The socialization of first year students through unsanctioned events.

The purpose of this study was to determine the ways in which socialization occurs in a specific first year student population in relation to participation in unsanctioned events that are hosted by an unaffiliated organization. Unaffiliated organizations are student organizations not officially registered with their collegiate institution. Unsanctioned events are events that are hosted by university students but are not in partnership with the institution itself. The most common of these types of unsanctioned events are off campus parties. These parties are examined through a ritual lens in order to better understand the ways in which first year students are sociologically affected by their participation in an unsanctioned event.