Context for social life at Denison: greek life was residential – and out of control – until maybe 30 years ago. As I understand it, to break up greek life’s control of the social scene and to keep students safer, the college shifted to a non-residential greek life model. Since then, greek houses are used for house meetings and low key socializing, with parties banned from the houses.
With that change, senior apartment housing – affectionately called the “Sunnies” – became the center of the party scene which continued until recently. On any weekend night, there would be multiple parties thrown in a senior apartment building, with students hanging out in the hallways, stairwells etc. Those apartment buildings were aging and the administration determined – for lots of reasons – that model was not sustainable. In 2019-20, the “Moonies” (named by the students), were built as multi-use party space/barns on a part of campus below the Sunnies. New senior apartment housing was also built so that there would be enough apartments for seniors who wanted more independent living.
My kid graduated in ‘20, the year the Moonies opened when students were sent home after spring break, so didn’t see how the new space would be used. Fall ‘20 was prime covid isolation on campus, so that interrupted integration of the Moonies into regular campus life. My kid heard there was some backlash about shutting down the party scene at the Sunnies so that may be the basis for the “lower” ranking on party scene.
More broadly, campus is friendly and open, and anyone who wants to party should have no problem finding parties. There is strong school spirit, but with 2500 students, don’t expect SEC-style tailgating for a Saturday football game. My kid played a varsity sport (and was not in greek life) – his friends, and his teammates’ friends, went to his games, and he went to his friends’ music, theater, fine art shows, games/matches etc. There was plenty to do on campus and he was not bored. Once they were juniors or seniors, they started going to Columbus sometimes for entertainment, nicer restaurants etc. and maybe once a season would get OSU football tickets – ubering home to Granville.