"My perception is that if you throw a party at a frat house, which are all university-controlled with the exception of one, enforcement becomes a lot more selective," says Martin Yeung, a Stanford senior.

But one night at Stanford that wasn't the case. Yeung recounted one infamous incident when Heather Dunn, a youthful university administrator, "infiltrated" a fraternity party posing as a first-year, was served alcohol and then reported her findings to Stanford's governing board.

Harvard administrators have long frowned on fraternities and sororities. Some students point to final clubs as Harvard's replacement for frats, but many say their exclusiveness and limited membership prevents them from making a substantial impact on the Harvard social scene.

"Personally, I think [the effect of final clubs] is detrimental. For those of us that aren't members or aren't welcome it still leaves the social situation at Harvard kind of hollow," Coffey says.

"If you go to a frat you can go with a bunch of friends, but if you go to a final club you have to ask, 'Do I know someone here?'" Ellis says.

Sena agrees with Coffey that the clubs don't meet the needs of many students.

"I think a lot of people would enjoy [final clubs] if they were less exclusive," he says.

But Rucker says she enjoys Harvard partly because fraternities and similar social clubs don't dominate the entertainment options available to students.

"I have nothing against the final clubs or sororities on campus, but I would hate to see our social scene moving in that direction. I would not be in favor of expanding the fraternity/sorority scene on campus," she says.

Bright Lights, Big City

For many Harvard students, Boston is the perfect retreat, but several Yale and Brown students said that living in cities not quite as exciting as Boston strengthens the on-campus social scene.

Some students, who do not dare venture beyond campus environs, say the constraints can be liberating.

"People tend to stay on campus, certainly compared to Harvard. I think that may be one of Yale's plusses, because it forces us to confront our creativity and get something started on campus," Belanger says.

Though Boston offers ample entertainment, Coffey points out that the night-life of the city is not always a feasible option for students.

"Harvard students are scared and don't always have the time to go into Boston," he says.