2008 Woodie Awards
There's a place up ahead, and I'm goin'
Nate Stenstrom
Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
"Hey, man, where you from?"
"(Random town in Tennessee/Georgia)."
"Cool, man, what're you studying?"
"I don't know yet, but I'll probably triple major."
"Cool, man. Wanna be a pledge?"
"Sure!"
At about this time every fall semester, there is usually a stream of articles written in the Crimson that occur along a predictable timeline and enumerate the shortcomings of the Samford Greek system. I don't always disagree with what they have to say, but as a senior fraternity member, I'd like to dedicate this article to giving fatherly advice to all the 2007 fraternity pledge classes of Samford University.
I'm only three years older than most of you guys, so you're welcome to kick all of my fatherly advice to the curb, but I've had some leadership experience in the Greek system.I served last year as president of the Interfraternity Council and most recently as honorable T-shirt chair of my fraternity, so listen up.
There's definitely a right and wrong way to treat the fraternity experience. If you do it right, I think being in a fraternity can amplify every aspect of the college experience - socially, academically, spiritually and even phytologically.
First off, remember that you're first and foremost in college, not a fraternity. This means that there are songs to be sung, bells to be rung and flings to be flung. College is a beautiful thing, and it'll be over before you know it. Don't get so caught up in a fraternity that it overshadows the wonderful experience of a well-rounded college life. I think you'll find your fraternity to be an excellent way to get involved with all other facets of campus life, and it would be unfortunate to pass these opportunities up just because you're comfortable sitting at your assigned Caf table.
Next, know that four years from now, you'll be a very different person, and your fraternity will have a lot to do with this. The fact that you'll get to know a specific group of guys incredibly well means that you have a unique opportunity to be influenced a whole lot for the better, or a whole lot for the worse. Anytime you get really close with a group of people, you're going to encourage each other to do things you otherwise wouldn't. There are excellent guys in every fraternity, so take advantage of the opportunity to get to know them. Whoever you choose to be around, you'll have a lot more in common with them a few semesters from now.
Finally, don't start disliking people because they're in a different fraternity than you. Every year, lots of young Bulldogs decide, shortly after receiving their bids, that they never did like the guys who took bids from other fraternities. I hope three years from now you can still recognize the fact that being in a different fraternity might indicate you have different interests, but it doesn't indicate anything about a person's quality, morality or lipophilicity. Just enjoy the whole fraternity experience; it's a good time.
As with all my articles, if you're the first person to guess the song my headline came from, I'll take you on a free date.
Nate Stenstrom is a senior biology major from Evansville, Ind. He can be reached at nfstenst@samford.edu.
"(Random town in Tennessee/Georgia)."
"Cool, man, what're you studying?"
"I don't know yet, but I'll probably triple major."
"Cool, man. Wanna be a pledge?"
"Sure!"
At about this time every fall semester, there is usually a stream of articles written in the Crimson that occur along a predictable timeline and enumerate the shortcomings of the Samford Greek system. I don't always disagree with what they have to say, but as a senior fraternity member, I'd like to dedicate this article to giving fatherly advice to all the 2007 fraternity pledge classes of Samford University.
I'm only three years older than most of you guys, so you're welcome to kick all of my fatherly advice to the curb, but I've had some leadership experience in the Greek system.I served last year as president of the Interfraternity Council and most recently as honorable T-shirt chair of my fraternity, so listen up.
There's definitely a right and wrong way to treat the fraternity experience. If you do it right, I think being in a fraternity can amplify every aspect of the college experience - socially, academically, spiritually and even phytologically.
First off, remember that you're first and foremost in college, not a fraternity. This means that there are songs to be sung, bells to be rung and flings to be flung. College is a beautiful thing, and it'll be over before you know it. Don't get so caught up in a fraternity that it overshadows the wonderful experience of a well-rounded college life. I think you'll find your fraternity to be an excellent way to get involved with all other facets of campus life, and it would be unfortunate to pass these opportunities up just because you're comfortable sitting at your assigned Caf table.
Next, know that four years from now, you'll be a very different person, and your fraternity will have a lot to do with this. The fact that you'll get to know a specific group of guys incredibly well means that you have a unique opportunity to be influenced a whole lot for the better, or a whole lot for the worse. Anytime you get really close with a group of people, you're going to encourage each other to do things you otherwise wouldn't. There are excellent guys in every fraternity, so take advantage of the opportunity to get to know them. Whoever you choose to be around, you'll have a lot more in common with them a few semesters from now.
Finally, don't start disliking people because they're in a different fraternity than you. Every year, lots of young Bulldogs decide, shortly after receiving their bids, that they never did like the guys who took bids from other fraternities. I hope three years from now you can still recognize the fact that being in a different fraternity might indicate you have different interests, but it doesn't indicate anything about a person's quality, morality or lipophilicity. Just enjoy the whole fraternity experience; it's a good time.
As with all my articles, if you're the first person to guess the song my headline came from, I'll take you on a free date.
Nate Stenstrom is a senior biology major from Evansville, Ind. He can be reached at nfstenst@samford.edu.