Princeton Review’s inclusion of the University of Oregon in an Aug. 5 list of “party schools” in its “The Best of 378 Colleges” publication doesn’t reflect the experience of most students.

The Massachusetts-based admissions consulting company, which is unrelated to Princeton University, based the UO’s no. 20 ranking on responses from just 1.6 percent of the student body. By comparison, a more systematic assessment by the American College Health Association last year found that:

• 1 in four UO students don’t drink alcohol regularly;
• The perceived usage of marijuana is 63 percent higher than actual use; and
• The perceived usage of alcohol is 21 percent higher than actual use.

The university’s Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition provides numerous prevention programs for students. For example, incoming students are required to take an online program called “AlcoholEdu”; that program also found that fewer UO students consume alcohol than perceived.

The university also works on campus and with partners in Eugene to educate students about their responsibilities as neighbors and how to contribute to the community.

“Social activities are important,” said Paul Shang, dean of students, “but the academic strengths of the UO are what attract and keep students at the university.”

The two-page Princeton Review description of the UO states that “students feel it is ‘a perfect place for someone seeking a well-rounded liberal arts secondary education,’ a school that has ‘all of the creative perks of a small learning environment with all of the excitement of a big school.’"