Are flat parties student expression or just a drunken mess?

Source: Marcela Laskoski / Unsplash.  

While it’s not always everyone’s cup of tea, the humble flat party has a profound cultural impact on a student’s life, and memories of their university experience.  

However, there’s always two sides to a coin, and in the case of flat parties there’s a fine line from peak enjoyment – to an out-of-control problem, fuelled by drunken students. 

The proximity of student flats in the UC area has helped create a strong culture of flat parties, forming an avenue for expression to flow. 

UC’s OpSoc President Edward Parks told Canta how the environment of a flat party allows for people to mix and mingle in a way that is rarely found in other parts of student life. 

“It builds a much more relaxed environment for people to then express themselves,” Parks said. 

“Whether it’s talking about hobbies outside of study, or how you both know x,y,z people, to there being a dress-up theme, where you can express yourself.” 

While flat parties are a hub for interaction, club-led functions can add a whole other dimension in terms of putting those attending a tad more at ease. 

UC CUBA President Jonnie Moffett said that by clubs hosting flat parties, it encourages students to “make a whole lot of new friends in a situation that doesn’t feel forced.” 

“While non-club led flat parties can still be fun, they tend to be less inclusive and it’s usually the same friend groups that go to each flat party,” Moffett said.  

There’s no denying the importance and impact of the flat party on students, but when all social connections are heavily driven by alcohol, trouble can be only one vessel away. 

UCSA President Luc Mackay said that the intent is a key influence in what direction a flat party takes. 

“If the invites are public and people who aren't friends are invited, it can get very sloppy, very quickly.” 

Parks said in his experience of hosting large flat parties, it’s often better to have a higher number of partygoers that all have a connection to each other than a smaller number that struggle to find common ground. 

“A cohesive guest list makes for a better time than an open invite or 100 people of very different ‘vibes’, which in turn allows for a group of people to express themselves in a comfortable environment.” 

While the culture for flat parties is as strong as it’s ever been, it’s still vitally important to understand how the environment is volatile. Moreover, if the dice doesn’t roll in your favour, pathways can be taken to ensure safety. 

Both Moffett and MacKay said that by registering a flat party to Good One, an initiative that makes local police aware of the host, support is closer than you think if things go south.