Rice University permanently cancels annual underwear themed party

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After 50 years of tradition, Rice University is permanently canceling the annual "Night of Decadence" underwear-themed party months after the latest celebration led to seven students being hospitalized for intoxication and 24 others medically treated on campus.

According to the University newspaper, the Rice Thresher, Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman, and Weiss magister Flavio Cunha alerted the campus in a joint message last week.
"Our tenure has exposed us to the harsher realities of this event, compelling us to reassess its place within our college community," they wrote to stakeholders. "We have observed a disturbing, reoccurring NOD phenomenon: large numbers of hospital transports due to excessive hard alcohol consumption, flouting the University's alcohol policy, jeopardizing student safety, and straining both University and city resources."

Last fall, the NOD party abruptly ended on Oct.29 after medical staff and emergency personnel said they were "overwhelmed" by several students needing on-site medical care. Many others were also transported to the hospital. Shortly after, campus officials announced canceling all on-campus parties until the end of Spring Break because the NOD party ended two hours into the event due to the "alarming rate" of intoxicated students at the party.

The Thresher reported that after the temporary pause, an alcohol policy advisory group put NOD on a probationary period, during which the Rice administration and Wiess leadership, organizers of the NOD party, reevaluated the party's process. Finally, the advisory panel issued a report that contained no recommendations on the future of the yearly celebration. The organizer ultimately decided to close it down completely.

"Numerous conversations with students, staff, and faculty, and our own observations have shown that students rely on alcohol to mitigate their discomfort around attending this event,” Cunha and Gorman wrote in their June 5 message per the Thresher.

“Such dependence on alcohol has resulted in regular health and safety issues, including but not limited to excessive alcohol consumption, which cannot be overlooked … This decision was not made lightly but stems from a commitment to ensuring the welfare and safety of our students.”

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