Your Night Out: Frat Parties
Nights at Sigma Chi used to be a lot more interesting.
When all other colleges have already commenced and Northwestern students linger/languish across the country waiting for school to fucking start already, the prefrosh will inevitably receive a series of irritating calls from their friends who are already at college detailing the “sick frat parties” they went to last night. By the time new student week rolls around (around the time when most colleges have Fall Break), freshman are practically peeing their pants in anticipation of visiting “Frat Row”
And even though NU has more of a “Frat scramble” with its disjointed series of scattered quads, the experience doesn’t necessarily disappoint, especially if you know what you are doing/are good at faking it.
While Freshman Freeze is in effect for the first couple weeks of school and technically bans freshman from entering Greek houses, the rule is pretty easily broken and ignored. Afterward the first three weeks building a web of deceit and lies (“I’m a sophomore, I swear!”) the freshmen are allowed to swarm the houses.
That is when the dance parties begin. That is not what we’re talking about; this applies to honest-to-god frat keggers where the brothers escort you upstairs while peeking out the front door to make sure there aren’t cops. Dance parties suck universally. No one wants to go to a dance party, they just end up there, drunk and horny.
Availability of liquor: If you are some rando and you don’t know anyone at the frat, you might end up having an AA-worthy sober night, even if you do pre-game. Bottom line is, you generally need to know somebody who knows somebody or be a really cool looking guy or a hot looking girl if you are going to drink at a frat party. There are lots of exceptions, like sketchy two-story (as opposed to 4-story) frats that are enthusiastic about jungle juice, jager bombs, and ice luge shots for all, but these everyone’s-welcome parties aren’t as common as the ones where to get upstairs (and access alcohol) you need to be in the know. In short, if you can get in, you’re set. Score: 6
Chances of hooking up: High. Frats are basically scientifically designed incubators for sex, with precisely the right ratios of freely flowing beer, dimly lit hallways, and dark rooms resplendent with beds and futons. Everyone is trying to impress, and if you want, you can probably find a guaranteed hookup at most frat parties. Granted, you might have to lower your standards, but this is Northwestern. Get used to it. Score: 7.5
Chances of getting in: This varies by person and by party. At cooler, more selective frats, you might need to know someone or look outrageously cool/hot to even get inside, especially during the beginning of the year, when freshmen mill around the frat quad like a crowd of lost orphans hungry for porridge. Generally, though, if you look semi-cute, aren’t wearing any unfortunate sweatshirt/suspender combinations, and aren’t part of a large and callow looking group, you can gain access to any frat, even if its by just following in some other people. All in all though, its best to know people, so make connections early, get phone numbers, and practice the phrase “Oh, it’s okay, I know John, let me in.” Score: 4
Annoyingness factor: Depending on the frat, there is a full spectrum of extra-douche to so nice and undouchey you are perturbed, creeped out, and have to vacate the premise because if one more guy who was without a question on his high school debate team tells you your dress looks nice and offers you a drink, you might vomit. So try ‘em all and find what you like best. As for the girls you may encounter, watch this video. If it makes you want to gouge your eyes out, frat parties may not be your best bet. Score: 5
Location convenience: High. Even for south campus dwellers, the frat quads are a mere 10 minute drunken stumble or a quick 2 minute blip if you can catch a bus. And for the blessed inhabitants of North Campus, the frats are quite literally in your backyard. Score: 9
Chances of getting busted: While there’s always a chance the frat might get in trouble later for their partying, the chances of you having to stop consuming alcohol because of the police or administration is pretty minimal. Score: 2
-Franny G.
Filed under: the rough guide to nu | 7 Comments
Tags: alcohol, frats, freshman guide, greek, greek life, parties, partying, social life
this site sucks.
i think the site is actually pretty informative and not biased towards any one frat. so it’s actually pretty cool. don’t hate.
- anon NU incoming freshman (‘12)
this site isn’t biased towards one frat because it’s written by non-greek losers who got cut from rush.
Look hotshot, if you think RR has the “real” guide to NU, then you are sorely mistaken… there’s more to this place than going greek and getting shitfaced on the weekends. This is extremely useful information for an incoming freshman.
i didn’t say anything about RR, the stig. i said this site sucks and is written by losers. stick to the issues at hand.
Your comment misled me, my apologies. That said, there’s still useful info here.
Since when is someone a loser if they’re non-Greek?