Banner White, a junior at Bucknell University, is fabulously known for leading his Chi Phi troops at Greek Sing this past semester. Now, in equal style, he is working as a Total Frat Move (TFM) liaison to the Bucknell Community.
1) For those novices out there, what is TFM?
TFM, or Total Frat Move, is a website community for all things frat. The website has a number of writers who post news from around the country, write hilarious columns and filter through the thousands of submitted photos and wall posts from TFM users to put on their wall. After setting up a username and account, you can begin to submit your own TFMs and photos, but there obviously is no guarantee that they end up on the site. The site also hosts discussions between users ranging from best party themes to favorite types of cigars. The important thing to remember with TFM is that it is satirical and meant to be funny, not taken seriously.
2) What do you do for TFM?
As a TFM Campus Rep, I’m TFM’s liaison to Bucknell’s student body and Greek community. My first project for TFM will begin in February, and I’ll be helping raise money in an effort for the website to produce its first full-length film, the “Total Frat Movie.”
3) How did you get involved with TFM?
I’m an avid fan of the website and am on it at least once a day. Over break I was reading a few columns and saw an ad posted on the site saying that they were looking to hire campus representatives throughout the country, and I applied right away. About a week or so later I received a phone call asking a few basic questions about myself and was hired.
4) What is your definition of fratty?
I’d say that what people view as “fratty” varies throughout the country and depends on the school you go to. It’s honestly just the image people have when they picture a fraternity man in their head, and what Bucknellians may consider “fratty” is probably drastically different than what people at a school like the University of Alabama may think. If you were to ask me though, I’d say that being “fratty” means taking a certain pride from the fact that you are a fraternity man. I believe that is a universal trait in what makes guys “fratty” no matter where you go to school.
5) Do you consider yourself fratty?
Absolutely 100% fratty; I’ll be a fraternity man till the day I die, and I’m extremely proud of that fact.
6) What do you say to girls that think this is sexist?
I can completely understand why some people may take offense to TFM. Between the way writers and users talk about independents and girls, it can be extremely offensive, but, again, it is satire. It’s meant to be funny. Actually in a recent interview with a writer for BuzzFeed, one of TFM’s writers was asked roughly the same question and he responded by saying, “It’s satire. Overly derogatory terms can be funny, and the obvious sensationalism shouldn’t leave any doubts about its sincerity.” He’s saying that it is so over the top that it should be fairly obvious that it is meant to be entertaining. But, again, from an outsider’s point of view and for someone who does not know the site as well as I do, I can completely see why some people might take offense to TFM.
7) TFM has become popularized through their tweets. If you could compose a TFM tweet in 150 characters or less, what would you say?
- Public Safety’s number one most wanted for excessive PowerPointing. #TFM
- The best detox is retox. #TFM
- I’m a junior now, it’s time to make some REAL bad decisions. #TFM
- Dwight hazing Ryan before his first sales call. #TFM
8) What’s your favorite frat move?
- It’s so hard to choose just one, so I’ll give you a couple of gems that I always love.
- Bubba never taking a lesson or watching his swing on tape, yet still winning the Masters. TFTC. (Too Frat To Care)
- Neil Armstrong telling unfunny jokes about the Moon, then following them up with “Ah, I guess you had to be there.” TFM.
- Bill Murray and Larry Bird finishing their round of golf even after
- Michael Jordan gets kidnapped by the Looney Toons. TFM