Ohio University ranked top U.S. party school

CHICAGO (Reuters Life!) - Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, was ranked the number one party school in the United States, according to The Princeton Review.

"For the most part on campus, people know how to have a good time," said Eric Benjamin, 25, a fifth-year student at the university, studying visual communications and graphic arts.

The Review applies the ranking based on survey questions on the use of alcohol and drugs, hours of study each day, and the popularity of the Greek system. The party ranking is part of the Review's book, "Best 376 Colleges: 2012 Edition."

University of Georgia and the University of Mississippi came in second and third on the list.

Benjamin, a bartender at Pigskin Sports Bar & Grill in Athens, said he thinks the school has gotten both better and worse in terms of partying. He sees a lot of young kids over-drinking and not being aware of their tolerance.

"They're just trying to go really hard and really fast and most kids don't know what their limits are," said Benjamin.

But he said he also sees that for the most part, people know their limits and have a good time without having problems.

Benjamin said he didn't come to the school for its partying reputation, but for academic and personal reasons.

Ohio University President Roderick J. McDavis sent an e-mail to faculty and staff saying that the ranking "is not indicative of the overall experience" of the university and does not match its own data.

"We take seriously our responsibility to help our students succeed in all facets of their experience, including addressing high-risk behavior," McDavis said.

Rounding out the Top Ten on the partying list were University of Iowa, University of California-Santa Barbara, West Virginia University, Pennsylvania State University-University Park, Florida State University, University of Florida and University of Texas at Austin.

(Writing and reporting by Mary Wisniewski; Editing by Peter Bohan)