, just as they did last semester as well. It was a joint effort and we in Off-Campus Student Services definitely appreciate their collaboration.