As proved by a sophisticated report being released today, Ball State University is no longer holding down its "party school" status.
We've all heard the rumors and myths about Ball State being named one of the top 10 party schools in the country by the elite magazine Playboy.
AIM away messages and Facebook profiles often jest with lines similar to: "Ball State was not ranked in Playboy's annual list of the top 10 party schools. The magazine says it doesn't rank professionals."
Students at every campus in the country talk about the annual Playboy rankings. Those lists, however, do not exist. Truth be told, Playboy doesn't do much ranking - period.
"It's an urban legend that we publish a list every year," Theresa Hennessey, publicity manager for Playboy, said.
That's right, those lists are mere fantasies. And, yes, Playboy actually has a publicity manager.
For avid Playboy readers - yeah, who am I kidding? - it's worth noting that The Princeton Review also publishes an annual party school list, which Playboy has printed before.
But Hennessey said this is only the third time Playboy editors have done it ... the list, that is.
The original list was published in January 1987 with a much delayed follow-up in 2002, Hennessey said.
In 1987, Ball State ranked 18th on the list of 40. Indiana University missed the list of 25 in 2002, as did Ball State - Arizona State, however, was on top.
Today, Playboy published its 2006 list, and Wisconsin topped it, with Indiana University slipping in at No. 4. But much to the dismay of students and the joy of others, Ball State is not on the list.
Hennessey said Playboy editors don't take the bottom - um - rankings because the list is based on editors' subjective decisions.
Yes, it seems there is some actual work involved in the process of deciding these things.
In order to create the list, Playboy editors contact campus representatives and talk to them about campus life, Hennessey said.
"We take a lot of things into consideration on this list," she said. "We're not saying it's a bad education. It means there's a great music scene, social scene and school spirit."
In a release this week, Playboy Editorial Director Christopher Napolitano said the list represents schools offering a good education with an active social life.
That said, it's no wonder Ball State is missing from the list. Although some administrators and admission officials collectively breathe a sigh of relief at Ball State's absence from the list, the omission highlights the problem of our lacking school spirit. As students, it's our own fault we're not on the list.
It seems our party atmosphere is fast disappearing. You could say Playboy mastermind Hugh Hefner is getting more action than our party hats.
Yes, I really mean party hats.
As much as stress, homework and our academic lives get to us, we still need to know when to sit back and unwind.
In the midst of the furiously busy and hellishly stressful spring months, it's quite easy to lose sight of - well, having a life.
It's our time here, and believe it or not, it's limited. Let's make the best of it while we can.
Playboy's ranking is trivial at best, but the lacking school pride on our campus is not.
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