For many freshman Collegiettes at UMass, a typical weekend night will include a late night trek over to Phillips or North Pleasant. For anyone who goes to UMass, you know what this means: frat parties. These sweaty, crowded ragers are often looked down upon by upperclassmen who prefer bars and house parties. But hey, we just got here, and dancing on the tables at Phi Sig makes us feel like we’re the stars of a college movie. Frat parties can be an awesome time, as long as you remember to take a few precautions and follow a few key tips.
1. Go with your girlfriends.
Frats are far more fun with a core crew of ladies. There’s absolutely a time and place to party with your guy friends, but I can guarantee that this is not one of them. These parties can get pretty grimy, and with just your girls around you, you’re in a judgment-free zone.
2. If you do bring boys, make sure you have a decent girl:boy ratio.
The frats can be pretty strict about letting non-brothers in, so there should be at least 3 or 4 girls for every boy. No one wants to bring guys and then either have to leave them outside or just go back to your dorm in defeat.
3. Don’t forget your fracket.
As we all know, the majority of the year at UMass is pretty unpleasant weather. It gets absolutely freezing here in Western Mass, so don’t be that girl who goes out in December in a tank top. It’s very important to layer when going out, because frats get incredibly overheated. Invest in a “fracket,” or frat jacket. It’s basically a cheap coat that you won’t be sad if you lose at the party. Tie your fracket to your friends’ frackets, and stash them in a cabinet until you leave.
4. Always go to the bathroom before you get there.
Every single frat bathroom I’ve ever had the misfortune of peeing in is disgusting. I’ll spare you the details, but you have been warned.
5. Don’t drink the jungle juice.
I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but just in case, I’ll say it again. Jungle juice is a mystery mix of different types of alcohol and random juices. It’s probably really strong and there’s no way to know what’s in it. If you’re going to drink, drink beforehand at the dorms, so you can keep yourself in check.
6. Prepare yourself to see random couples aggressively making out.
Some people confuse the dance floor with an opportunity for an orgy. Try not to be one of them.
7. Show up after 10:30, and leave before 2.
In my experience, the party doesn’t really start until 10:30 at least, and you never want to be one of the first to arrive (or the last to leave). Also, switch between different frats–staying at one can get boring.
7. Have fun!
This is your time to let loose…you can always blame it on being on a freshman.