One might have thought it would be hard to slow down the party lives of Marquette students, but the recent alcohol-related fines distributed by the Milwaukee Police Department have done just that.

Between Feb. 11 and 12, three parties were broken up and two of the hosts were fined between $17,000 and $26,000, according to the Feb. 15 and Feb. 22 issues of the Tribune. The possibility of similar fines has kept students from hosting large parties, making the campus relatively quiet the past two weekends.

"There's just not as many people out on the street, not as many parties, and not as many people at parties," said Angie Griska, a freshman in the College of Business Administration.

Some students were able to find parties, but they were smaller, more exclusive parties than in the past. College of Engineering freshman Alex Smerch said the parties he went to during the past two weekends were not open to the public, and he got in only because he knew the hosts.

"If you didn't know of any (parties), it would have been hard to go out and find something," Smerch said.

Indeed, some students faced the fate of a weekend without a party. College of Communication sophomore Geoff Glowacki said he and his friends looked for parties last weekend but did not find any.

College of Engineering freshman Marie Radick said she was able to find parties, but they were mostly in apartments with about 30 people in attendance.

In addition to the fines received by party hosts, 59 students at one party were cited for underage drinking and fined $167 each, the Feb. 15 Tribune said. But partygoers, including Glowacki, are not afraid to go out.

"Even when we went out before, it was in the back of my mind," Glowacki said. "But the chances of something like that happening are pretty rare."

Students who miss the lively nights typical of the beginning of a new school year should not have to wait too long. Those who have thrown parties in the past said it is simply a matter of time before the kegs are retapped, although they might modify their policies.

"We're probably going to wait until at least after spring break," said Pat McNamara, a junior in the College of Engineering who lives in a Renee Row apartment. "We'll probably start it again, but maybe not let freshmen in, just keep it to people we know."

McNamara also said they would likely be less strict about charging a fee at the door.

All three of the parties that were fined were cited for operating a class-B tavern without a license, the Feb. 15 Tribune said.

One 21-year-old male said he has hosted parties in the past and would still feel comfortable doing so, but he and his roommates are currently laying low. The College of Business Administration junior, who requested his name be withheld, said he and his roommates have never charged a fee at the door, but will probably not allow as many random people into the house for future parties.

While some house and apartment owners are waiting for the incident to blow over, others have already reopened their doors. According to McNamara, there was a relatively large party this weekend that seemed to have no problems.

Many students believe that the mostly party-less nights of the past two weekends will not last much longer.

"I think it's going to pick up again," McNamara said.

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Mar. 3 2005.