| GREEK EXPATRIATES
Growing up, we learned all too much about the classic "frat boy." Some of it was positive; you know, fantasies about being Droz from "PCU," posters of Belushi in "Animal House," rumors about your friend's older brother's exploits, stuff like that. More of it seemed negative, though, like four films worth of meat-headed Deltas, Sigmas and Betas out to get the Tri-Lambs, that hateful John Sears from 90210's KEG house, and the story in the paper about the pledge who drowned during a drunken swim with an ass-candle in Lake Erie. Or was that in The Onion?
Positive, negative, fabricated, regardless, those images linger into college … but they just seem so inaccurate in the context of NU. A few tasteless, embroidered Greek sweatshirts are spotted outside Bobb Hall, and it's wrongfully assumed every north campus closet contains the same. Silly songs are sung in the Sorority quads on one (Gone Greek) night, inspiring ignorant culchies to write The Daily about how all "frat boys" are idiots.
But wait a second. This is the campus of apathy, right? Why should the Greeks be gung-ho when the activists aren't? The reality is, that for every white hat in a fraternity, there's a brother who doesn't care – cause enough for recognition of the anti-frat frat boy, The Greek Expatriates.
Once upon a time, the Expatriate romanticized the Greek life. Used to enjoy hanging around the house, but now, wouldn't be caught dead at a meeting. A junior or senior, he still maintains relationships with a handful of his brothers. You might find an old picture of him, wearing the letters, hoisting a Busch Light in Bobb or Allison. Deactivation, although frequent among Expatriates, isn't a requirement for the title.
Living off-campus is required, however, and it facilitates his lifestyle as a laid-back man on the fringe of mainstream Northwestern. The Expatriate is likely a user of light drugs, likely a lover of non-mainstream music; either a peripheral jam band, an underground hip-hop act or a neglected rock or pop group. He's not so easy to pick out of a crowd, but ask the right question, and you catch him red-handed.
Unsuspecting female approachee in a social setting:
"So, are you in a fraternity?"
His answer (by year) gives him away:
FRESHMAN: "Yeah, I just pledged (House X), but I didn't make up my mind 'til the last minute. I'm not so sure about the whole 'frat boy' thing, but a lot of my friends were already in the house."
SOPHOMORE: "Well, yeah, I'm in (House X). It's all right, I guess. I live there, but, you know, I'm not one of those 'frat boys' who only hangs out with his brothers."
JUNIOR: "Uh, well, yeah, but I like haven't been over there in a while. Not that I hate it, but I was never too into that whole 'frat boy' image. I'm just kind into my own scene now. I live off-campus."
SENIOR: "(Smirk), uh, well, yeah, I guess. But I'm not really in it anymore. (Female: But what house?) Oh, sorry, I was in (House X). Never was a total 'frat boy,' though. I live in a house on Foster now, just with a bunch of friends. Man, I don't even know what (House X) is like anymore. Do you ever hang out there?"
- Luke Winn | At 12/30/03 12:31 AM, | | wrote: | |
| At 12/30/03 12:31 AM, | | wrote: | | lol |
| At 2/8/03 7:39 AM, | | wrote: | |
| At 1/11/03 1:45 PM, | | wrote: | |
| At 8/7/02 5:44 AM, | | wrote: | |
| At 7/1/02 12:05 PM, | | wrote: | |
| At 6/11/02 10:10 AM, | | wrote: | |
| At 5/14/02 6:15 AM, | | wrote: | |
| At 3/23/02 4:53 AM, | | wrote: | | cj, you're an idiot. |
| At 3/13/02 2:06 PM, | | wrote: | | Living in Elder my freshman year, and staying on north campus for the next three years, has made me appreciate the "athletes". In particular I refer to the football and men's basketball players. They walk around in their Adidas gear, from head to toe. They rarely travel alone, usually at least one other teammate is with them. At night it's like a flock of birds migrating from party to party. But what I find is the funniest part, is that they walk around feeling like gods, the elite few on campus. Granted, schools with great althetic programs view their athletes with admiration, maybe even envy. But at Northwestern, where we qualify for the NIT tournament and not get selected, where we are favored to win the Big 10 football championship and not come even close, its different. Wake up guys, you are not in high school anymore, girls don't melt at your sight because you scored 4 touchdowns in a football game. Thanks for listening |
| At 3/13/02 2:16 AM, | | CJ (c-willey@northwestern.edu) wrote: | | You guys have put this NUComment together really well. One stereotype I would have enjoyed seeing would be "cell-phone slaves". These are the kids that will both leave their cell ringers on and talk on their cell phones in Core late at night, as if nobody minds. They can also often be seen walking Sheridan's sidewalks talking on their phone. |
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