The best party I’ve ever attended was themed around European Union expansion.
The interior of the house was West Berlin in all its cosmopolitan glory—the backyard was the East, the Schwarz–Rot–Gold and compass keeping close watch over the revelers below. Dividing the two was a wall haphazardly constructed out of hundreds of cardboard boxes, stopping partygoers (who were sorted into sections by a doorman in a long coat and ushanka) from interacting with their brethren on the other side of the barrier. Two DJs and two drink menus, each themed around their respective zones, gave each side its own unique aura.
And then the clock struck midnight.
The music cut out.
And a sharp cry pierced through the air.
“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” And so it was.
Maybe LARPing German reunification isn’t your idea of a good time. Thankfully, on any given weekend at Penn, there’s no shortage of parties—both on and off campus—open for you to enjoy. With clubs, bars, and house shows open every weekend, there’s also no reason your social life should be constrained by the irregular borders of Penn’s core campus. Whatever space you find most comfortable, you’re more than likely to find it profiled in this issue.
In the spirit of Penn’s “work hard, play hard” culture, we at Street have worked hard on the Party Issue to question the state of play on Penn’s campus. From queer party profiles to bar reviews, we examine Penn’s social scene on Locust Walk and beyond, exploring the social spaces students seek out in order to take a load off after a long day of work. In a feature on the Penn administration’s recent crackdown on fraternity life, we investigate where Penn’s social scene might go after it is squeezed off campus. And we would never relegate you to the status of a passive reader—with our crossword and DIY frat ranks, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to make your mark (literally) on the pages that follow.
If you’ve read this far, here’s some advice for you: It’s easy to work hard and play hard. It’s harder to find a unity between the two. Don’t waste your life here doing work you know is meaningless. Don’t waste your time in social spaces where you feel like you don’t belong.
Building a cardboard wall, finding two DJs, manning a door—all of that is hard work. But to see the fruits of your labor in the joy people feel when they enter the space you created makes all that work seem like child’s play.
In the spirit of reunification, let your work and play become one. Dear Reader—tear down that wall!
