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How to Stay Classy in Isla Vista

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Rachel Miller Student Contributor, University of California - Santa Barbara
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCSB chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

1. Don’t be the shacker, be the “shackee.”
Being the “shackee,” one who hosts a shacker, enables you to avoid the dreaded and humiliating walk-of-shame. In addition, maintaining the “shackee” status allows you to evade the “Houdini”–the immensely subtle and quick movement one must perform in order to escape from the “shackee’s” house without the “shackee” waking up. 
2. If you must shack it, make sure you wear a day-to-night outfit or be prepared to have a friend pick you up so you avoid the inevitable walk-of-shame. 
In other words, do not wear 5-inch heels and a mini skirt if you think you may be staying at your “friend’s” house; instead, wear skinny jeans, a top, and boots–an outfit deemed inconspicuous or not indicative of a shacker. 

3. For each 5 degrees the temperature drops, add one more article of clothing to that skintight, mini dress. 
If weather conditions do not permit for comfortability in a short dress or skirt, don’t try to wear it. 

4. Avoid cultivating romantic or sexual relationships with members of frats. 
Just don’t. 

5. Never hook-up with more than one guy from the same friend group, sports team, or fraternity. 
Guys talk just as much as girls do, sometimes more. If you hook-up with more than one guy from a circle of friends, teammates, or bros, it will get around and it won’t make you look good. 

6. Avoid wearing last night’s makeup/hair/attire to class, extracurricular activities, etc. 
Just take a shower, please. 

7. Keep PDA to a minimum, especially with males with whom you have just met. 
No one wants to see you make out with some guy you’ve just been introduced to at a party. If you are going to display some affection, do it in private and behind closed doors. 

8. Avoid making Eskimo Sisters.
Es-ki-mo Sis-ters (noun): two females, usually acquaintances or friends, that have had sexual intercourse with the same person.

9. After freshman year, never return to the dorms. 
Don’t rob the cradle, girls.

10. Drink out of cups, not handles. 
C’mon, you’re a lady. 

 

Rachel is a senior at UC Santa Barbara and studies Communication and Global Peace and Security. Rachel is from a small, beautiful town in southern California called Palos Verdes. However, Palos Verdes is just one of the many places Rachel has lived. Rachel spent her childhood moving and traveling all over the world, living in places such as Indianapolis, Indiana; Santiago, Chile; Vienna, Austria; and Orlando, Florida. Rachel has found her heart and her home in California, choosing to spend her college years in sunny Santa Barbara. However, Rachel continued her wanderlust when she studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain in Fall 2012. At UCSB, Rachel is an immensely dedicated and involved member of her sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma, where she held the positions of Panhellenic Delegate, Inter-Greek Counselor, Rho Gam, and a member of the Nominating Slate. Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is a passion of Rachel's, as she is their Social Media Coordinator as well as an active and proud member. As a member of the Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honors Society, Rachel is able to implement her prowess and affinity for communication and communication-related issues. When Rachel is not writing, participating in Kappa events, or volunteering, you can find her in the gym, on the soccer field, watching Modern Family, or cooking. Rachel's love for sports, food, and writing often times go hand-in-hand, as one may see in her weekly blogs. For the past two summers, Rachel has been freelance writing for the Los Angeles Times, and hopes to continue her career pursuit of journalism after she graduates. Rachel is elated to be a part of Her Campus's fabulous team and loves every moment of it!