The sight of hundreds of bodies crowded together pulsating to the same intense beat. The smell of sweat combined with alcohol and perfume. The sound of teenagers and twenty-somethings arguing with security guards about makeshift tickets and blood alcohol content levels. It's that time of year again: Pachanga. Since its start in 2001, Pachanga, which means party in Portuguese, has become one of the biggest student-run social events at Brandeis.

The biannual dance, sponsored by the International Club, is a celebration of world culture, embracing both international and American music. The Pachanga venue takes on the distinct flavor of a nightclub as revelers wave glow sticks to the beat of music from all over the globe.

International Club President Leon Markovitz '10 said that he believes the goal of Pachanga seven years ago when it began was to expose students to a European-style club. Pachanga has now taken on a more international approach, though, with a more diverse music selection.

"At the beginning, Pachanga was mostly just techno music . to show people how it was like a club in European countries," Markovitz said. "We [now] try to play what you would usually hear in a club in Boston, or in Caracas, Venezuela or in Turkey."

Markovitz added that the focus of the dance has always been electronic music, a hallmark of foreign dance clubs, but that this year, the International Club tried to balance electronic with other kinds of popular music, including reggaeton and hip hop.

"This year I tried to make it more balanced, but we always have that emphasis [on electronica], because that is how Pachanga started, and that is how it came to be what it is today," said Markovitz.

Yuki Hesegawa '09, who was the Pachanga coordinator two years ago, said that he believes Pachanga has grown in popularity due to the better quality of the DJ in recent years.

""Compared to my freshman year I think there [used to be] the whole idea of [Pachanga being] a little sketchy and the DJ wasn't that good, she was a DJ from Waltham. Whereas now, ... it's a DJ from a famous club in Boston."

Markovitz also explained why, he thinks, Pachanga has become so popular on campus.

"Pachanga has become almost like a brand name, it's where everything happens. . People know that [the International Club] really put effort into it. . People hear 'Pachanga' and they expect so much. I think that that is also a big part: If you go somewhere and everyone is thinking, 'This is going to be amazing,' then that makes it amazing," Markovitz said.

The ideas of students also reflect the popularity of Pachanga and show what a strong reputation it has developed.

"A lot of [the dance's popularity is due to] word of mouth. The reason I knew Pachanga is a big deal is because I [was] told by upperclassmen," said Margaret Goldberg '12.

Yuli Almozlino '11 explained that she thinks the popularity of Pachanga is due in part to the influence of the International Club on campus.

"I personally like Pachanga because it's a good change of pace-dancing and music," Almozlino said. "I think it's so popular because international kids run it, and everyone thinks international kids are cool and wants to be like them."

However, this popularity has led, increasingly, to problems of overcrowding, unruliness and intoxication at the dance. At the September 2008 edition of the dance, four students were placed in protective custody, and one student was arrested for assault and battery of a police officer.

Ed Callahan, who has been a Brandeis employee for almost 31 years and has been director of public safety for the past 10 years, said that in his time here, "The level of security has gone up each Pachanga . due to behavioral concerns."

He added that reasons for the security concerns include the number of people who attend the dance, the high rate of intoxication and the frenetic environment created by the dance.

Callahan also said that the amount of money spent on the most recent Pachanga's security is "in the thousands, . but it's worth every penny if we don't get anyone who's hurt."

Markovitz explained that he thinks the International Club should not be held accountable for the violence and drunkenness that is often associated with Pachanga.

"That's beyond our control. People don't know how to drink, sadly, and they just drink too much," Markovitz said.

Markovitz also said that he thinks Pachanga has become synonymous with violence "first, because people get very drunk, and then, in the past, because we also sold tickets at the entrance. . People get anxious waiting outside."

At the most recent Pachanga, tickets were sold presale only, a practice that helped lead to the decrease in problems associated with violence and drunkenness.

"[At the most recent Pachanga] there was pretty much nothing, and it's because the line was smooth, and they just came in and had fun inside," Markovitz said.

Additionally, the security concerns of the past did not seem to dissuade students from attending the most recent Pachanga, as it remained popular and tickets sold out quickly.

"I didn't even notice there were security concerns," said Zachary Rubenstein '11.

To some students, attending the biannual dance has become a part of their college experience.

"I love Pachanga because I love to dance," said James Liu '10. "I go every year because everyone else goes ... because it's the thing to do."

However, not all students feel as favorably about the event.

"I''ve been once. ... It was a little too aggressive," said Lauren Gindi '11. "I think it holds a stigma to it-it's like a show."

"I went last year, and I didn't have that much fun so I didn't go this year," said Nick Howard '11. "It was really hot, smelled funky, and most importantly-I like dancing, but I just didn't have that much fun dancing there. It reminded me of high school and middle school dances. People seemed kind of stand-offish."

-Rebecca Klein and Shana D. Lebowitz contributed reporting.