[boz130]

FWIW...

Lately I've found myself indulging in a bit of "time travel". I try to imagine how I would've reacted to a situation as an undergrad, as opposed to the long-time alumnus that I am now. Sort of seeking out my "inner 19-year-old".

This first occurred a couple of weeks ago when I was in Bloomington-Normal, IL on a business trip to Illinois Wesleyan. After meeting w/their IFC, PanHel & alumni advisor meetings I traipsed north a couple of miles to stop in @ my home Lambda Chi chapter @ Illinois State.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed a carload of guys/girls driving out. Nothing unusual there, I thought--there always seem to be sorority members hanging out there. When I approached the house I discovered they were in the midst of an exchange.

This is when I had an epiphany: if I walked in, I wouldn't be a Lamb Chop alum...I'd just look like somebody's dad, especially to the sorority members. I thought it'd be pretty weird if someone's father just happened to stop by a party, so I turned around, got into my sedate suburban station wagon & drove to my hotel.

I've used this same strategy w/regard to having sticky stuff poured all over me by a sorority member. Granted, at this point it would be something like an outtake from "Desperate Housewives", but as a slightly-overweight 19-year-old I would've felt pretty weird.

I mean, there we (I'm using my 16-member Associate Member class as an example) are, trying to fit in w/the actives, meeting women in our age group and trying not to look like idiots, and now we have to have some babes we don't know that well pouring chocolate on us while we're kneeling in gym shorts w/our love handles (for those that had them) hanging out...this doesn't sound like a fun activity.

Knowing what my mindset was at that time ("all for the team", since I'd been involved in interscholastic athletics since junior high), I probably would've gone through with it because we ALL had to go through it. Even though it would've been embarassing as hell, it'd be just one of those things...

I don't know, but I'm guessing the administration's looking for somebody to nail. If I were one of the staffers and used the strategy I described above, I'd probably sanction both GLOs.

Thanks,
BF