It’s orientation week — the first Friday of the year. Outside Metcalf Hall, a horde of first-years have gathered. In the basement, partygoers pack shoulder to shoulder. The air is a hot, musty haze of cologne and nerves. The scene is gritty, but a palpable energy buzzes the room: the joy of Brunonians simply excited to be together.
But now, in the heart of the school year, the largest weekend gathering on campus is likely found in the Sciences Library basement. The rest of Brown seems to lie dormant, silent under winter snow — and less than half of Brunonians report that they go out at least once a week.
Brown’s students aren’t the only ones who seem to be losing their social spark. Across the nation, Americans of all ages are gathering less. This disappearance of party culture is accompanied by a host of mental and social health concerns arising from a national loneliness epidemic. It's time that Brunonians take action — we should all make an effort to reignite Brown’s social scene.
Brown used to party, but many of the more iconic Bruno gatherings of the past have sadly disappeared. One dinosaur of Brown’s social history, “Funk Night”, served as a boisterous gathering filled with music and dancing which ran weekly throughout the ’80s and ’90s. In 2022, there was an effort to revive the event (under the name “Funk Nite”), but the regular dance nights didn’t last.
The Underground also has a rich history of student revelry. Serving beer and armed with its very own sake warmer, the Underground operated as a student-run concert space through the ’80s. Following its move to the basement of Faunce House around 1989, the Underground lost its rock-and-roll vibe. Nowadays, it serves primarily as another space for studying on campus — a far cry from its rambunctious past. But thanks to the work of students managing the space, the Underground has once again begun hosting student performances and events.
Student efforts like this offer a glimmer of hope in an increasingly isolated social landscape, but the venue is just the start. Unless we endeavor to engage in these opportunities for large social gatherings, Brown students are at risk of joining the global trend of solitude. Young adults are experiencing unprecedented feelings of isolation. Globally, 57% of adults aged 19-29 report feeling some level of loneliness — the highest rate of all age groups. In a recent Gallup poll of American college students, more than a third of respondents reported experiencing loneliness the previous day. The transition to college life requires a complete removal from all established social networks and familial safety nets. Living alone for the first time in a digital age, it can be easy to become isolated, choosing studies and screens over the effort of putting yourself out there.
However, while jumping into a new social scene can be intimidating, it holds potential for massive benefits. Clubbing, for instance, has been shown to stimulate brain function and improve human connection. Furthermore, the act of connecting with strangers and acquaintances, rather than just maintaining close friendships, improves sense of belonging and lowers risk of early death. Unsurprisingly, recent studies in the U.K. have found evidence of the social benefits of pubs, thanks to the regular social interaction that visiting a pub facilitates. Individuals who reported frequenting a local pub were more engaged, trusting and satisfied within their greater community than those who didn’t have a regular social ‘watering hole.’
An article published in The Herald this fall outlines the uniquely open, diverse and welcoming culture that Brown parties hold. These aren’t University of Southern California frat houses: you don’t have to know five brothers in order to find a good time on College Hill. Not everyone needs to get sloshed, have a dance-floor make-out (DFMO — for short) or run to the local bars with their worst fake ID in hand. After all, the greatest part of going out is finding a community that fits your vibe and getting together more.
One thing we can learn from Brown’s wide and diverse social history is that there's no ‘right’ scene to seek out. It all comes down to taking on new experiences and meeting new people in an environment that feels right for you. I have no plans to return to the Metcalf basement anytime soon, but I think we could all benefit from a return to that sense of excitement. So do yourself a favor, and get out next Friday.
Reid Gold ’29 can be reached at reid_gold@brown.edu. Please send responses to this column to letters@browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
