Opinions (the wits say) are like orifices; everybody's got them. What everyone doesn't have is a pulpit from which to shout their opinion, and that's likely a very good thing, given what Southern Methodist University Daily Campus columnist Daniel Liu is expectorating about himself and his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon.
Mr Liu was not impressed with what he saw based on his father's advice to watch Animal House (1978) as a primer on greeks. (Does he have something against Otis Day?) But he found salvation in the arms of Sigma Phi Epsilon, who drew him in with their Balanced Man Scholarship, for which he was a finalist. Then he received a personal call from a brother inviting him to come out early for spring recruitment, which he evidently views as an effort above and beyond the call of duty.
The following term, Mr Liu "spent a lot of time thinking about why I shouldn't join SigEp," but obviously didn't think hard enough. (A joke.) Ultimately, he decided Sig Ep had a lot to offer him, and he it, and the marriage made in heaven was consummated on March 20, 2006. Returning to campus to watch the current rush, he expresses doubt of Sig Ep's success, only to be shocked (shocked!) to find the house's bids well received.
And why? Because Sig Ep has a secret, which he is willing to share with us: The Balanced Man Program, which for those not in the know, is Sig Ep's membership development initiative. Almost every fraternity has one, though Sig Ep has a nifty graphic for theirs depicting the Vetruvian Man. This is their "secret" and "defining difference," a program that "helps build members up, instead of tearing them down."
The path of Mr Liu's editorial ranges from congratulating his own wisdom and deliberation to extolling the virtues of his frat, mentioning along the way other houses failing as his sails on the wings of eagles to victory. In sum, it's a mass of self-serving puffery virtually devoid of any useful thoughts. (An example of such advice, meager as it is: "You see, from my experience, most men at SMU who choose to go through rush are looking for friends, fellowship, and lots of fun.") Thanks, Mr Liu. Really.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment