Last week, I arranged to have a little holiday party for the staff of my college newspaper. We just had a small get-together to thank everyone for all their hard work and dedication this semester. It wasn't anything fancy, but it was probably one of the best experiences I've ever had in college.

Reflecting upon my experience at the party, I found it so refreshing that this get-together wasn't like other typical college shindigs. Nobody was grinding up against one another. People weren't going into other people's bedrooms and hooking up. The attendees weren't destroying the place after getting absolutely hammered. We were just a couple of young people swapping stories and joking around while using alcohol responsibly.

I don't know about you, but these are the types of parties I like. Sometimes it's so disheartening to attend something like this, and find that you can't even enjoy yourself because other people are acting like buffoons. I feel like it's more common these days for people to have to leave a party early, because the idiocy is just too much for them. As college students, I understand we're in an awkward position. We're adults, but not really. We have all this freedom now, and we often don't know what to do with it. This undeniable fact often leads to people making rash and often stupid decisions about sex, drugs, and alcohol at social gatherings. However, it doesn't have to be that way.

I'm not trying to say that everyone should go off and act like monks. I like to have a good time like anyone. However, I don't think people need to cross the line like they often do at college parties. It may not seem like it, but sitting around, listening to music, and having intellectual conversations at a get-together can be fulfilling; certainly more so than bumping and grinding against a stranger with a red Solo cup in your hand. So, next time you go to a party, buck the trend and try something new. Create an environment for your friends in which they can feel comfortable without having to act like a typical college student. By going against the grain, you may very well start a revolution.