Written by Lauren Foster
On any given weekend, there's a registered party on campus—that is, one sanctioned by the College, with tip servers enforcing a 21+ three-drink maximum. There are strict rules prohibiting on-campus entrance fees for Wellesley students, so you can drink and party-hop for free. On-campus parties vary greatly in quality, and it depends on what kind of scene you're looking for. The biggest party of the year is Dyke Ball, a huge gender-bending blowout bringing in students from all over Boston.
Punch's Alley Pub in the Wang Campus Center is a licensed oasis in the dry town of Wellesley and sponsors frequent shows, ranging from folk to punk rock, that are very popular on Thursday nights for "Pub Night." The societies—nerdy versions of sororities that sponsor lectures, cultural events, and, of course, parties—hold several parties a semester. Again, quality varies, though they do tend to attract off-campus frat-boy types. WZLY, the campus radio station, holds several parties a year where indie boys and girls rock out. In terms of private parties, they're usually small. If not, they tend to get broken up early by the ever-vigilant campus police. Some spots for larger, casual parties are Lake House and various clandestine outdoor spots around campus, including the fire pit by the Campus Center. Most students will tell you to head into Boston for good parties, but depending on your group of friends, it's possible to stay on campus and have a good time. The off-campus party scene is usually at Harvard, MIT, or Babson for a more co-ed environment with much looser rules (if any) on drinking and noise levels.