You’ve got to be kidding me

My particular fraternity was one of many who got in a bit oftrouble during the week prior to classes beginning.

The punishment that we received was somewhat expected, as ithappens almost every fall.

But there was a little twist to our punishment that wasunexpected due to our “blatant disregard for therules.”

The thing that blew my hair back was that we got punished morethan the other fraternities because we didn’t hide ouralcohol as well as they did.

Or maybe it was the fact that we didn’t have anyone on theexecutive board of IFC to sweep it under the rug.

The one thing that boggles my mind more than anything at thisschool, which says quite a lot, is that the administration’snaivete about the expectations first-years have in regards to thecollege experience.

Some of our school’s authorities seem to think that theone thing freshman have on their minds is getting quality gradesand soaking up the “academic atmosphere” here atSMU.

Let me set up two scenarios for you. The first is theadministration’s Pollyanna version and the latter adescription that more closely resembles the truth.

First, the naive administration’s ideal:

It seems like a tradition more and more these days; the freshmanfiling into their dorms while the upper-classmen move into theirrespective fraternity houses around and near campus.

The fraternity men can’t wait to get moved in and beginpartying before classes resume, while the freshman can’t waitfor their parents to leave the city.

The freshman are eager to embark on what’s considered tobe a rite of passage; the first great step in a long journey toadulthood.

You have got to be kidding me.

If you stop and ponder with me for a second, you will come torealize that as the first-year students’ parents depart forhome, the freshman can’t wait to see what fraternity partiesare all about.

I have no doubt that some even leave their rooms in boxes forthe semester because they are so busy going out each night anddrinking.

Yep, that’s right folks, underage drinking does have alarge part in fraternities today.

Or at least, according to my grandfather who pledged afraternity at 17 in 1942. Alcohol has as much to do with college asit did 61 years ago, .

We, the fraternities, are often accused of being the thorn inthe side of the administration and the school’sappearance.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t the freshman theones making a decision?

If a house throws its usual back-to-school bash, just as we did,how are we to regulate the free choice freshman make in showing upto our parties?

To touch on the administration and how naive they appear to be,here’s a real scenario for you all.

And folks, the reality:

Parties are not uncommon the first week before classes start inthe fall. Almost all of them are held at the houses, andunfortunately, against policy.

Everyone knows that these parties are a prerequisite torecruitment for every house involved. The reason for this fact isvery simple:

Would “Johnny freshman” be more likely to pledge afraternity that he observed serving alcohol, albeit illegal, with agroup of people at the fraternity house – something thatresembles and actual party or a good time – or would he joina group of people sipping on punch and playing “GoFish” while snacking on chips?

Of course, we all know that there are a few people who choosethe latter.

But I hope that I am not the first to tell you all that thosewho choose the party scene are by far the majority.

In many respects, the current policy seems to imply that theschool would rather the students drive to a bar, hang out for a fewhours and then drive home drunk.

Well, maybe they’re right. An institution with apopulation of convicted DWI offenders looks much better than aparty school.

Call me bitter. I’ll call myself amazed. So what, I saidit.

Mathew Hopper is an accounting major and can be reached [email protected].