Unofficial. What comes to mind when you are a college student and you hear this word? Well. Party. Booze. People having a great time. So why is this a dreadful weekend? Well let me explain. Personally, I never even knew what Unofficial was until I came to the University of Illinois. After coming to this university I got some sense of what it was. It was a weekend to party. It's an unofficial St. Patrick's Day. That is to say since St. Patrick's day happens during Spring break sometimes and people might not be able to celebrate it, and this is the weekend to go crazy on campus. The idea of it is pretty stupid itself. It brings on the stereotype that Irish people like to drink and get drunk all the time. Well lets not not get into the cultural implications. I've partook in it in the past and reflecting on my past experiences, I don't really like it. I'll try my best to recall my past experiences and explain why I don't like it. I also have a few simple tips that will barely keep the freshmen out of trouble.
During Unofficial, people don on green T-Shirts printed weeks in advance and other Green gear. Regardless of the weather, people don't dress appropriately. Green street is flooded with college students and the occasional post graduate (I dont want to call them old folks). There is a very festive atmosphere with a faint smell of alcohol (or dense smell, depending on your proximity to the next closest drunk pedestrian on the street). People are hyped up and excitable. They are loud, some are rude. Guys always try to score a girl or two and girls are very scantily clad as if asking for attention. And you might see fights, ambulances, people crying, throwing up, public urination, just be mindful all types of crazy shit can happen during Unofficial.
Apartment Parties happen every where. Pre-gaming seems like the logical way to start this "festival". Usually it starts off with beer. Some people start with shots. After the party goers have "warmed up" enough, some head to the bars. Bar crawls are nice to see (insert sarcasm). A bunch of people wearing the same shirt form a group. They are usually very loud and boisterous and hit up one bar after another. They crowd up the sidewalks and its hard not to get swept away if you are walking towards a big group. The strangest thing I've personally seen was a bus packed with 20+ White, blonde, sorority girls getting off at a stop ready for a bar crawl. Not that I have any problems with White, blonde, sorority girls (some are actually cute), but I have never seen something like it before. It was quite a spectacle. And then there are more apartment parties later and the frat parties. The frat parties are loud and chaotic. Some houses are packed with people, the folks inside usually have a red solo cup in hand. Some converse. Some chill. Some play beer pong, keg stands, and more crazy shit. Some get down to the loud and indiscernible music. These people don't care about the sound quality, as long as there is a beat to dance to, who cares if the bass is so loud it distorts the melody of what once was a good song. And people don't know what treble is. Its so damn high its annoying. Typically the people in the frat parties will be buzzed to drunk and very few are on the verge of blacking out. Have no doubts some people need to be carried out of the parties at the end of em. Girls are scantily clad. They put on their favorite fragrance and copious amounts on makeup. Most of them get in for free. The guys however, unless you know people in the frat, have to pay to get into the parties. I mean that's understandable. Booze is heavily taxed and expensive. If you want people to go back to the parties you organize, it has to be good. Everyone needs to get their drink on. From cheap beer cans to giant kegs to shots of Vodka to vats of Jungle Juice. Whatever you want, they have. Or maybe they don't. Hey night is young and there are more parties and bars to hop to. Some people dance, some chill, some socialize, others do drugs (not that I've seen but I don't doubt.) Some people lose all morals and make out with whomever they deem attractive after obtaining a good pair of "beer googles". Either way by the end of the party, the floor will be sticky and gross. I feel bad for the people that have to clean up afterwards. Oh and remember: NEVER EVER wear a good pair of sneakers to a party. You will regret that like no other the day after you've regained consciousness. And there will always be sirens in the distance for the crazy people that over do it. Some parties get raided too because people get too wild.
Some people skip class during unofficial. Some people still go to class. Others go to class drunk. 9 am? Sure. One or two of your classmates might have had beer for breakfast. This one time a friend told me she went to class and it was like 10 am. So a girl in her class was so drunk she threw up and everyone in the class evacuated. What a nice way to start the weekend. Getting a whiff of breakfast/beer puke really does make sure the sleepyheads are awake. On Unofficial, nothing is ever to early. That's a golden rule to remember. Typically people start much later. Maybe 5 pm for preparations and pre gaming. An appropriate time to hit the bars would be around 8 or later. Many parties don't start til 11 pm or later. People don't usually go home until 3 or 4 am, if they go home at all.
During my first Unofficial freshman year, I went to a friend's place. The weather wasn't good that Friday so people kept it more low key than usual. I can't recall much because I probably did get drunk. Later that night I remember smoking bud. We had so much to smoke by the end of the session I couldn't keep my eyes open. So I knocked out on the couch. The next morning my friend cooked up some food and we had another session. Yet again, I was so blazed I couldn't keep my eyes open and yet again, I fell asleep until the afternoon where then I don't even remember how I got home. My first Unofficial ever. Good times (total sarcasm if you can't tell).
During my second Unofficial, I lived in an apartment. While my roommates were gone doing whatever, I invited friends over. We went to a gas station first because I wanted a FourLoko and then Meijer for booze. I bought a 24 pack, some dry Gin, Redbull, and a bottle of Jagermeister. That weekend was one of the most miserable weekends of my life. I drank a lot that night but this one friend was a monster. She drank five beers and kept going. I never thought a girl would be able to out drink me but there is a first time seeing anything. That was like a pre game thing. I don't even remember If I went to the bars after that. I'd say no since I felt too drunk to move after that. I mean a FourLoko, 3 beers and Jagerbombs... and on pretty much a empty stomach. Yeah that wasn't the brightest decision. I was so inebriated I had to take a nap. So my friends left and I guess I went to sleep? Another friend came to stay over that night so I guess I waited for him to come. By the time he came, most of my booze stash was gone. There was still dry Gin left but that stuff tastes disgusting on its own. I had enough supplies for maybe 1- 2 more Jager bombs but I had enough by then. After going to sleep, I remember waking up at 3-4 because I had to throw up. All that liquor made me feel very sick. I remember my friend had to throw up too because (after finding out the hard way), dry gin is potent too and it tastes really bad on its own. The next day I felt like crap and didn't want to eat. That was Friday night - Saturday. I was too tired from throwing up so much that I didn't want to go anywhere Saturday. But I don't remember that Saturday at all. All I do remember was having a beer the next day (Sunday) and I got so sick from one beer I couldn't go to class on Monday. I felt even worse. I thought I might be allergic to alcohol and vowed to never drink again. But that was an empty promise because after a few months, I started drinking again. Maybe I just severely overloaded my self that weekend. Another great time of my life (very sarcastic, if you couldn't pick it up this time either).
Now Unofficial is coming up again and this might be my third should I decide to partake. And this is why I say Unofficial is a dreaded weekend. Due to personal reasons, I don't want to participate in the "festivities" this year, but I will be tempted. Tempted to drink, to blow money on booze. Tempted to disregard logic and safety for my self and others. You might think you have a high tolerance to alcohol but when someone is under the influence, you'll be surprised at how rash they can really be. People will be flooding the streets. People will be throwing up, crying, making stupid choices and getting fined. I've had a bad experience before, yet this event only happens once a year. Its a excuse for many of my colleagues to "turn up" as well. We all know vaguely how the night will play out, how the weekend will play out , but everything becomes unpredictable when alcohol comes into the equation. Sometimes we suffer because of our stupid decisions, yet every year we do the same dumb shit over and over again. I think its time for me to break the cycle this year and not act like a uncivilized plebeian in a weekend of debauchery and drunkenness. And another reason why I don't like unofficial is because it just makes people look bad and sloppy. And stupid. And I don't want to waste money and let that inner monster come out when I'm like super drunk.
Now if you are a freshmen, I will give you some tips. I don't want you to have a terrible experience yet I want to keep you safe so you can thank me later. I've had a fair share of experiences to tell you what to and what not to do. Eat before going out. I cannot stress that enough. Drinking on an empty stomach is asking to make your self puke later. Wear enough clothes. Keeping yourself warm is also a good way to prevent getting sick later. Always stay with friends, never go anywhere alone. People can get very OC with enough liquor and you don't know what they might do to you. So always stick to a friend, and if you know them to be risk takers, keep an EXTRA close eye on them. When going home from a party, walk in large groups. Take the bus if you can. If its too late, call the Safe Ride home. But never venture out alone. Also in Champaign, ordinances has it that you can't purchase liquor past midnight. There might be more strict rules especially for Unofficial weekend. The University has sent out emails and so has the police department regarding rules for Unofficial. READ ALL THE RULES. You don't want to get arrested or have to pay fines. Also remember “Beer then liquor, never been sicker. Liquor then beer, have no fear.” I don't want to explain this rule cuz Im pretty sure people have told you this before (remember freshman orientation stuff?... the stupid programs they make you go through? Well if you don't remember look up the rule. It makes lots of sense). Another tip. Sometimes Jungle Juice tastes good. BUT NEVER have too much. You don't know what they put in it. Alcohol plus lots of sugar = bad idea and a sure path to a hangover (if you get those). Also don't start anything with anyone. Alcohol impairs logical decision making and therefore there will be fights. IF someone starts some shit with you, walk away. IF they are persistent , threaten to call the police. Cuz if the both of you are intoxicated and underage, the police might take you in too. Hmmm... that looks like all the tips I have to give. IF you make a mistake, just remember to learn from them. As long as you keep these basic rules in mind you should be fine.
Unofficial, inevitably will come around again. Be prepared. Be alert. Participate in the festivities with your own discretion. If you choose to do alternative stuff that doesn't involve drinking , more power to you. I just hope whatever happens this Unofficial, you guys can have fun and stay safe.
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