Commentary: Dance Party

For this week's column, Rock You has decided to get the real scoop on Duke's greek scene by interviewing some real life, look-them-up-in-the-face-book-you-stalker fraternity and sorority members. Rock You's goal--in light of the recent anti-greek backlash following the culmination of sorority rush and the start of fraternity pledging--is to see not what all of you bitter independents think of greeks (because, really, who cares what you think) but what greeks, the people who matter, think of greeks.

 Rock You's first questions were directed at a pretty standard-seeming frat boy last weekend. The interview proceeded as follows:

 RY: So, Frat Guy, what is your prediction for the future of greek culture here on Duke's campus? Do you think Nan's efforts to reign in remaining on-campus fraternities have had a real impact? Do you ever feel like the fact that greek culture is at the epicenter of Duke's social scene is a negative thing?

 FG (acronym for 'Frat Guy'): Yo Sweet Chill Beer Dance Party! Wasted!

 RY: What?

 FG: Topless Dance Party! Aaaaah!

 Rock You's next target was a sorority girl who refused to reveal the name of her sisterhood, and in fact requested to be identified only by her screen name, XODukeLuvQTPie. When asked whether she felt that sororities helped promote healthy female relationships or whether they were a testament to women's inabilities to form meaningful friendships with one another, XO said, "I know that me and my fellow sisters, especially my big-big, really share everything with one another. We are really close. We go to Parizades together, like, every weekend. My Big-Big's grandmother and her Big-Great Aunt are totally anti-effortless perfection and everything. They're really involved in the whole women's movement."

 So, sororities are more than just a group of girls who get their bikini lines waxed together?

 "We are a sisterhood. We are there for each other. And it's totally gross when you talk about bikini waxing in the Chronicle. Ewww!"

 After this second interview, Rock You was left with some lingering questions. The social scene at Duke is clearly changing. Iron-Fist Nan Keohane will be famous for, among other things, making a real effort at cracking down on greek Life, especially fraternities. Duke's social scene has been said to be composed of a 'Fab 300' group of students who actually go out, and for the most part, that core group is either affiliated with or very closely tied to the greek community. Truly, greeks seem to provide the social spark on a campus full of, well, big nerds. Aside from a kid or two falling out of a window now and then, this seems to be a pretty healthy thing. So what's the problem?

The second frat guy Rock You interviewed seemed to have the answer. In response to questions about the future of greek Life at Duke, he had this to say.

 "The way I see it, regarding greek life, there are some very central issues. The first is whether or not the new president will follow in Nan's footsteps on the frat crackdown. Duke's administration needs to realize what many students, affiliated and not, have already come to terms with: greek culture is indeed the focal point of Duke's social scene. Sorority housing should be granted. On-campus drinking must be acknowledged. Fraternities and sororities must be embraced by the administration in order for them to properly monitor and regulate them. They present a much-needed social outlet on a highly competitive, academically strenuous campus. Until the Duke community comes to see sororities and frats as the important component of student life that they are, those groups will never be able to grow into the healthy, socially and culturally enriching institutions that they could be."

 Wow. Exactly which fraternity was Frat Guy #2 in, anyway?

 "Oh, I was almost in Pike a bunch of times. Sometimes they let me help them build things."

 The final word goes to a male independent living in an Edens' single who, though bitter and relatively nerdy, is a member of the majority of non-affiliated students on campus and, I suppose, deserves a say.

 "I find fraternities and sororities to be an abomination in the eyes of Christ."

 And there you have it.

 The future of greek life at Duke, in the end, seems to be contingent on the recognition of fraternities and sororities as important institutions by the administration and the student body alike. If we didn't have them, things would probably suck. And, most importantly, there would be no Dance Parties--a bleak alternative indeed.

 Denise Napoli is Trinity sophomore. Her column appears every other Friday.