Bulldog frats shut out of the animal house

The media's depiction of fraternities has historically been less than favorable. Films such as Animal House and Revenge of the Nerds reinforce popular images of frat parties as bacchanalian orgies of beer, girls, rich boys, and jocks, while overemphasizing the role that fraternities play on most college campuses. These reputations are not entirely true, and while they have managed to turn some students away from participating in anything fraternity-related, they have also led some students to join Yale fraternities with overly high expectations.

For those unfamiliar with the fraternity scene, at Yale frats can provide an experience that incorporates both Yale traditions and elements of typical Greek life. Every frat has its own songs, rituals, and rites of passage. Yet only at Yale could one of Alpha Epsilon Pi's (AEP) rush events involve swaying and singing around the table at Mory's while drinking cups.

Some students also find that fraternities are a quick and safe way to make friends, especially since the rush process lets prospective pledges meet brothers in different frats. "Unlike one's residential college, selection of a fraternity is not random," former AEP Master Andrew Morris, BK '99, said. This allows interested students to define their social niche more narrowly than they otherwise would through the residential college system.

A few fraternities define their identity through ethnic solidarity. Yale has four ethnic frats: Kappa Alpha Psi, Lambda Epsilon Lambda, Omega Psi Phi, and Alpha Phi Alpha. There is also a coed service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, which organizes Communiversity Day, a popular outdoor festival that celebrates the Yale-New Haven relationship. In addition, Yale is home to three sororities: Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Pi Beta Phi. Though they don't have as prominent a presence as their male counterparts, they are still a source of friendship and tradition for their members.

This past fall, controversy hit the Yale frat scene as seven partiers, some of whom were high school crew recruits, were arrested for underage drinking at one of Sigma Alpha Epsilon's (SAE) weekly "Late Night" parties. After neighbors complained of an unacceptable level of noise coming from the frat's High Street house, New Haven police arrived to break up the party. Subsequently, Yale launched an investigation into the fraternity, and SAE's national chapter issued a ruling forbidding students in the Yale chapter from serving alcohol for the rest of the semester.

Despite SAE's problems, other frats have remained active in contributing to the Yale party scene. While a large portion of the student body steers clear of frats as a rule, some parties manage to attract a significant number of Yalies. Here are some of the highlights:

Zeta Psi, known for its bizarre location (follow the scent of Popeye's fried chicken and Polo Sport cologne), hosts the Purple Cow party in the fall, with violet punch and an entertaining t-shirt. In the spring, the frat's Buffett Bash is a party filled with margaritas and the melodious musings of Jimmy Buffett. Who are these guys? Stereotype at your own risk, as the brothers form a veritable smorgasbord of athletes.

JULIA PAOLITTO/YH A team of Morsels partakes in beer-swilling fun at the DKE-hosted Tang competition.

If you have ever felt momentarily eclipsed on a sunny day, chances are you have encountered one of the many football and basketball-playing brothers of Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE). "Deke" hosts Tang, an intermural speed-drinking contest that is one of the most highly attended frat events of the year. It also offers the Mortician's Ball, a Halloween bash that attracts plenty of costumed Yalies. Among the alums of this fraternity are former President George H.W. Bush, DC '48, President George W. Bush, DC '68, and Football Hall of Famer Calvin Hill, PC '69.

SAE, once its party life gets back on track, should be hosting some of Yale's well-known parties. In the spring, Sex on the Beach celebrates the popular fruity drink. Their weekly Thursday "Late Night" parties are also well attended, although most freshmen spend their time at Naples instead.

The flannel and cargo-clad brothers of Alpha Delta Phi typically throw FunnelFest and some other unnamed parties, but not much else, while the predominantly Jewish Alpha Epsilon Pi's claim to fame is the Night of 10,000 Jell-Os in the fall. You can down as many spiked shots of Jell-O as your heart desires. Pi's existence is currently tenuous after an eviction from its Yale-owned house, but the frat is not defunct yet.

The soccer-playing Sigma Nu's parties picked up this year after their neighbors, SAE, were forced to shut down. Plenty of drinks and great music make up for their often-cramped basement and first floor. Beta Theta Pi, meanwhile, throws the wintertime Avalanche party, where partiers can lap up freezing-cold alcohol as it runs down custom-made ice sculptures. Typically one of the best frat parties of the year, it features something for everyone, with dancing, beer pong, and plenty of kegs.

Be forewarned: despite the number of parties they throw, fraternities are a pretty marginal part of the social scene for many Yalies. Most will only attend one or two frat parties per semester, and the pledging process for some frats can make even the best students suffer academically. If you're set on joining a frat, though, the scene at Yale is alive and well; you'll have plenty of options and plenty of parties.

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