Yesterday, I woke up at 7:00am. Not only was it a Saturday, but it was 19-degrees outside (and as you can see my last post, I have a hate-hate relationship with cold weather). I didn't have an exam to desperately study for, no relatives to pick up from the airport for a visit, and certainly no desire to deprive myself of sleep. No, no...I woke up at an hour that I've rarely seen since high school - let alone on a weekend - to help with sorority recruitment! And I couldn't have been more excited.
Both sorority and fraternity recruitment are "deferred" at Emory, meaning that it isn't until the spring semester. But although freshman cannot join sororities yet, we had a practice day yesterday - called Novemberfest - in which all interested girls go inside each sorority lodge to meet the members. This year, I'm a 'Pi Chi'. That means that I am assigned to a freshman dorm and I am in charge of advising all its residents about Greek life and the recruitment process. I LOVE doing it. My sorority is so very special to me, and being a Pi Chi is my way of giving back; I get to help several dozen girls find the sorority that is the best match for them, even if it's not my own.
Since I hope to give readers of this blog a glimpse into my college life, here are a few key facts and observations about Emory's Greek system:
* About 30% of Emory students are members.
*It is NOT stereotypical. We aren't all blonde party girls with their daddy's credit card in one hand and a martini glass in the other. Most of us like to have fun, but we also plan many philanthropy events, value each other's friendship and are serious about our academics.
*There is NO hazing.
*Greeks have a higher average G.P.A. than the overall student body average.
*Members easily have time to be involved in many other student activities.
*Sorority girls are NOT just friends with their "sisters". I have non-Greek friends, as well as friends in other sororities.
*Sorority and Fraternity events are open to ALL students - not just other Greeks.
*It is NOT like the ABC Family show Greek.
*Members don't have to live in the lodges or houses. The 3-year-old sorority complex (pictured above) is like a long townhouse, with each section belonging to a different sorority. I live there and love it. The fraternity houses are HUGE and look like Victorian mansions from the outside.
I'm so thankful for Emory's sorority system, as I doubt I would have joined one at a bigger state school. It sounds cheesy, but it's given me a large group of girls whom I'm proud to call my "sisters" and it makes campus feel more like a home. But since there are SO many other college activities and Atlanta events, Greek life is far from the only social option. It just happened to be a great one for me. There's not much else that would get me up with a smile before sunrise!
I just ran up the stairs of my dorm, threw off my winter coat, and got into bed to snuggle with my Disney princess throw blanket and laptop.
Ladies and gentleman, it is FREEZING in Atlanta.
According to weather.com (AKA my best friend), it is currently 39 degrees fahrenheit and "feels like" 31. Yes, yes...I know from high school science that 39 is not technically "freezing" but it sure felt like I could have gotten frostbite out there! What happened to the 60 degree weather of last week? I am one of the few people who came to Atlanta for colder weather, but now I find myself longing for Thanksgiving in South Florida when I'll likely travel to the beach in shorts and flip-flops with my family.
Oh wellll...those are the weather sacrifices one makes to attend their otherwise dream school! I'll survive these next harsh weeks by hibernating with a warm coat, dorm heat and lots and lots of hot chocolate.
Emory holds a fall band party every year that's free for students. Last year's made national news - not because it was exceptionally amazing, but because the stage collapsed and the show was canceled.. AKON, who created the insanely catchy (and classy!) song "Smack that" had his workers setting up the stage when it somehow broke. Whooops.
This year's was MUCH better. One of my absolute favor bands, O.A.R. performed! You might know their songs "Love and Memories" or (my personal fav) "Crazy Game of Poker." As someone who doesn't know a heck of a lot of bands, I was super excited. I wound up just a few feet from the front. After a bit, my friends I felt a bit too squished so we moved back from the crowd and still had an amazing view. It was a lot of fun dancing around with friends and mingling with other students. The lead singer laughed at us for simply smiling and waving up at him. Some other students crowd surfed, which terrified me, but it was easy to move away from them and no one was hurt.
In other news, have you heard that we have a new president? I watched the election coverage with several friends and we all danced around the room for several minutes after the announcement. I walked outside later and could hear Obama's speech blaring from many TVs. And, my professors all enjoyed talking to us about the historical aspects of the election in class on Wednesday. My Jewish Studies professor described attending MLK's "I have a dream" speech, which honestly sent shivers up my spine. Though most people I talked to shared my happiness with the result, McCain supporters didn't seem to feel alienated. They comfortably expressed their views in a rational (not angry, ignorant or mocking) manner.
Oh and before I head off to read my classmates' creative writings stories, I'll mention a (in my opinion) interesting story. Wednesday night, my "Holocaust Memoirs" professor, Deborah Lipstadt, invited the 18 students of the class over for dinner. Profesor Lipstadt was involved with a trial against a Holocaust denier, which made national headlines in 2000. We all knew that she's a renowned historian and author, but it's easy to forget because she's so down-to-earth and easy to talk to. After chatting over humus, pita and fresh veggies, she left us for a few minutes to prepare her homemade lasagna. We all began to look around the living room, which was covered in fun gadgets and artwork from around the world. One boy in our class suddenly gasped. Propped up right behind him, was a framed letter signed personally by Bill Clinton.
Emory professors often literally write the books, but they still have a clear passion for teaching and interacting one-on-one with students. I didn't originally apply here for that reason, but its given me even a greater appreciation for my school.
Election Day is almost here...and I cannot believe it. Emory students vary in both their political ideologies AND how much politics interest them, but nearly everyone is excited for Tuesday!
Here's what I've been seeing lately:
- An "Obama Voting Party Bus" sponsored by Emory Students for Barack Obama COVERED in Obama pictures, slogans and fliers. It's been taking students to and from the polls for early voting in Georgia
- Daily postings from friends on Learnlink conferences (it's an amazingly addictive Emory-only e-mail/conference system) reminding everyone to vote and register
- E-mails and facebook status with funny election related videos. (have you seen this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX40RsSLwF4 or this: http://www.hulu.com/watch/36863/saturday-night-live-couric--palin-open#s-p4-sr-i1?)
- weekly editorials about the election in the Emory Wheel (emorywheel.com)
- predictions from Emory poli sci professors
Since this school year started, other students have been encouraging each other to vote and make informed decisions. CSAmerica, a nonpartisan political interest group, stood around campus for weeks making sure everyone who passed was registered. There's been viewing parties for all the debates, endless discussion groups with students and faculty, and fliers spread around the mail center about absentee ballots.
I'm not voting on Tuesday, since I mailed in my absentee ballot to dear 'ol Florida 2 weeks ago. But, many of my friends are seriously excited about standing in line for hours at the polls. And at 6:00 we all plan to start partying together at Rock The Results! The Student Government Assosciation and College Council are having FREE FOOD, games, raffles, music and prizes all around a big screen with the news results on our field. Hopefully most students will walk around smiling and not in tears. But we're fairly diverse in our views, so both emotions are bound to occur.
I'm just hoping to get some sleep Tuesday Night! I have a few papers due for Wednesday classes, but I'm not at all procrastinating so I can concentrate on the news.
Well, I have to go. I'm planning carpools for a free Ben & Jerry's scoop and Starbucks coffee. (Both are free for voters nationwide Tuesday!) Mmmmm. Choosing my ice cream flavor may be harder than choosing a president... (Phish Food and Half Backed have equally excellent qualities that will be great for the future of my taste buds.)
