Jon Stewart - not a GLO friend

[hoosier]

LAUREN PUTNOCKY -- The Flat Hat (Wm. & Mary)
Jon Stewart, Host of "The Daily Show,"Class of '84 Comedian, alumnus returns to College for Q&A session

By Meghan Williams
Flat Hat Asst. News Editor

Last Sunday the College hosted a guest appearance of one of its own when Jon Stewart, '84, returned to answer questions from students in William and Mary Hall. The question-and-answer session, which was sponsored by the University Centers Activities Board, drew a crowd of approximately 2,900 people, according to senior Mary Slonina, assistant director of communications for UCAB.
UCAB set up an online form where students were able to submit questions. UCAB selected 50 of the submitted questions to ask Stewart as time permitted.
Al Albert, who was the head coach of the men's soccer team when Stewart played here during his years at the College, took the stage to introduce Stewart and detailed some of the highlights of Stewart's College soccer career.
According to Albert, Stewart briefly considered continuing his soccer career after graduation, but he "moved on into the real world,"Albert said.
The start of his eventual career path was evident even at the College, according to Albert.
"Jon's wit was famous within the team,"he said. "No one would dare even then engage him in verbal combat. None of us imagined he would take things to the level that he has, but he was, even in college, a very funny guy."
After relating a story of why he had come to the College in the first place, Stewart explained why he had come back.
"Some of the best people I have ever met, I met down here,"he said. "It was a different place than it is now, as I've talked to some of the students, a lot of the students here say it's fun. When I was here, I don't recall that adjective being tossed around."
Stewart echoed Albert's statement that his comedic talent began during his college years.
"This was the first place I developed my humor,"he said.
Four UCAB members took turns reading the questions, but Stewart also directed comments to other people in the audience who shouted.
For example, at one point a group of freshmen shouted out to Stewart and he held a short conversation with the group.
"You graduate in 2006,"Stewart said. "Oh, that's the craziest thing I've ever heard. When were you born? '84? Can I tell you something weird? I'm your father."
An ongoing difficulty throughout the program was names of buildings and dormitories that had changed since Stewart was at the College. Many of the students who had submitted questions identified themselves by first name, year and residence.
For example, one question was from a resident of Unit B, the house for Beta Theta Pi.
"Unit B?"Stewart asked. "What is that, the psych ward?"
At times Stewart responded to students' questions with questions of his own.
"What's the single most important thing I learned here?"he said. "Always wear a condom. What are these questions? What's going on here? We're here to talk, people."
A longer answer was in response to a question about how Stewart became interested in comedy as a career.
"I don't really want to bum anybody out, but college is useless,"he said. "I don't mean that in a bad way. I just mean that it costs too much and it takes too long, and you don't learn enough. But other than that -- it's really fun. The transition from college to life is an enormous one."
"And unless you really know what you want to do, I would recommend that you don't worry about it. It doesn't matter ... just get good at it."
"Whatever it is that you do, don't add to the suckiness that is out there. The world is filled with incompetence, and people doing things they don't want to be doing. Do what you want to do, and you'll get good at it, and you'll add to the discussion and the dialogue. If you do what you don't want to do, you'll be bitter and old and your parents."
One topic that Stewart discussed at length was prompted by a question about Greek life during his years at the College.
"Greek life was, I'm assuming, a lot like what it is now -- a false sense of friendship ... an abusive relationship under the guise of camaraderie."
According to Stewart, he was a brother of Pi Kappa Alpha for six months, but decided that membership in a fraternity "wasn't the answer."
"I hope I'm not offending people that are in [fraternities and sororities],"Stewart said. "I don't mean to be so harsh on [the system.] There are things in it there are good, but ... I was in Pi Kappa Alpha ... the letters themselves are meaningless. People are people."
Stewart then made a general statement about his experiences with the Greek system.
"My point is, as fun as it was to have parties in that house, it wasn't worth the pressure of living up to someone else's expectations as to what you're supposed to be, and going to meetings where they had parliamentary procedure to discuss a toga party,"he said.
During the session Stewart responded to a variety of questions, including whether he preferred boxers or briefs and if he would go to a formal with one female student.
The session lasted approximately 90 minutes and ended when UCAB members presented Stewart with gifts.

[Tom Earp]

Hoosier, thanks, this guys sucks! HELL, HE WAS THE ONE ThaT MADE IT. WHAT IS IN HIS MIND, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!

He used Fraternity to do what at school he could not maybe do on his own?

[Firehouse]

I'm a Pike and I know a little about Jon. Regardless of what it says in the article, he remains close to some of his Pike Brothers. Jon Stewart is not his real name, but one he adopted after college.

[Munchkin03]

Just because he remains close to some of the other chapter members doesn't mean he has serious reservations about his experience. You can like members of your organization on a personal level, but have issues with those in power--the ones who, for better or worse, dictate the character of the chapter. Not everyone has had as great a Greek experience as you have, and you can't discredit what he or she has to say.

At various times, and with various intensities, I've felt what he said. But you know what? That's okay.

[Firehouse]

I don't know him personally, just through third parties. It's hard to accept that someone else doesn't share the same feelings for your own fraternity. I know so many guys who think that being a Pike at my school played a big role in helping to make them successful and happy. Some of my best friends in the chapter are still some of my best friends today, many years later. I guess it just bothers me when a guy has that opportunity, and is dismissive about it later. But as you say, we're all different.

[Blue Violet]

that people don't take their vows and intitiations seriously and still can remain friends with people in the org. I have several excellent friends/sisters who were extremely involved in sorority life during school and after graduation disappeared. We are all still friends but they have no interest in doing it after college-no alumni group interest. Three of them were talking the other day b/c we are supposed to sing our sorority song at a wedding and I was the only one who remembered the words. Two of them couldn't remember the handshake and NONE of them remembered the password and you know what-they didn't care.They laughed about it. It was a college thing for them. And while I plan to stay active, I really don't see anything wrong with that. SOme things mean more to others. Everyone's like that about something...

[lionlove]

Oh well, people get different things out of greek life. I wouldn't get worked up over his comments.

[adduncan]

I do understand that different people approach Greek life in different ways and get different things out of it.

That being said.........

From my POV, when people throw away these precious, private things that were shared with them, dismiss them as a college club, my blood boils.

Greek life at my college was and is struggling. Rush was a blur and I felt like I didn't know any of these organizations well enough to make a **lifetime commitment** to them. Therefore, I didn't pledge. Even though I know it was the right decision at the time, it left a real hole in me that I've tried to learn to live with.

After coming to GC, I found out that it *may* not be too late to join a sisterhood. You can not imagine the joy and relief I felt to find out there was still A CHANCE.

Brotherhood/sisterhood is for a lifetime. It's a more precious concept to me because I've never experienced it and I sooooo want to. (I don't have any siblings either.) If I get the chance to pledge an organization that I feel truly bonded with, you can bet I will promise in front of God never to forget how valuable that bond is, to act accordingly, and to pass it on to younger members.

It's just so ironic that many people who are blessed w/ the opportunity to be initiated into the brotherhood of a GLO are quick to forget it outside of college--and some of us who so want to contribute never get the chance.

Rant over. Back to Saturday morning coffee.......
Adrienne

[Betarulz!]

Is it that big of a deal that one famous person is not positive on Greek life? La di frickin da! One out of many.

The difference here is that at least Stewart was a part of it, and had the opportunity to see what goes on, and then he decided it wasn't right for him.

I think most of us would agree that if someone who tried Greek life and didn't like it is far better than those who dismissed it out of hand...That's what I always try to tell the prospective students I meet with - It may not be for you but how can you be sure if you dont' give it a chance?

[breathesgelatin]

Originally posted by hoosier

"I hope I'm not offending people that are in [fraternities and sororities],"Stewart said. "I don't mean to be so harsh on [the system.] There are things in it there are good, but ... I was in Pi Kappa Alpha ... the letters themselves are meaningless. People are people."
Stewart then made a general statement about his experiences with the Greek system.
"My point is, as fun as it was to have parties in that house, it wasn't worth the pressure of living up to someone else's expectations as to what you're supposed to be, and going to meetings where they had parliamentary procedure to discuss a toga party,"he said.

Uh.... Perhaps I'm not the only one who noticed, but it sounds like if he's calling his fraternity "abusive", there *may* have been problems with hazing. If there was, and if there was pressure to act a certain way, as he mentions, I can see why he might be disillusioned. Besides, he does acknowledge good things about the system (and maintain Pike friendships). Maybe if he had gone through at a different time/place, he would feel differently.

[crystalline]

Eh, regardless, he still cracks me up!

[Optimist Prime]

I thought he was a Theta Chi

[shadokat]

While I may not agree with Jon Stewart, I can't say that he speaks about something he knows nothing about. He was in a fraternity for 6 months, and for whatever reason, found it to not be what he wanted to be involved in. I respect that at least he went through the process before saying negative things. And he really is still funny as hell!