My Hypocritical Role in a Responsible Drinking Greek Organization ⋆

My expertise on the College of Maryland was akin to one in every of Winston Churchill’s speeches. Particularly a radio tackle he gave in October 1939 about World Warfare II when he mentioned, “It’s a riddle wrapped in a thriller inside an enigma…”

You see, I spent a number of my 5 years as an undergrad ingesting alcohol to a silly diploma. The blackout type the place I wouldn’t bear in mind what occurred the evening earlier than.

Generally, it was as a consequence of hazing. There have been occasions after I needed to drink a number of low-cost gin via a beer bong. A few of these nights ended with me passing out in random patches of grass on campus.

As I obtained older, I matured a little bit, and solely often did actually silly issues like stumbling round on the roof of the frat home or shooting out the windows of a neighboring apartment.

However I additionally did a number of extracurricular issues {that a} accountable pupil would do, akin to running a newspaper, working a number of jobs to pay for school, and holding a wide range of workplaces.

A type of roles was because the Public Relations Chair of GAMMA. (Greeks Advocating Mature Administration of Alcohol). I used to be conscious of the irony on the time, however I additionally needed to do some good, add to my resume, and be a optimistic consultant of Pi Kappa Alpha.

Within the spring of 1990, the College of Maryland chapter of GAMMA ran a fundraiser for SADD (College students In opposition to Drunk Driving), and we raised more cash than another college within the nation.

This milestone resulted in representatives from GMAC and Pontiac presenting College of Maryland President Kirwan with a $15,000 examine for the Scholar Actions Fund throughout halftime of the homecoming soccer sport.

It was thrilling to win the highest prize and have that fats examine go to the Scholar Actions Fund. On a sidenote, it’s cool to look again and see the smaller Byrd Stadium earlier than all the additions in later years. Have a look at that packed crowd!

Additionally, within the fall of 1990, I organized a GAMMA kickball event to publicize Nationwide Collegiate Alcohol Consciousness Week. It was open to all pupil teams, and I promoted it throughout campus kiosks and dorms, however solely fraternity and sorority pledge lessons entered.

Whereas I had hoped for non-Greek illustration within the event, it was nonetheless a number of healthful, alcohol-free enjoyable. And the Pi Kappa Alpha pledge class received the entire event.

I don’t have the scoresheet useful, but when I recall accurately, crew captain Joe Vettori had the game-winning kick with a bases-clearing double.

I’d wish to assume that my involvement in GAMMA and different teams on campus offered some karmic stability to my dopey hijinks.

This publish initially appeared at fraternitypledge.com.