i'm going to a fraternity formal!
 

i just got asked by one of my college friends to their formal. i have never been to one of these things since you know i'm a senior in hs. what should i expect and what should i wear? i'm very excited! thanks!

college formal
 

it should be somewhat like a prom-guys in suits or tuxs and girls in long dresses.expect dinner, dancing and probably some people to drink too much.

At my school all fraternity formals were out of town weekend affairs. Will the one your going to be this way? Are your parents cool with this? Just wondering... Other than that, there will probably be a banquet, dancing, and more than a little drinking.

Re: college formal
 

Just some? ;)

Well as to what to wear, just grab a dress that you've worn to a high school formal, homecoming or Prom. It really isn't all that different from a high school dance other than the fact that you get food and that there's a bar.

Have fun and take care of yourself. Sorry to hi-jack but I have a question.

Are there insurance/risk management issues with having minors at a formal? I'm just curious

I was wondering the same thing. I would think there would be.

I'm sure every one of the fraternity's members isn't over 21. So there will be minors there even if she isn't.

The insurance/risk management issue isn't whether there will be minors or not because most of the chapter is under 21. The issue is whether there will be a third party vendor for alcohol and whether or not id's are being checked. Those over 21 are at risk if they purchase alcohol for minors. I know it would be an ideal world if all policies were observed but BE CAREFUL! Take care of each other - DD's, etc.

A minor is under 18. An underager is under 21.

There are more consequences if you get caught serving alcohol to a minor. That whole "corrupting a minor" and other offenses depending on the state.

Oh Canada!
 

Insurance/risk management issues with having minors at a formal - sure. Same for the chapter members and all guests who are under 21 in the U.S.

Which is why many formals are held in Canada. The legal drinking age is 18 or 19 depending on the province/territory.

Province/Territory : Age of Majority
Alberta 18
British Columbia 19
Manitoba 18
New Brunswick 19
Newfoundland 18
Northwest Territories 19
Nova Scotia 19
Nunavut 19
Ontario 18
Prince Edward Island 18
Québec 18
Saskatchewan 18
Yukon 19

risk management
 

you betcha there are risk management issues anytime there is a greek event and alcohol is being served. usually the event must be held someplace other than the chapter room/ suite/ house and color coded wrist bands are used so it is easy for the bartenders/waiters/waitresses to determine who is old enough to imbibe or not. that doesn't stop the preparties or the tail gates in the parking lot,and people will figure out how to get around the wristbands and fake id's seem to be easy to get. many chapters hire buses to transport everyone to an from the event.

laugh a lot, do be careful about drinking and do not leave your drink unattended-even if you are drinking water or a soft drink. there may be a person who would drug your drink and try to get you alone.be safe!!

I was curious because we ran into this last year. We sat the kid who was under 18 on the far side of the room and told his date that if he even showed up with any alcohol in his system she could be brought before the chapter. It seemed harsh, but who wants to lose their charter cause some kid got wasted? It was all ok. But I have to say it freaked me out (I was the organizer)

Ditto FSUZeta, be very careful with your drink. I don't care how well you know your date, watch your drink at all times. If you leave it unattended to dance, just get a new drink.

brava
 

to little e, for having a cool head and handling a potentially difficult situation in a sensible manner and having her priorities straight.

Re: Oh Canada!
 

That's not exactly correct. Legal Drinking age and age of majority are different. Age of majority is basically when you are legally considered an adult. So now you can do things like enter into contracts.

However, the legal drinking ages in Canada are different. They are:

Alberta: 18
British Columbia: 19
Manitoba: 18
New Brunswick: 19
Newfoundland and Labrador: 19
Northwest Territories: 19
Nova Scotia: 19
Ontario: 19
Prince Edward Island: 19
Québec: 18
Saskatchewan: 19
Yukon: 19

Nunavut is missing however.

Aww thanks. I have to admit I was about to say no one under 18 allowed, but it wasn't worth the fight.

Depending when her birthday is she might already be 18.

Also laugh a lot, if you're not 18, I would have your date call the place where the formal's being held and make sure you will be admitted. Sometimes hotels/taverny restaurants don't admit minors in certain areas after 9 PM or so.

My question is more if there is a risk management issue for having minors under the age of 18 in attendance. Laughs a Lot is still in HS, so this could very well be an issue. As a former risk management chair I think I would be afraid of this one.

I'm guessing it's not that uncommon for a Freshman to be dating his/her high school girl/boyfriend (as an example), so this probably isn't a new issue.

It seems to me that the important thing (as mentioned above) is that the event be at a third party vendors. Even at that, I would think there is some liability. But, I don't see how an organization can stop two people from dating.

As in any social situation, it is important to keep ones wits about them and heed the good advice about keeping track of drinks, etc.

Wouldn't this come up even if there were no high-schoolers at the formal? I didn't turn 18 until November of my freshman year, and I would think there are plenty of minors showing up at GLO functions during their first semester. I'm sure that GLOs have policies in place if this really is an issue.

Anyway, have fun LaughALot, and you might want to check out the websites of GLOs at that school to see if there are any pictures from formals - that will give you a good idea of what to wear, since some prom attire might be too high schoolish. Also, if the formal is at a school where you'll be rushing next year, remember that sorority members will be at the formal, and you don't want to be known during rush as "Bobby's date from the XYZ formal who got trashed."

I actually just thought of that. My birthday's Sept. 9, so I didn't turn 18 until 2 weeks into that school year. I know I went to a fraternity party during that time. Not to mention that people would bring their high school friends, little sisters, etc. The fraternities never checked to see if anyone was 21, let alone 18. Want to talk about a risk management issue.....
:eek:

Granted while we all talk about Risk Management, the Main thing is just be safe.

While it may seem fun to drink with "The Big Kids", it is worriesome about what can get done in the heat of fun.:(

Many and anything can happen, so then is the time to keep your wits about yourself.

Fun is fun, but danger can peek its ugly head up at anytime. Sex or maybe driving drunk or with someone who is drunk and driving.

Life is precious to all of us.

Just go and have a Great time!!!!!!!!!!:D

Re: Re: Oh Canada!
 

Thanks for the clarification.

My situtation wasn't with a college student. It was the brother of someone dating a sister. The little brother was visiting that weekend and the date could only go if his brother had some kind of babysitter. So one of my sisters convinced another to take the brother as a favor. He was under 18 and no one knew him. I guess I just felt like our charter should not be jepordized by a kid who no one knew.

oh wow, forget that.

I would have taken him to the nearest computer store/video game haven, handcuffed him there and picked him up after the formal...maybe.

I hope the sister that had him as her date got the "above and beyond the call" award that week.

Haha, sooo true, I love it! I guarantee if there was a high school girl (ok, or maybe even a pledge from another sorority :eek: ) at a fraternity formal who was wasted and beyond ridiculous, her probable hilarious antics would be retold/acted out ad nauseum the next morning for the sisters who were not in attendance. And if this girl went through rush eventually, she would ONLY be known as "drunk XYZ chick." (much to our advisor's chagrin!)


Yeah so....dont get drunk...be sweet, dance, have fun :-)

Could be a RM issue..like everyone else said, don't get wasted, or even buzzed. I would say, just don't drink to be safe.

Funny story about being a minor...I was 17 when I pledged, for 1 semester(didn't turn 18 until after my 2nd semester started) and there was this guy I was really into, and he was into me to...until he found out that I was 17. He basically said, "I like you, come back when you've hit 18." It wasn't funny then, but I can look back now and laugh.

Do any GLOs have members who are under 18 because they have skipped a grade? How would formals work for them?

Before I pledged (a couple of years or so) there was a member who pledged when she was 16. I guess she had graduated HS early because she had skipped one or two grades. There were no issues at the time. I asked about it since I was 17 and was kind of afraid that I would be limited in the stuff that I was able to do, but I wasn't... I just didn't "partake" at events, which wasn't a problem for me anyhow.:cool: We had our "Mystery Date" event while I was 17, and there were no problems since it was at a 3rd party site and they carded everyone.