composite snatching gone wrong

stagebear · #1 04-07-2003, 01:04 AM

the other night, some of our girls managed to snatch the composite from our favorite fraternity's house. we sent them a picture of us with it so that they knew it was us and the the omposite was safe. all fun and games - until some of them overreacted.
instead of calling to say it wasn't a joke to them, they planned to get it back. we found out about the plan (time and all) from several sources, so were ready.
as they surrounded the house at midnight, and one rang the doorbell. we didnt answer since some of the started to get riled up. some then proceeded to throw trach around and make a mess of the yard.
after trying to calm them down, they left (planning to come back later). after talking to the president (a really good friend), i decided to take the composites back to their house and talk to them.
i tried to explain that it was in fun and that we only did it to them cause we love them - we would have laughed if they did it to us. well, some of them were so riled up that they weren't listening. the one that got them riled up and i then went and talked privately. i finally got through to him our intentions and why we didnt just answer the door.
we came to the agreement that those of us that actually took the composite (cause it was not a chapter decision)would apologize to their chapter and the guys involved would apologize to us.
so now we're waiting for things to cool down - esp since all of this happened in less than 24 hrs. i know that a lot of the guys thought it was fun that we took the composite cause they were joking when they found out.
so i dont know what else to do. i think they have a better understanding, but i dont want to let this ruin the closeness of our chapters.

Betarulz! · #2 04-07-2003, 01:14 AM

That's too bad that the guys got angry. I guess this is just another example of how campus's vary...at Nebraska, composite stealing happens all the time, and it's no big deal. Usually the house has to go sing in order to get their composite back.

They get their composite's back decorated with magazine clippings of various sexual innuendos, all in good fun.

Composite stealing should only be a fun thing and it's unfortunate that some guys could handle it.

JerzeeBoy26 · #3 04-07-2003, 02:10 AM

Ive never heard of a sorority stealing a fraternity's composite. There is one fraternity on my campus that is known for stealing composites and prides themselves on having one from each fraternity. Because of this, many houses (mine included) have their composites screwed into the wall so they can't be taken. Last year, a few pledges from this "composite snatching" fraternity got caught trying to steal Phi Delt's composite and got their asses kicked by two football players. That stuff just doesn't fly here (composites are expensive man!)

stagebear · #4 04-07-2003, 02:18 AM

you have to understand our intentions. this wasnt a random fraternity - these guys have become our brothers in the last year. they knew full well that we weren't going to damage it or keep it. they would have had it back in a few days. it was just friendly rivalry - like them attacking us with water balloons at 2am while we were doing our teeter-totter-a-thon.

sugar and spice · #5 04-07-2003, 02:24 AM

I thought composite stealing between fraternities and sororities was the norm on most campuses. I know it happens here and at the University of Minnesota.

It's weird that they overreacted like that.

AXJules · #6 04-07-2003, 05:18 AM

Here at Mizzou it's definitely the norm-
Sororities do it just as much, if not more than fraternities. You decorate w/clippings and then bring back.
It used to be that you had to 'secretly' steal them, but a bunch of sorority houses got broken into last year so Panhel and IFC created a rule saying you have to ring the doorbell and ask nicely.

kddani · #7 04-07-2003, 07:25 AM

it happens.... more the sororities stealing the fraternities on our campus at least. The guys seem to get the cheaper version.

We live in suites, each sorority having a floor. Our composities are prominently displayed in the hallway as you step off the elevator. I know the last one that I remember writing out a check for (I was treasurer) was upwards of $1000.

There had been some stealing going on last year- sororities stealing from other sororities, but it wasn't anything that could be qualified as all in good fun. When you never get things back.....

Kevin · #8 04-07-2003, 09:22 AM

It can get out of hand though. One fraternity on our campus broke in, stole all of our awards and trophies. They kept them for around a year until we found out by way of someone that a brother worked with. We then sent the police to collect them because they denied having them. We got them back and the other group claimed they were going to have a football game and give them back then.. sure.

shopgirl · #9 04-07-2003, 10:33 AM

I think it's pretty common at my school, although I could be wrong. If I remember correctly, certain sororities would "raid" certain fraternities (I think they were chosen and may be different every year). During these "raids" water balloons are thrown, shaving cream and toilet paper is involved, and other items that are generally quite harmless. Composites are taken, but it's almost as though they let us have them. They fight back, but it's all in a fun, loving way.

How do they get their composites back?
They have to serenade the house, usually during Monday meetings.

It really is a good time. There really is nothing to get upset about when you know there is some sort of system to it. People are not out to get other people and/or their belongings.

In fact, click on the link and you'll see a photo of some Sigma Kappas from The University of Arizona preparing to "raid" a fraternity.

http://www.uasigmakappa.com/uask/html/photos.html

nyrdrms · #10 04-07-2003, 10:44 AM

In the past four years, we've never had any composites stolen from any of the organizations on our campus (I don't know about before that though). We also don't have houses. Our composites are kept in our offices in the student center, which we share with another Greek organization (which would make stealing them that much easier).

We just prank each other here. One of the fraternities moved a sororities desk out of their office, toilet papering happens a lot to the homes and cars of other Greeks. A few of my sisters and I had planned on stealing a statue from one of the fraternities while they were gone for initiation and taking him to our formal, but that got screwed up when two of the sisters in on the plan got drunk and told the guys they weren't allowed to take the statue with them.

There's nothing wrong with pranks, as long as EVERYONE knows that it's all in fun. If these guys are going to get mad, then don't prank them again. And likewise, if you aren't willing to accept the repercussions, then don't prank.

jharb · #11 04-07-2003, 01:58 PM

It's funny because a similar situation just happened to me too! The fraternity that we're close with at Wabash just got their new composite a few weeks ago and we decided last night to drive up there and get it. They had the composite in their locked trophy room so we asked their president to unlock it for us and he not only unlocked it but helped us to carry it to the car! We left a note on the wall where the composite would be hanging if it had been on the wall about how we'll return it unharmed on Thursday.

We got back to Butler and apparently the ex boyfriend of one of the girls who stole the composite found the note and blew it all out of proportion and now there's all this drama about it. We're returning it tonight because a few brothers in the house want us to be banned from the house!

Two of the girls who took the composite are currently dating brothers in the house and two of us are "talking" to guys in the house. We have enough of the guys on our side about it just being a joke but there's three brothers who are extremely angry about it.

It's just weird because here at Butler it's all about stealing composites. You half the time can just walk in and walk out with no one even caring. Last year as a joke we called Sigma Chi and asked for them to bring their composite down to us, and they did!

I just think people need to realize it's a joke...we weren't going to keep the composite or break it!

Jess

AZDZetaSigma03 · #12 04-07-2003, 03:30 PM

We've never had a composite stolen, as far as I know (well, I've heard a vague rumor it may have happened once years ago but I don't know that for sure), but we have a bench on our front porch that the ATOs, who live across the street from us, steal at least once a semester. Even after we painted it bright blue with our letters. None of us really mind as long as we get it back. I think it's funny--it always goes on their roof, which as far as I know is where it is now. We've never stolen anything of any fraternity's, though.

DG515 · #13 04-07-2003, 03:45 PM

At my school, we have a commuter campus and we don't have "official" houses, we have an office-type situation where we each have our own suite. Most the time the doors are unlocked, and even when they are, it's possible to climb through the ceiling and get into the other offices. People don't take composites, matter of fact, we are the only one out of the 4 that have current composites, and those are pretty much left alone. There are other pranks that are done in good fun, and for the most part, no one gets mad. The general rule is don't deface, break, or keep whatever you take, just have fun and give it back sooner rather than later. Some of the other pranks include, sorority letters spelt out in feminine products on the walls of the fraternity suite, the kidnapping of the fraternity hooters calendar, missing pictures, spitwads on the composites, missing letters, re-arranged furniture, and my favorite (which is funny considering it was against us) The Phi Kappa Thetas took our 7 ft tall Hannah and kidnapped her for the weekend. They took her on an "adventure" and took pictures all the way. One of my favorite pictures is hannah sleeping under their flag with one of the boys. It's great ;-) But, she was returned and all was well. I do know that in the past, the other sorority took her, painted their letters on her chest, and then attached a plastic heart with their letters over that, so if we removed the heart, their letters were still there.....that, that wasn't cool. We're really close with one of the fraternities at another college in town and they DO have a house. We've often thought about pranking them, and raiding them, but it'll be difficult because we don't want to get them mad at us, so we're still trying to figure out something to do that's innocent fun. Any ideas for good pranks?
Greek Love and Mine,
Mandie

ZTAMich · #14 04-07-2003, 04:22 PM

No composite snatching but there has been some flag snatching/not returning after greek week...grrr

AchtungBaby80 · #15 04-07-2003, 04:50 PM

Over here, composite-snatching is seen as normal. The composites always get returned, so it's all in good fun. We get outs stolen all the time, and we've done our share of stealing as well, but no one has ever gotten mad over it. Once, we had ours stolen in the middle of the night, which is quite a feat since all the sorority houses have doors that automatically lock (we all have to have keys every time we want to get in)--I mean, I was really impressed that the fraternity was able to devise a way to sneak in and get it without any of us hearing anything!