2008 Woodie Awards
Hot or not: greek life
By: Liz Tassell
Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: Features
With rush over, many freshmen are adjusting to the newfound frontiers of greek letter affiliation and its social ramifications. As a senior, I feel it is my most solemn duty to impart four years worth of wisdom upon you. So, here you have it, the Hot or not list: greek life edition.
Hot:
• Secret handshakes: This, along with some other traditions, might seem somewhat antiquated. But considering that these rituals have been in place for over a hundred years, let's call it retro. When you are sweating over those history quizzes and attempting to memorize the greek alphabet, keep in mind that these tedious tasks are a vital part of maintaining the living history of your house.
• Food: I'll give you until the end of the week before you will learn to associate each of the following foods with their sorority counterpart: fro-yo, cheesy bagels, brownies.
• Nicknames: Right now, it is very possible that the upperclassmen, especially seniors, are racking their brains trying to remember the names of all of their new members. Nicknames can be a solution to this conundrum - but keep profanity and humiliation at bay. While nicknames often involve some clever play on the person's real name, I'm not a proponent of having them make any sense at all. So, don't be surprised if you hear me calling you something along the lines of "snugglethug" from across campus. And please respond accordingly.
• Independent students: Around this time, people forget that there is a significant body of non-greek students on this campus. And while greek life can have some tremendous benefits, the unaffiliated life has its advantages too, such as a chapter-free schedule and escaping the tyrannical hand of the house menu planer.
• Fratcrashing: Urban Dictionary defines this as, "Attending several greek social functions in one evening, often without invitation." At some of the bigger schools, this is frowned upon, but DePauw's greek life allows all students from all different houses to congregate together. So if there is a party at Delta Upsilon and an informal at Sigma Chi, go to both! You'll make new friends and double the fun. And walking around campus will burn off some of the calories you've ingested from some of the more high-calorie beverages you may consume.
Not:
• Carnations: Florists around Greencastle right now are starting to stock their inventory, and it's not because of Valentine's Day-it's because of flower-ins! These events are a unique opportunity where the young men of a fraternity-with a flower in hand-introduce themselves and their new affiliation to the ladies of each sorority. And like everything else, there is nothing wrong with making a good first impression. While to some guys, a flower is just a flower, keep in mind that carnations are the NASCAR of the floral realm. But before the pledge educators go out and select long-stem red roses, consider that creativity is always appreciated. I've seen flowers made from pipe cleaners and, in one dedicated case, a fraternity man gave his girlfriend a bouquet of Peeps. Let the personality of your pledge class be your guide and give the young women something to remember you by.
• Togas: Garments which originated in Rome, togas almost made the hot list until Katie Holmes wore one to the 13th Annual Critics' Choice Awards on Jan. 7. If anyone doubted Tom's control over his wife before, this should be proof that the only thing togas are good for is covering up any remnant of sexiness. So, unless you are being recruited by the Church of Scientology, togas must remain on the "not" list.
• Hazing: I'm not saying this just to get on the Greek Life Coordinators' good side (though in the name of full-disclosure, Autumn Hansen did write me a very nice letter of recommendation). Hazing is not only lame, it's illegal.
• Housekeeping: Good luck combating the disastrous living conditions-and possible nuclear collapse-that comes with putting a fraternity full of guys in charge of cleanliness.
Hot:
• Secret handshakes: This, along with some other traditions, might seem somewhat antiquated. But considering that these rituals have been in place for over a hundred years, let's call it retro. When you are sweating over those history quizzes and attempting to memorize the greek alphabet, keep in mind that these tedious tasks are a vital part of maintaining the living history of your house.
• Food: I'll give you until the end of the week before you will learn to associate each of the following foods with their sorority counterpart: fro-yo, cheesy bagels, brownies.
• Nicknames: Right now, it is very possible that the upperclassmen, especially seniors, are racking their brains trying to remember the names of all of their new members. Nicknames can be a solution to this conundrum - but keep profanity and humiliation at bay. While nicknames often involve some clever play on the person's real name, I'm not a proponent of having them make any sense at all. So, don't be surprised if you hear me calling you something along the lines of "snugglethug" from across campus. And please respond accordingly.
• Independent students: Around this time, people forget that there is a significant body of non-greek students on this campus. And while greek life can have some tremendous benefits, the unaffiliated life has its advantages too, such as a chapter-free schedule and escaping the tyrannical hand of the house menu planer.
• Fratcrashing: Urban Dictionary defines this as, "Attending several greek social functions in one evening, often without invitation." At some of the bigger schools, this is frowned upon, but DePauw's greek life allows all students from all different houses to congregate together. So if there is a party at Delta Upsilon and an informal at Sigma Chi, go to both! You'll make new friends and double the fun. And walking around campus will burn off some of the calories you've ingested from some of the more high-calorie beverages you may consume.
Not:
• Carnations: Florists around Greencastle right now are starting to stock their inventory, and it's not because of Valentine's Day-it's because of flower-ins! These events are a unique opportunity where the young men of a fraternity-with a flower in hand-introduce themselves and their new affiliation to the ladies of each sorority. And like everything else, there is nothing wrong with making a good first impression. While to some guys, a flower is just a flower, keep in mind that carnations are the NASCAR of the floral realm. But before the pledge educators go out and select long-stem red roses, consider that creativity is always appreciated. I've seen flowers made from pipe cleaners and, in one dedicated case, a fraternity man gave his girlfriend a bouquet of Peeps. Let the personality of your pledge class be your guide and give the young women something to remember you by.
• Togas: Garments which originated in Rome, togas almost made the hot list until Katie Holmes wore one to the 13th Annual Critics' Choice Awards on Jan. 7. If anyone doubted Tom's control over his wife before, this should be proof that the only thing togas are good for is covering up any remnant of sexiness. So, unless you are being recruited by the Church of Scientology, togas must remain on the "not" list.
• Hazing: I'm not saying this just to get on the Greek Life Coordinators' good side (though in the name of full-disclosure, Autumn Hansen did write me a very nice letter of recommendation). Hazing is not only lame, it's illegal.
• Housekeeping: Good luck combating the disastrous living conditions-and possible nuclear collapse-that comes with putting a fraternity full of guys in charge of cleanliness.
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