I've searched and searched, still looking for some help...

[VandalSquirrel]

I'm more familiar with a swap, mixer, or social having no alcohol, and after the official ending there was alcohol. That was often a result of alcohol policies of sororities, and of some fraternities. Let's say there's a pumpkin carving party, booze free, then people either go to the bar or to an off campus member house so underage people can drink. I think if there was alcohol at an event it was in a house that wasn't dry, or was held off campus with a 3rd party vendor, and was labeled a dance.

We have a decent bar scene so the underage people usually drank in a house or at an out of house, and of age people might be there briefly but peaced out to the bar and show up for late night. I heart late nights in a house because there were always amazing left overs, mmm tater tot casserole or everything for nachos after a night of 32 oz tubs of beer. I can't think of any men's chapter house that didn't have 24 hour kitchen access, ladies, we are mostly denied the kitchen and had to take chances with leftovers and the microwave. Lots of great memories happened after 2 am with board games, karaoke, and pranking.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Once 40 hours of your week minimum is gone to school stuff, Wednesday night doesn't sound like such a fun time to go out and party.

When I was in law school, the law school library pretty much emptied around 8:30 on Wednesday nights because everyone went to a particular bar in town. Wednesday night there was "Law School Night."

Most productive night of the week, as far as I was concerned.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

When I was in law school, the law school library pretty much emptied around 8:30 on Wednesday nights because everyone went to a particular bar in town. Wednesday night there was "Law School Night."

Most productive night of the week, as far as I was concerned.

Ha! I think it was Thursdays that were Penny Pitchers nights at the bar across the street from campus. But even going to the bar with friends (and sisters/brothers) isn't the same as getting dressed up for a switch and then since they were off campus, being stuck there until the buses started going back around midnight.

Campus/city culture varies a lot, but it does seem like seniors being less involved in the partying is fairly common.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

We have a decent bar scene so the underage people usually drank in a house or at an out of house, and of age people might be there briefly but peaced out to the bar and show up for late night. I heart late nights in a house because there were always amazing left overs, mmm tater tot casserole or everything for nachos after a night of 32 oz tubs of beer. I can't think of any men's chapter house that didn't have 24 hour kitchen access, ladies, we are mostly denied the kitchen and had to take chances with leftovers and the microwave. Lots of great memories happened after 2 am with board games, karaoke, and pranking.

Mmm... Stove Top stuffing at the Delta Chi house at 3am...

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by 33girl

*headdesk*

I think that ANYONE who does not participate in ALL the facets of Greek membership is wasting their money. That goes for mixers, meetings, philanthropies, ritual, everything.

And as far as the "relevant" part of your post - I guess that was the part about studying? - sorry, but I also think that's a lame excuse. What happened to Greek life teaching us time management?

YMMV, had our mixers not been loud, alcohol infused dance parties I might have gone to more of them. It seems silly to say that I, or anyone, missed out because I don't like to dance. That wasn't a reason why I joined, so I couldn't have wasted any money. And yet, somehow, I remained active every semester.

And feel free to tell the sisters I knew who were engineering students or nurses that they weren't managing their time well. They were seniors, not freshmen, and very familiar with the program. It's more than just "studying." Seriously, that's just ignorance.

[33girl]

I just have never understood the concept of joining ANY group (that includes a country club or anything where you pay dues) and only doing a few of the things involved with it. We had a few sisters who only went to weekly meetings, rush and ritual. They made very few close friends in the sorority, and yet they kept on paying their dues. I guess I just don't see the point, but then, I was raised by Depression-era parents who impressed upon me that if you buy something, you use it thoroughly and use it until it's gone. Memberships included.

As far as nursing students, if they were in a clinical program, wasn't there a professional status/lowered dues option? Ditto engineering students, if they were in a co-op or something similar.

Sorry your mixers sucked from your POV, but again, if I had rushed at a school where a big facet of Greek life was something I didn't enjoy in the least and didn't plan to participate in, I probably would not have joined. I would have felt too guilty about wasting the money.