The university regained its party school prowess Monday after an online survey with more than 40,000 hits voted the campus the No. 1 party school in the nation.
The survey was set up by Wild College Parties USA, a Web site that provides viewers with the top party school information, said Anthony Toste, chief executive officer of the Web site.
The Web site's mission statement reads: "We believe that is that it's possible to live a long, party life, free of soberness."
The site tries to provide information to college students about upcoming festivities, as well as ones that have already happened, Toste said.
Playboy named the university the top party school in 1987 and No. 2 in 2002, but it wasn't on the list in 2006.
Sophomore Lisa Wyse, a business major, disagrees with both lists, she said.
"I don't honestly think Chico is the biggest party school," Wyse said. "It's just random house parties, and not many people leave their homes."
Wyse visited UC Santa Barbara, No. 2 on the list, a few times and remembers the streets being packed as early as 8 p.m., she said.
"I think a party college has to be constantly ridiculous," Wyse said. "Chico seems to die down this time of year."
President Paul Zingg doesn't want to give any credence to a group called Wild College Parties USA, he said in an e-mail.
"Ask them about their 'research' and rankings methodology," Zingg said. "I can't imagine that they'll tell you much."
The survey was posted on popular college Web sites, including College Humor, Students Review and College Prowler, Toste said.
After 10,000 entries stated which university they thought was the No. 1 party school, the top 50 colleges were taken and put back on the Web for a second poll, Toste said. The site then gathered 40,000 votes for the top 10 colleges.
"We wanted to find some consistencies, and I think our poll is pretty accurate," he said.
Chico State also had a No. 1 and No. 5 ranking for specific parties, which were the Labor Day weekend float and St. Patrick's Day, respectively, Toste said.
"I think that individuality of parties and how genuine the parties are makes it a party school," Toste said. "But 10,000 students floating down a river is a party."
Ben Burg can be reached at bburg@theorion.com
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