Question on letters and drinking

[stuckinohio]

We are not suppose to wear our letters when we drink, and I respect that... so, what about Beta shotglasses? Is that a big no no, or what is yalls opinion on that one?

[Betarulz!]

The whole idea of not drinking letters is the very public nature of the display. And it's an arguement that I believe has a lot less weight once one has graduated. I've become a lot less careful about making sure not to be wearing letters. If I'm out running errands and someone calls me to join them for dinner, and I'm in letters, it's not like I go change. I'm of legal age, and therefore I don't believe it's as big of deal if I have a drink or three with my dinner.

Same thing when I'm studying with my med school friends and we head to a bar to blow off some steam.

Does that make it better? I don't know, but I think that to some extent it's over blown but only when talking about members who are of age. Underage drinking in letters is a far worse problem b/c that is illegal.

As for shot glasses...no big deal in my book. It's an entirely different issue. Yes, they're used for drinking, but I don't think people make the same sort of association to the fraternity with a shot glass. More than likely you know that your host is in the fraternity so it shouldn't be a surprise.

EDIT: Going for the perfect post and caught a double negative in there...and that just can't not ever happen...(kudos to you if you caught reference)

[sdbeta1]

Is it actually written somewhere that we are not supposed to drink in our letters, or is this one of those unwritten rules? I also agree that we shouldn't drink in our letters, as it is disrespectful. But isn't drinking inside your house equivalent to drinking in your letters? As for shot glasses or beer steins, I don't see any problem with them. People that you will be doing shots with at home most likely know you are a Beta.

[ECUJacob]

I don't believe this is a written rule. I think it's simply a matter of respect for your letters/organization.

In regards to drinking in the house, if you're a MoP chapter, your house is dry. So that shouldn't even be an issue.

I don't agree with drinking while wearing your letters. I think bystanders will be given even more reason to think that "Animal House" is the majority still today. Our chapter is usually pretty strict about this rule. The letters you wear (in any fashion: shirt, jewelry, etc) mean something. Or, at least, they should mean something. And none of those meanings are related to alcohol or partying.

[jkllkj]

I'm not too sure on the MoP dry thing... because we are... and I have a beer in my hand.

[ZZ-kai-]

To be a MoP chapter, you do not need to be dry. Some MoP chapters are dry though. Just to clarify...

[ECUJacob]

my mistake... or rather, someone else is mistaken and they told me that.

[a.e.B.O.T.]

Yeah, I was informed as well that all MoP houses are dry... but I think that might just be (re)colonized houses, the ones started by the AO

[ZZ-kai-]

Not necessarily. New colony start-ups are MoP chapters - but not forcibly dry. Some re-colonized chapters (IE Nebraska) came back as MoP and dry, as a requirement by their alumni, or house corp., or the undergraduate delegates (convention)...etc.

So, new colonies are not dry, but they are MoP. Can they be dry? Yep. Do they have to be? No. Can some re-colonizations be non-MoP? No - all new colonies and re-colonizations start as MoP. Can they be a 'wet' house? Yes. Can they be dry? Yes.

[a.e.B.O.T.]

hmm, thats not what i was told my one of the head LCs

[ZetaPsi109]

Originally posted by jkllkj
I'm not too sure on the MoP dry thing... because we are... and I have a beer in my hand.

We're also an off campus house...

[jkllkj]

just checked, you do not have to be dry.

[Betarulz!]

Originally posted by ZZ-kai-
Not necessarily. New colony start-ups are MoP chapters - but not forcibly dry. Some re-colonized chapters (IE Nebraska) came back as MoP and dry, as a requirement by their alumni, or house corp., or the undergraduate delegates (convention)...etc.

So, new colonies are not dry, but they are MoP. Can they be dry? Yep. Do they have to be? No. Can some re-colonizations be non-MoP? No - all new colonies and re-colonizations start as MoP. Can they be a 'wet' house? Yes. Can they be dry? Yes.

Our reorganization and subsequent dryness were mandated by the Alumni as part of them keeping the chapter open. That was in part due to the fact that some undergraduate members at the time were selling drugs out of the chapter house, and "pledge donkey kong" with empty keg shells was a common mid week activity.

The actual move to being completely dry was done in stages, though the rules were on the books. First no parties in the house, then no afterhours in the house, then only drinking in a room with the door closed (seriously...that was the de facto standard about 2 years before I got into the house) then they actually began enforcing no alcohol at all in the house, then we got rid of drinking in cars in our parking lot. Still, there is some very hidden, underground drinking that happens on occassion in the house...I'd bet 75% of the guys in the chapter have had at least a beer or two while in the house...

[Coramoor]

I personally don't see what the problem with alcohol is.

Again, I think it is just people living in fantasy land. You have to be able to conduct yourself while drinking once you are in the real world. There will be many social events that you basically have to come to, and where there will be booze. If you don't show up you will be outcast, if you don't handle yourself you get fired.

I very much doubt that our founders would want us to be dry, nor would they want draconian no smoking rules.

[jkllkj]

"pledge donkey kong"

That is about the single greastest thing I have ever heard of.