A worldwide authority on hedonism is calling Montreal's McGill University one of this continent's top 10 party schools.

McGill was the only Canadian school to make Playboy Magazine's list of Top 10 Party Schools in North America, sharing the distinction with such institutions as the University of Georgia and Florida State.

"From what I've seen, I definitely have to agree that we've got some pretty good parties," one McGill student told CFCF News.

How did McGill fall under Playboy's radar? The magazine apparently sends volunteer interns to different universities, who are told to grade the schools on such criteria as its male-to-female ratio, campus party scene, and how close it's situated to a big city.

The list -- along with revealing photos of campus coeds -- will be featured in Playboy's May issue. By next week, Playboy will have photographers on the McGill campus in search of students willing to be photographed for a swimwear spread.

McGill first year student Gen Grey said although the school is known for good times, she would hardly compare it to the partying that some American universities are famous for.

"In the States, they all drink in their dorms because they can't drink until they're 21, and they all go crazy with massive keggers, which is cool, but it's also very dangerous," Grey told CFCF.

Tushare Jinadasa, the event coordinator with the university's Science Students Association, said McGill's party reputation is a "bit of a misconception."

"There's a lot of partying that goes on, but it's responsible partying. As an events coordinator, it's something we place a lot of emphasis on."

In fact, statistics show McGill has a relatively safer party atmosphere than other Canadian schools on the list. A 2002 survey showed 12 McGill students were sent to hospital for alcohol poisoning, compared with 200 for Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia -- another well-known party school.

The dubious honour is bestowed upon McGill as the school grapples with an investigation into an alleged hazing incident involving a former student and football player on the McGill Redmen.

The university said the incident is still under investigation, but members of the team wrote an apology letter to the alleged victim, admitting its hazing ritual which drove one player to quit causes "emotional and psychological stress."

With a report by Paul Karwatsky of CTV's Montreal affiliate, CFCF news