The year is winding down and students are celebrating. The big end-of-the-year parties have been checked off one-by-one: Sunsplash at Sigma Nu, Beltane at Synergy and Exotic Erotic at 680 Lomita, just to name a few.

According to preliminary numbers, there have been approximately 600 parties registered with the Office of Student Activities (OSA) this year, and that’s not including walk-in registrations or parties that happen in series, such as Enchanted Broccoli Forest’s Wednesday bar nights.

Though party organizers have complained about obstacles they face with the OSA, Nanci Howe, director of student activities, maintains that a lot has to be taken into consideration when students plan parties.

“Stanford is like its own town and the parties impact all the people surrounding them,” she said, adding that despite regulations and restrictions, students still manage to have a good time.

Although the OSA declined to give any hard numbers, they estimate that most of the parties come from the undergraduate community — from groups including fraternities, sororities, houses and student groups. Graduate students host their share of parties, too, through venues such as the Graduate School of Business and the Law School.

“Parties are the key source of physical interaction on campus,” says Armon Sharei ‘08.

The most visible parties happen at the fraternities, sororities and houses around the Row. Sharei, a social manager at Sigma Nu, estimates that the average fraternity party gets around 700 to 800 guests throughout the night. The numbers skyrocket to around 3,000 for the major parties like Sunsplash.

Exotic Erotic, named one of the top 10 college parties by Playboy magazine, is one of the biggest and most well-known parties at Stanford.

“Exotic Erotic is different from other campus parties because it has its own aura,” says Brian Chavarria ‘08, social manager at 680. “It’s got that buildup all year, and freshmen come to campus knowing about it.”

Students say they go to Row parties when they want to indulge in the big crowds, and it’s a great setting to bump into old acquaintances or classmates.

“It’s cool to go out and see friends from classes in a social setting,” says Paula de los Angeles ‘10. She thinks the party scene offers something for every type of student — “whether you like to party hard or if you just like to chill.”

Aimee Epstein ‘08 says she thinks the fraternities and sororities provide a great service to the Stanford community by hosting parties, and there are always alternatives for students who aren’t into the Greek scene.

Many students complain of the repetition found among Greek parties and gravitate to alternatives as they accrue more familiarity and experience with Stanford social life.

“To be honest, I don’t like campus parties,” says Jasmine Aarons ‘08, a social manager at Chi Theta Chi. “They’re just so formulaic and cliche.”

Phil Narodick ‘08, social manager at Synergy, said he agrees with Aarons.

“Frat parties are where you go to have someone grind your genitals, or if you’re looking for someone to do that,” he says. “A great party has to have something other than music and beer. Maybe it’s a great theme, a moon bounce or nakedness.”

As students begin to tire of the frat party scene, many look to alternatives for more variety and personal attention.

“Sometimes you need just a chill atmosphere to meet people and talk to people,” Priyata Mehra ‘09 says.

When students have solidified their social networks, they say they often opt for more intimate parties to hang out with friends and take a break from class.

For this more intimate social environment, “the smaller room parties are the scene now,” says Stephanie Kwok ‘08, adding that “the big parties lose their appeal after freshman year.”