All she wants to do is dance

Sunday, November 9th, 2008 | Greek Life, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Don Henley in his philosophical melody summed up sorority social events best.

Whether at a date party or formal, dressing up or dressing crazy and getting together with my sorority sisters for a social is definitely one of the best parts of being greek. 

Socials are fun because we get the opportunity to have a joint event with another sorority or fraternity. Auburn greek life is unique from any other school in this way: we like/live/associate with people outside of our sorority bubble. Many schools’ greek systems are divided and competitive, but Auburn greekers seem to appreciate the diversity that comes with the multiple greek circles. Not only that, but we embrace it by having fun socials!

Socials have themes too such as roaring 20s, nerds and the infamous- toga. I love driving down College Street and seeing girls and guys in leggings, teased hair and tube socks going to Sky Bar for an 80’s social. 

Economic lesson 101: if you want to make some money in the stock market, invest in Neiman Marcus, Belk, Dillards, ABS, Betsy Johnson and any brand name designer or department store. Why? Because as long as sorority girls have formals or cocktail parties, there will be a demand for fashion. Girls are known to spend between $50-$500 for the perfect look. 

At a formal, it is open only to sorority members and the dress code usually calls for a semi or formal dress. Luckily for many daddies out there, many girls share dresses, but for some reason, finding a date seems daunting for many girls.

Formals can be a little more stressful because unlike a social where everyone is invited, a formal requires the omg-i-don’t-have-a-date anxiety.

In the words of Jesse McCartney, “don’t stress. don’t stress. don’t stress. girl, you deserve nothing but the best.”

Take a friend. Or better than that, take a great dancer. Your date will be a hit if he knows how to do more than grind.

It’s OK to ask the same guy to multiple parties, if you have a great time with him.

The guy I am dating now is all thanks to a sorority formal where he literally swept me off my feet! We are always the last ones off the dance floor and can be caught dancing in kitchens, parking lots and anywhere open. 

“She wants to party. She wants to get down. All she wants to do is- All she wants to do is dance”

she’s just not that into you

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 | Greek Life | 3 Comments

Sorry guys, but I am going to be blunt on this one because it is time you learned something about girls. You always complain that you don’t get us. Hear this: 

When girls are dancing at band parties, clubs, house parties or in their car, that is not an open invitation for you. There are signs girls show to let you know if they do or don’t wish for your company on the dance floor.

If this Cinderella girl you see is dancing with a group of girls aka her friends, usually more than one other girl, and she is intently dancing, she does not want to dance with you.

If she is looking around and making eye contact with you, make sure she is looking at you and then go ahead and make your move. For your sake, make sure she is not looking at the 6′6 UFC model/fighter behind you. 

If her friends are trying to help her stand up because she is so drunk, don’t you dare make your move then. That’s not classy and very illegal.  

Don’t sneak up from behind her and immediately grab her hips. That makes girls uncomfortable. Girl’s hips are not magnets, they are private property. Also, if her friends grab her and pull her away, let her go. It doesn’t mean her friends are jealous and want you to pick them. It means, she was making “help me” faces you couldn’t pick up on. 

Don’t get me wrong. Girls welcome a charming Fred Astaire to sweep them off their feet, but be respectful. A girl would much rather Astaire step on her toes every once in a while rather than Slim Shady try to break her hips.

It’s OK to wear White Tonight

Monday, October 6th, 2008 | Greek Life | 1 Comment

Although it’s a fashion crime to wear white this time of year, expect girls to be breaking the rule in the next couple of weeks.

The eight weeks are coming to an end and sorority new members are turning into sisters. 

Initiation is coming up and, it being my third year on the other side, I’m just as excited to initiate these women as I did my little sister, and grand little.

I’m excited to not only stand there, sing the right song and share the secrets of our sisterhood, but I am also able to relive, each year, the night when I was initiated and my real sister drove ten hours to surprise me.

If your getting initiated, congratulations for getting through the present-filled weeks and millions of swaps, and be excited to be able to call these girls your sisters forever.

For everyone else, be supportive, these girls have gone through recruitment to get the perfect sorority for them, and this is a big deal to finally be an official part of it.

Enjoy the flowers, candy and presents and make the most of your Sorority Life.

As I will soon be graduating in seven months, I am keeping my fingers crossed that my sorority network will be able to give me a hand in starting a career. 

I know that these girls, as cheesy as it sounds, will be standing next to me at my candlelight crying, and my wedding laughing.

Welcome to a sisterhood, a bond, that will never be broken. 

Be excited for the day when you are abroad and you see that girl with your letters across her shirt, and you can give her the secret handshake. 

Cherish your initiation night and hold on to every memory you make the next four years. 

Trust me, breaking the “no white after labor day” rule is well worth the outcome of the night.

Panhellenic Police

Saturday, October 4th, 2008 | Greek Life | No Comments

As a pledge, excuse me, a new member, some of my best memories were made swinging off rope swings at SAE, dressing up in togas at FIJI, throwing shaving cream with ATO, gallavanting in my halloween costume at PIKE and so many more.

There is something about driving around in the back of some random guy’s pick-up truck that bonds you with your new pledge sisters. The swaps normally included the guys coming to get us at the dorms, an activity like a a food fight and an after party.

Not anymore. Panhellenic now restricts after parties thrown by the fraternities. I cannot say, I agree with this decision. Freshman year, especially first semester, is a time to step out of your comfort zone and meet as many people as possible. Pledge swaps and after parties are a great way to do this.

The swaps themselves never include alcohol. This is a respected rule. I can figure the reason after parties are now so frowned upon is because they pose an alcohol threat. I hate to be Debbie Downer to Panhellenic (so call me Reeda Reality), but a party, which may or may not include alcohol, will happen.   

Panhellenic is now strapping on the police belt and patroling the streets in unmarked cars insuring no after parties go down. They threaten with social probation and fines for the whole sorority or fraternity caught having an afterparty. Yes, I feel bad for the new members, but I also feel bad for Panhellenic: like the members of Panhellenic have time to inforce this rule.

So, I propose an idea. Panhellenic and IFC allow the after parties with regulations. If Panhellenic is worried about alcohol, plan an alcohol-free after party. I do not condone underage drinking, so I would be in favor of this party. Panhellenic could get a schedule of the swaps on any given night and throw a large party for all the sororities and fraternities having swaps that night. 

Give the pledges and new members a break. Let them have an after party.

Peace, love and greek