The University of Georgia was named the number one party school in the United States by the Princeton Review this month. UGA has found a home in the top 20 of this esteemed list for 10 of the past 13 years, but 2010 marks the first time the University has placed first. Students have been abuzz on Twitter and Facebook with school pride since the announcement.

University administrators were less amused, as this wasn't the sort of top ranking they were after. They have been working for years to curb underage drinking and driving by having offenders sent to jail and calling the student's parents following the first offense. University spokesman Tom Jackson tried to divert attention from the ranking in a recent statement. "We'd rather focus on [other Princeton Review rankings the school has received such as] the Green Honor Roll listing as a top environmentally conscious campus or the top 50 'Best Values' listing."

Athens makes it hard for the University to clean up their image. With roughly 100 bars located within the city limits and countless house parties happening near campus, students have a lot better chance winning at flip cup or beer pong than scoring an A on their Stats test.

University administrators are quick to mention how unscientific this ranking actually is. The list was compiled and ranking using email surveys of 122,000 students at more than 370 colleges throughout the country. Questions asked related to alcohol and drug use on University grounds, the prevalence of fraternities and sororities, and hours spent studying per week.

Though UGA has enacted tough sanctions against those caught drinking underage, and has become stricter on tailgating, it's hard to convince students responsible drinking is important when the University's athletic director Damon Evans was recently arrested for drunk driving. Adding insult to injury, Evans had appeared in public service announcements in the past for the University condemning intoxicated driving.

It shouldn't be a surprise if UGA responds to the rating by cracking down even harder on underage drinking when students arrive back on campus this fall.

Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution "UGA named the nation's No. 1 party school" 8/3/10