Throwing a House Party A Guide by and for UW–Madison Students

Common Reasons Your Party Was Shut Down and/or Fined • You charged a cover (you sold cups to your guests as they entered your party) • You sold shots • You kept your party an open event and didn’t stick with a guest list • The number of attendees kept growing and things got out of hand • You had too many guests and the noise got the cops’ attention • You served mixed and sweet fruity drinks and neither you nor your guests could keep track of the amount of alcohol consumed • You served alcohol to minors and underage guests • No one stayed sober to monitor the party • You spread the word that your party was a pre-party event and no one left • You publicized your party as an after-bar event • You played drinking games • Your guests did not know what was in their drinks. Remember: Drinks poured into cups from a common source are more likely to be tampered with. Make it a point to supply single-serve containers that your guests can open for individual consumption

Throwing a House Party A Guide by and for UW–Madison Students To lower the risks associated with house parties, some of us, students at the UW–Madison, developed this guide.

Our Goal Alcohol is a drug that impedes judgment and selfcontrol. It causes health and economic problems. Still, the campus community understands that many students choose to drink. And house parties are not going away any time soon. We are committed to reducing alcohol-related problems by providing information and awareness about the consequences of high-risk drinking parties.

What, Exactly, ls a House Party? By “house party” in this guide we are referring to a real house party—not a group of friends gathered together having a couple of drinks, shooting darts, and socializing. We are talking about a huge gathering of people: a crowded, damp and dark basement of a house; plentiful amounts of cheap beer; loud, pulsating music; possibly a cash bar with generic shots (passed off as top shelf); random hook-ups; and at the end of the night, everyone leaving having had too much to drink, with lots of stories to tell, leaving behind a mess for the residents of the house to clean up. The authors of this guide are familiar with the scenarios and risks that house parties present on a college campus. We have not just researched it, we have lived it, and we are speaking from experience when we present this information in an attempt to reduce alcohol-related problems of house parties that can result in fines, property damage, and injuries.

So Why Throw a Large House Party? Some students throw large house parties to continue a legacy of parties in the house, some do it for notoriety, some do it to take advantage of naïve, underage freshmen, and many end up with a large party because their intended small gathering got out of hand. And some do it for the money. The safest party is one with a list at the door in which the hosts of the party know everyone present. As a result, there is no question about how many people will attend. And by knowing everyone in their house, the risk of damage, theft, and loss of control is greatly minimized.

[We] are familiar with the scenarios and risks that house parties present... and we are speaking from experience when we present this information in an attempt to reduce alcohol-related problems of house parties.

Using a list is not usually an option at a typical house party, in which friends tell friends, word is passed around the dorms, and people see a crowd walking off campus and follow them to the sound of loud music and partiers. This situation is much more common, and as a result there are many more associated risks. This booklet addresses these higher risk house parties, presenting common dangers, as well as proven methods to prevent risks and ensure that everyone can have a fun, safe time.

The Risks Property Damage and Theft Allowing strangers into your home and letting them walk around unsupervised creates opportunities for items to be broken or stolen. The best way to prevent this, as obvious as it may seem, is to not allow access to valuable items. 1. Lock all bedrooms, pantries, and closets. Be sure that locks are secure enough to not get kicked in or broken into. 2. Secure cabinets, drawers, and refrigerators (duct tape works well). Clear shelves and bulletin boards. Remove towels, toiletries, and cleaning supplies from the bathroom. 3. Cover or protect all items that can be tampered with. This includes valves on the furnace, water heaters, radiators, and fuse boxes (which drunk folk love to play with). Duct tape and cardboard work well to cover most, but make sure that the pilot light won’t ignite any coverings. 4. DO NOT ALLOW SMOKING inside the house. This will drastically reduce the chance of a fire breaking out in the house—especially those 90-yearold houses you are partying in. And it will prevent odors inside. Most people will be happy to step outside to have a smoke and cool off. 5. Keep an eye on things. It is imperative that the hosts remain at the party and stay sober—in other words, someone should be the designated sober person. Have a host keep an eye on the door, another on the events taking place outside, and at least one roaming around checking the locks, the barrels/taps, and watching for people breaking or stealing items. And its a good idea to commission friends to do the same.

REMEMBER: If items come up missing, there’s nothing that can be done. The hosts are liable, since they invited the guests into their home. And it’s unlikely you’ll find who took them. If damage is done to the house, the hosts are also liable and will face consequences with the landlord. Soiled carpets, broken doors, scratched cabinets, and a flooded bathroom or basement will almost always result in the loss of the security deposit and/or eviction. Read your lease carefully so you know your responsibilities!

Sexual Assaults and Assaults/Fights Alcohol severely impedes judgment and can cause people to do things they might not otherwise do. As a result, emotions run high, tempers flare, and those who have been drinking get carried away in their actions. Assaults are damages to one’s body, and the host of the party can prevent the pain of such an experience by being aware of what is going on in their house. 1. While it is not possible to remember all faces, be aware of your guests and their companions. As a host, watch as people leave (if departing guests seem very drunk, ask them if they told the appropriate people that they were leaving, so friends aren’t looking for them). Guests who have had too much to drink may have a difficult time understanding no—and most likely are not in a state of mind to obtain consent for sex. Whether you are the host

or a guest, remain attentive and look out for those around you. 2. Lock all bedroom doors, pantries, and closets. Limit access to areas out of view in which guests could have sexual encounters (beds, couches, etc). 3. Keep an eye on things. If someone is being pursued against his or her will, or people are looking to fight, step in. It is your house—don’t be afraid to break it up (get a large group of friends to escort them out; this discourages further argument). 4. Don’t allow people to walk home alone. Provide information such as the Metro 81/82 free bus routes. And let them know that all students are eligible for four free SAFEride taxi rides per month (262-5000). REMEMBER: If a crime happens, such as an assault, and the police investigate, the hosts of the party may be liable for damages. The hosts can be cited after the fact for throwing the party, and may even end up in court. This may apply even if the hosts were not present when the assault took place.

Guests who have had too much to drink may have a difficult time understanding no— and most likely are not in a state of mind to obtain consent for sex.

Police Showing Up/Party Busted Probably the biggest fear of anyone hosting a house party is that the police will show up at their door. Many laws are frequently broken at house parties, and as a result, a police visit can result in large fines for the hosts of the party. Here are a few of the most common reasons police come to a party: 1. Noise complaints (neighbors calling police) 2. Party noise (people yelling, loud music) 3. Fights and disturbances 4. People gathering outside (hanging in street, driveways, porches) 5. Public urination or vomiting (in street, on houses, on cars) 6. Destruction of public or private property (vandalism, theft, arson) 7. Pulling of fire alarms (typically in apartments) What Are Some Ways l Can Keep the Cops Away? 1. Alert neighbors when you are having a party. Most folks understand that they are living in a college town and that students will be students. Giving neighbors a heads-up ahead of time shows respect

and encourages neighbors to approach the hosts with concerns, instead of immediately calling the police. 2. Take frequent walks around the outside of the house. You’ll find out if music is too loud, people are too loud, there is a line to get in (this is a sure signal to police that your party is too big), people are too drunk to be allowed back in the party, etc. 3. Keep all guests in the backyard or back of the house. This will draw less attention to the party and discourage people from wandering around through neighbors’ yards. 4. Use fans and vents to keep the temperature cooler inside the house. This will help keep people from passing out or getting sick. It will also decrease the need for people to stand outside to get cool, which will lessen the noise outside. What Should We Do if the Police Show Up at Our Party? 1. DO NOT run away from the police or lock the door on them. Avoidance will only make the situation worse, so come clean up front. 2. DO stop the music and the party and ask everyone to leave calmly. Emphasize to the guests that the hosts are the target of the police, not them—so they should just relax.

Giving neighbors a heads-up ahead of time shows respect and encourages neighbors to approach the hosts with concerns—instead of immediately calling the police.

landlords more involved with the affairs of their tenants by alerting them when complaints are made against the tenants. 3. Your records may become tarnished:

3. DO find the most sober and coherent host to talk with the officers. Uncontrollable and uncooperative hosts will only aggravate the officers.

• Drinking-age convictions appear on driving record for five years

4. If given a citation, DO go to your court date to address the situation and citation.

• Your driver’s license can be suspended ($50 to reinstate)

What Can the Cops Do if They Bust Us? 1. Hosts may be fined by the city in a combination of the following:

• Your auto-insurance rates go way up • Your student record may be affected if the dean of students gets involved

• Dispensing Alcohol without a Permit, $345.50

• In some cases, parents may be notified

• Providing Alcohol to Underage Persons, $348, 1st violation; Jail, 2nd violation

• Drinking and driving penalties are much more severe than the penalties above

• Underage Drinking (per underage guest at party), $162, 1st; $286, 2nd • Noise Violation, $100 2. You may be fined by your landlord. Many leases have a no-party clause on the lease that can result in fines or even eviction. Programs are in the works to keep

4. If you are caught on university property, you might also be subject to campus judicial procedures. The outcomes could involve probation, suspension, or expulsion (depending on the severity of your offense), particularly if you are found responsible for a conduct violation.

Conclusion House parties happen now, parties happened when our parents were in college, and parties will happen when our children are in college. Parties can be high-risk situations, with many potential, costly consequences associated with hosting one. Students have been injured and have even died in house-party situations. As a result, much of the liability is on the shoulders of the host. This guide is based on perspectives and trials of college students who have been in these situations and are seeking to keep the environment of a party fun, yet safer for all involved.

Web Resources PACE, coalition to reduce effects of high-risk drinking: www.wisc.edu/uhs/pace Madison Police, information on parties: www.ci.madison.wi.us/police/partyinfo.html Offices of the Dean of Students www.wisc.edu/students e-CHUG Alcohol Assessment interwork.sdsu.edu/echug/uwm/index.html SAFEwalk: www.fpm.wisc.edu/trans/Safe/SafeEscort.htm 911: www.co.dane.wi.us/communicationscenter

How Can We lmprove This Guide? How can we work together to keep parties from getting out of hand? Please contact Sudi Ceglarek, PACE project coordinator, at (608) 265-5231 or [email protected]. Credits: This guide was written by UW–Madison students: David Brunow (graduated), Joe Crain (graduated), Charlotte Dominguez, and Peter Marlenga.