UK teaches ways to “party smart” before NCAA celebrations

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- As the Cats continue preparing for the Sweet Sixteen, so too are the students and staff on campus. As part of those preparations, students are learning how to host safe parties.

The goal is to keep students safe. It could help manage dangerous riots from years past after wins, or losses.

Now, most students seem to think they already know what they are doing because just one student attended Tuesday, but she says she thinks she will be able to apply what she learned to keep friends, and herself, safe Friday night.

“I think it’s really beneficial for students to know about responsibility in hosting parties,” sophomore Nicole Wesolowski said.

She is a community ambassador with Off Campus Student Services, the organization hosting Tuesday. It is arguably the most important time of year to learn about partying safely.

“If we win, I expect there to be some kind of chaos,” Wesolowski said.

In past years, chaos has turned to mayhem during NCAA celebrations. Like in 2012, when 15,000 people took to the streets after UK won the championship. At least one person was shot then and dozens were arrested. The fire department says it had to put out over 40 fires.

This presentation is geared to planning parties ahead of time, but the lessons apply to possible Friday celebrations. They include how to use sober monitors to keep the party under control, and

“Be respectful and show your pride in your school in a way so that you represent the school in a positive light instead of this craziness that goes on during this time of the year,” Wesolowski said.

Wesolowski says she thinks attendance was low because students are reluctant to go to events that are not mandatory, especially when they are busy getting back into routine after spring break.