WAKA Kickball...Greek Life for the post-grad?

I was discussing my kickball comittments and activities with some of my fellow hill-rats when the discussion led me to wonder...is WAKA kickball (and other kickball leagues) just a way for those of us who have left our undergraduate fraternity/sorority days behind to continue to partake in the festivities of this "Greek" tradition found in many of our American colleges and universities.

Now, I'll admit right off the bat, coming from a four-pillared Catholic college in Kansas (those four pillars being Catholic, Liberal Arts, Residential, and Benedictine), I did not experience any of the Greek traditions as Benedictine was a school small enough that the Greek life did not develop there. Therefore, posting this blog will hopefully leave both the author and the readers with a little more insight. Additionally, I would like to thank the wonderful people at Wikipedia--I need to give credit where credit is due.

First, while there are many functions that the fraternity and sorority may do, the main purpose is a social organization. Isn't that the whole point of kickball? To win, to have fun with your friends on your team, while making new friends through games, flip cup, the various social events, and of course, let's not forget the weekly newsletter (um, hello missed connections section for those who didn't socialize to their own satisfaction). Who needs keggers when you have two parties with an open bar?

Next, wikipedia tells me that most frats and sororities have a name, usually Greek symbols, that can have some sort of secret meaning or history. Can anyone think of a better example than Nancy Drews and the Pardyboyz? How many know the meaning and history of the name without being one of said group or reading an earlier post from Superfudge (suggestion to new readers of this blog--search and read Superfudge's blog, heck, read them all and then go tell your friends to read them!)

Carrying on. The Philanthropy. Most Greek organizations have a chartible organization that they work closely with. Each WAKA kickball division has a charity that the division uses social events (see first point) to benefit our charity, Bright Beginnings, a program that works with homeless children. Proceeds from events such as point-of-season parties, Trivia night, the KickBALL all help this much-needed effort.

Ahhh...and here comes a favorite point of mine. The insignia. Wikipedia says that many frats and sororities carry a symbol--something that lets people know who they are. Now, anyone who keeps in touch with the members of the Nancy Drews and the Pardyboyz will know that we've developed quite a line past the dark grey shirts that we wore in dodgeball and the lighter grey shirts we don every Saturday for WAKA. Superfudge has designed multiple hats proudly bearing the NDPB logo. And even our blog has developed into what is now the official NDPB logo.

Last, but not least, I'm going to touch on the initiation aspect of Greek life. Pledge week as it is known by many. Many great collegiate movies in cinematic history illustrate the joys brought by this week. Animal House and Old School are just to name a few. I'm not going to describe the scenes that I'm referring to. These are classic American comedic films. Go rent them--scratch that--buy them and add them to your collection. Then come back and you can nod your head in aggreement here because you'll know what I'm talking about. Pledging to the fraternity or sorority of your choice is your chance to prove loyalty. While, I'm not sure what it takes to be a part of other kickball teams or even our team--not that much--all we ask for is you sign up on the website and show up to games--but to be a part of NDPB. In just a month, it'll have been one year since I met the NDPB's. It's tough--you gotta be able to roll with the punches. But with the punches come great times, fun to be had, and friends for a lifetime--again--you can read more into this on a previous blog (HINT--CHECK OUT OUR OTHER BLOGS!).

So, ladies and gents. For those of you, like me, who missed out on the glory days of that frat life or sorority-hood, fear not. There's still another chance--we're just able to do it a little bit older and a little bit wiser.

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Social Responsibility

Social responsibility for most people is something they associate with social science. When I was in high school I don't think I've even heard of the word much less associate with anything. Wikipedia describe it as.

"Social Responsibility is a doctrine that says that every being whether it is a village, town, state, corporation, organization, government or idividual has responsibility to society."

It's boring, it's textbook, it only exists in school discussion so I can only conclude that I may not have paid attention to it and thus not heard of the word. But the word did worm it's way into my brain along with some casserole. My mother insisted that I come to her friends son's birthday. I know the guy, he's actually my cousins friend and I've hanged out at his place a time or two. Hell his mom makes great spaghetti and I heard they have lecheon, lumpia and a bunch of shit I love. I Just felt like not going out.

Well you really don't win arguments with your mother and that casserole dish was shoved into my chest along with the words social responsibility.

You have a social responsibility to see these people. They are our friends/family/neighbor and you should go out!

Is that what it really means? I could have sworn I heard something like that in class. Well anyway I know that lately I've slacked in that responsibility area. I run in these phases where I go out and socialize, and then I become somewhat 'like' a hermit.

A little example, most of you remember some of the small shindig we've thrown at ViJo (Harold might even remember some that I've thrown back in Omaha) Yeah, I'll be a little social butterfly. Asked to go to someones place to hang out and celebrate? Yeah! Invite a couple of people over to watch anime? Sure! Go and watch that new release? Popcorn baby! Video game and movie night? Absolutely! Those I could be counted on more.

Go to a bar...hmm maybe. A club...I'll think about it. I really don't know why I become reluctant. Ask me to help you out with something, pick you up from the airport, help you move - I'll be there. So I don't exactly go to hermit mode just that I shy away from some social settings that before I hand I would be all about. Did I make any sense? No? Well I better end this before I'm told that I should make a blog over livejournal with the rest of the social degenerate emos :)

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