The consistent movie tropes of Greek life from years past are a bit dramatic at worst, but scarily accurate at best.
It’s not all too uncommon to see “frat bros” acting exactly how you would expect a frat bro to act. It’s not all to uncommon to see a sorority sister act no different than their movie counterpart. The movies tell an exaggerated truth about Greek life, but it’s more humorous to witness in person.
For legal and “I don’t want to start any beef with anyone” reasons, names and houses will be removed from context. We can just stick with the pseudonyms Chad, Brad and Rad from Sigma Apple Pie.
Furthermore, the University of Idaho and most fraternities taking hazing seriously—rest assured, none of the stories I’ve been a part of or heard of involve hazing.
Extreme redecorating
In each house, members are allowed to have a bit of creative expression with their rooms. It’s a little different with every chapter on campus, but most allow redesigns, minor construction and some painting. There are guidelines, however, which some don’t take all too seriously.
A friend of mine went to the extreme.
Dismantling the whole room, he quickly went to work painting. A lovely blue? A nice a sage? Or bright yellow accent walls? No, no. The color he decided to land on was black. And he painted every single nook and cranny of that room black. The ceiling, all four walls, the desk, the drawers and the windowsill.
As if that wasn’t extreme enough, the next step in the process was splatter painting the entire room with glow in the dark paints. And, oh my, did he do that.
Generously, the concept wasn’t terrible or malicious. As for the result, let’s just say you’re better off trying to sleep in a run-down laser tag arena.
Chad’s interfraternity relations
Interfraternal relationships are a bit of a work in progress on campus. It’s no secret not all fraternities here like each other, which is okay. That’s just how social dichotomy of life rolls.
Every now and then, however, a friendship wall is broken down. Progress, though little, is made. Just ask the fraternity member who drunkenly tried to pledge a different fraternity.
One hopeless night, Chad of Sigma Apple Pie went out with a couple friends. They drank, they laughed, they wondered around aimless, the usual.
As they traversed, they were enticed to knock at the doors of another fraternity. For reasons unknown to me, they were let in with open arms.
Brothers from opposing fraternities gather rarely. That night was special. The group partied and laughed. A bond was forming.
A bond so strong, in fact, Chad of Sigma Apple Pie really wanted to pledge the opposing the fraternity. For those who don’t know, that’s not how Greek life works.
Flattered at best, the opposing members were disgruntled in their drunken confusion. Things became tense. Unannounced to Chad, he was no longer welcome in the opposing fraternity.
Luckily, there was no brawl or longstanding fraternal “beef,” that night wasn’t as special as once conceived.
Deep down, fraternity brothers are just as territorial as depicted in the movies. Stepping on the wrong turf may put you in hot water, even Chad from Sigma Apple Pie.
Brad and Rad’s new pet
My biggest complaint of Greek life is the generic no pets rule. It might not be the same case across campus, but generally fraternities and sororities don’t have house pets.
I’ve heard of some who’ve taken the issue into their own hands and done what is necessary.
Out in the Arboretum, somewhere amidst the trees, a family of squirrels exists peacefully. They spend their days frolicking in the grass, gathering nuts and berries and doing other squirrel things.
One fateful day, a squirrel was tempted by a seemingly large piece of bread—a piece much bigger than anything it had ever seen. As it approached the tempting treat, it was bombarded by Brad and Rad from Sigma Apple Pie.
It put up a good fight, but it wasn’t long before it was leashed. The squirrel’s new reality wasn’t all too bad. It still got to roam around and do squirrel things if Brad and Rad walked it accordingly.
Squirrels are not known for their house friendly personalities. It’s beneath me why Brad and Rad wanted to tame a wild squirrel. They quickly gave up and set the poor guy free, but one thing is certain: the no pet rule for Sigma Apple Pie will continue to stay in place.
Many stories from Greek life can make it seem like an all-bad place. A wild, free-for-all zone of mischief and madness. On a small scale, that exists. However, the community supports and uplifts itself just the same as any other community or assemblance of people.
There’s fun, sure, but there’s drive, integrity, perseverance, determination, honesty and unity. Anything can happen any given day, but one thing is certain, the Greek life experience never fails to deliver.
Carter Kolpitcke can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @carterkolpitcke