Photo by: Clarion
Not recognizing the area code of the number calling my phone, I was hesitant to pick up. Minutes later, I was in my neighbor’s room asking how a blind date with a sorority works.
How did they know my name? My number? Do I even know anyone in that sorority? Well, it was too late for questions for I had already told the cute, peppy girl on the phone that I would attend.
Not having been on a date since first quarter, I was slightly baffled that it was going to take a blind date to revitalize my dating life.
This sparked a question. Do all connections in college really require the willingness to yield to the involvement of a fraternity or sorority? “That’s how you meet people,” my neighbor said with an honest shrug.
She’s probably right. As a freshman, college appears as an organized system, a hierarchy of people and connections that can’t be tampered with.
Although only about 18% of the DU student body is involved in Greek life, it sure feels like that percentage makes for a much larger impact on college life than it would seem.
Unless you’re a freshman and already have invested in a home nearby (good for you if you have), most of the parties are dictated by fraternities, and then joined by sororities. It seems like there should be another way to connect yourself, and meet other people, that doesn’t include silently flirting with an attractive classmate during Spanish or freezing to death walking to a fraternity house.
The day after I had talked to the peppy girl on the phone, my friends told me they were making an attempt at a new experience – speed dating.
Thinking it was a solid opportunity to meet new people – and mingle with some girls – I decided to tag along. Despite the awkward eye contact and a few “interesting” encounters, I left with a positive outlook on the experience. I didn’t have to rush to talk to these girls nor did I have to suffer a night of beer spilling on my shoes at some party.
These things don’t necessarily require a miracle or a pledge to Alpha Greeka Delta Beta Sigma. Sometimes all it takes is a mix of getting involved and seizing the opportunities that come by.
