than happy to both bitch and praise the council and her tenure on it.
“Most of it is paperwork,” Lauren said. “The university has its own codes of conduct for the Greek system, and there’s a really long and boring but surprisingly complex binder. You could basically bring anyone up on anything if they don’t know their rules. Fortunately most of the Greek presidents do. Weren’t you president of ZBZ?”
“Interim.”
“Right. That whole scandal. Anyway, we had to make a big deal out of it, but I think most of us were really just relieved it wasn’t our houses that were subject to scrutiny. The university higher-ups and administration took care of most of the work. We were all sort of quiet. Suddenly we weren’t the Panhellenic board—we were drunk, sex-crazed Greeks. So in a way we got off easy on the paperwork and telling off other members of the system. But most of the time, we’re reciting rules to people who should already know them. The worst houses are the ones who are established, and on good terms with the university—you know, the boring ones—because they don’t think they need to know the rules. The Inter-Fraternity Council seems far more interesting. The best house is Kappa Tau.”
“Kappa Tau?”
“Oh, my God, they always have the best presidents when it comes to dodging the Greek system. Cappie is a master. He’s quoted the rule book verbatim and pulled out some obscure thing to save Kappa Tau’s butt more times than I can remember. He could probably find a way to join on IFC if he wanted to.”
Casey snorted.
“The worst part is dealing with Nationals for different houses, when their senior officers call in wanting to know what’s up with their houses. Because they have their own set of rules for behavior—and obviously the sororities are way stricter than the fraternities—and then the university has its rules, and I think at the end they don’t want anyone to do anything but look pretty and have charity fundraisers. As if they didn’t join a sorority to party.”
“I’ve been to ZBZ Nationals,” Casey said. She’d gone to theZBZ national convention the previous year. “There’s a bit of self-delusion in the air. Or maybe ZBZ was all about feminine virtue sixty years ago.”
Lauren laughed. “Totally. It was the same at Tri-Pi Nationals. Did they make you sing horrible songs?”
“And snap. ZBZ sisters don’t clap. We snap.”
“Oh, that’s awesome. I know we used to be rivals, before Gamma Psi moved up in the ranks, but I think we all meld together in the end. After all, we attract the same type of pledges—girls who want to be sorority sisters.” She shook her head. “This is my last term and I can’t wait for some free time. Granted, it is a great résumé builder, and I’m glad I did it. I made a ton of contacts, but it’s way too much work. I want to live a little before I work the rest of my life. Ooh, mini hot dogs. Do you know how many calories they have? Screw it, I can have one.” She waved goodbye and went for the passing tray. “E-mail me if you have more questions!”
Casey retreated to a convenient balcony with Rob. “Sorry about that. Politics.”
“I’m used to it. Just with less alcohol,” he said. “I like it better with the alcohol.”
She giggled. “I really didn’t invite you so you could be subjected to the same things you’re subjected to at work. There are good reasons to join the Greek system, by the way.”
“Parties.”
“Right. And not having to live in a dorm. And spring break. And a lot of stuff about being a big sister or little sister and a lifelong connection to a group of women who at times seem completely nuts. I think I made the best of the difficult parts. Actually it took a little getting used to, but there are definitely perks, once you get used to it. It can even be great.The time of your life—except sometimes the social connections thing.”
“Résumé building can be painful, but I think
“Most of it is paperwork,” Lauren said. “The university has its own codes of conduct for the Greek system, and there’s a really long and boring but surprisingly complex binder. You could basically bring anyone up on anything if they don’t know their rules. Fortunately most of the Greek presidents do. Weren’t you president of ZBZ?”
“Interim.”
“Right. That whole scandal. Anyway, we had to make a big deal out of it, but I think most of us were really just relieved it wasn’t our houses that were subject to scrutiny. The university higher-ups and administration took care of most of the work. We were all sort of quiet. Suddenly we weren’t the Panhellenic board—we were drunk, sex-crazed Greeks. So in a way we got off easy on the paperwork and telling off other members of the system. But most of the time, we’re reciting rules to people who should already know them. The worst houses are the ones who are established, and on good terms with the university—you know, the boring ones—because they don’t think they need to know the rules. The Inter-Fraternity Council seems far more interesting. The best house is Kappa Tau.”
“Kappa Tau?”
“Oh, my God, they always have the best presidents when it comes to dodging the Greek system. Cappie is a master. He’s quoted the rule book verbatim and pulled out some obscure thing to save Kappa Tau’s butt more times than I can remember. He could probably find a way to join on IFC if he wanted to.”
Casey snorted.
“The worst part is dealing with Nationals for different houses, when their senior officers call in wanting to know what’s up with their houses. Because they have their own set of rules for behavior—and obviously the sororities are way stricter than the fraternities—and then the university has its rules, and I think at the end they don’t want anyone to do anything but look pretty and have charity fundraisers. As if they didn’t join a sorority to party.”
“I’ve been to ZBZ Nationals,” Casey said. She’d gone to theZBZ national convention the previous year. “There’s a bit of self-delusion in the air. Or maybe ZBZ was all about feminine virtue sixty years ago.”
Lauren laughed. “Totally. It was the same at Tri-Pi Nationals. Did they make you sing horrible songs?”
“And snap. ZBZ sisters don’t clap. We snap.”
“Oh, that’s awesome. I know we used to be rivals, before Gamma Psi moved up in the ranks, but I think we all meld together in the end. After all, we attract the same type of pledges—girls who want to be sorority sisters.” She shook her head. “This is my last term and I can’t wait for some free time. Granted, it is a great résumé builder, and I’m glad I did it. I made a ton of contacts, but it’s way too much work. I want to live a little before I work the rest of my life. Ooh, mini hot dogs. Do you know how many calories they have? Screw it, I can have one.” She waved goodbye and went for the passing tray. “E-mail me if you have more questions!”
Casey retreated to a convenient balcony with Rob. “Sorry about that. Politics.”
“I’m used to it. Just with less alcohol,” he said. “I like it better with the alcohol.”
She giggled. “I really didn’t invite you so you could be subjected to the same things you’re subjected to at work. There are good reasons to join the Greek system, by the way.”
“Parties.”
“Right. And not having to live in a dorm. And spring break. And a lot of stuff about being a big sister or little sister and a lifelong connection to a group of women who at times seem completely nuts. I think I made the best of the difficult parts. Actually it took a little getting used to, but there are definitely perks, once you get used to it. It can even be great.The time of your life—except sometimes the social connections thing.”
“Résumé building can be painful, but I think
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