What I wish I knew then that I know now...

BUTaylorM — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:04:00 GMT

Let me start this off by saying that it finally feels like fall. It's lovely. As I look back on all the time I have already spent here, I thought of all the things that I have learned in the past few weeks... thing I wish I had known before I started school. I don't want to leave everyone in the dark so I will shed light on some burning, prospective students' questions.

1. Flex-Dollars/Dawg Bucks/Meal Plan(s)

I am not going to sugar coat it. As an incoming student, meal plans are confusing. I had no idea what flex dollars were, what dawg bucks were, if they were the same thing, or how to use them. Flex Dollars are points, essentially, that come when you get your meal plan. I, for example, have a 240 meal block plan and it comes with $150 flex dollars. The 240 meals can be used at Atherton or ResCo dining halls (or through the C-Club Meal exchange, which I will explain in a minute.) and they last for the semester. I have, honestly, had trouble getting to meals at Atherton because I have a busy schedule and, often, I don't worry about my meals. Flex Dollars last only for the semester and don't roll over. Dawg Bucks do. Also, Dawg Bucks are something you buy to supplement your flex dollars if you go through them quickly. You can use your flex dollars/dawg bucks at C-Club, Starbucks, or the Zia juice bar in the HRC (health and recreation center). *see below for useful sites about meal plans*

2. C-Club Meal Exchange

I love the meal exchange. It is available from 4:30-9:30 PM at C-Club. Basically, you get yummy food like wraps, sandwiches, quesadillas, or chicken strips with a side and a drink and it counts as one of your meals rather than deducting from your flex dollars. If this weren't an option and I went to C-Club as often as I do, I would be out of flex dollars already. This is something I highly recommend you use as an incoming student.

3. Wi-Fi/Internet Access

Before I came to Butler, I was unaware of the fact that the campus in its entirety is not wireless. However, don't let this deter you from Butler. Schwitzer Hall now has wireless internet (Ross Hall does not) and buildings like Jordan, Gallahue, Holcomb, and the Pharmacy building have wireless, too. The thing is... Butler is an old campus (that was something that attracted me to the campus) and things like wireless and air conditioning are hard to install in the beautiful old stone buildings but like I said we are on our way to a wireless campus. In all honesty, I haven't had too many problems with internet connections or any of that.

4. Homecoming/High School-like Events

Currently, Butler is having Homecoming Week. It's really exciting as the sidewalks are covered in chalk... a huge thing here at Butler (if you need to know what's going on, just look where you're walking). Just this past weekend, there was an '80s dance. I wasn't really aware that there are still dances, homecoming, and clubs like high school. If that is something you were afraid of losing from high school, fear not! It is still here! If that is something you thought would go away, fear not! You don't have to go to Homecoming... there are plenty of other things to do. College is kind of awesome like that.

5. Dry Houses versus Wet Houses

A dry house is a fraternity/sorority that cannot have alcohol on its premises. All the sororities and one of the fraternities are dry houses. Now, for some that may sound like a terrible thing. What's college without parties, right? Well, I am not condoning underage drinking whatsoever but WHEN you are of age, there are places to have a good time. The nice thing about dry houses is that they are, generally, a lot cleaner. Without alcohol, there aren't parties where the house gets trashed.

6. Greek Life

Like I said above, we have wet and dry houses. Another thing I didn't know, specifically regarding Butler, is that Butler's sororities/fraternities are not off in their own little world. There isn't a divide between the 2 groups. In fact, there is a club, Independent Council, that serves to join the 2 groups together: Greeks and Non-Greeks. Also, because Butler is not a large state school... you won't find the groups separated. Campus is united... something I didn't know. Another thing that is really great about the Greek system here at Butler is that you don't rush until your second semester (unlike Purdue and Ball State where bid day has come and gone). This allows you to really get to know the houses, the girls, and Butler's campus in general. You won't have to make a rash decision because you have no time. Awesome, no?

7. Hall Commodities

Things Schwitzer Hall has that I didn't know about:

-Kitchenette for each unit (microwave, sink, recycling bins)

-Kitchen with stove/oven in basement

-Movies/kitchen utensils, pots, and such

-Ice machine

-Laundry Room

-Computer Lab

-Study Rooms

-TV lounge

Granted, you will see/hear a lot of this if you go on a tour or to information sessions but still... it's nice to know that you really don't need a microwave in your room. It's all there at your disposal. Who knew?

8. Club involvement

Something I learned really quickly here at college is that you do not want to get overly involved with clubs because the meetings will overlap and it's not worth it. It is more useful and tactful to choose a few clubs to get really involved in and focus on them. Granted, that is just my opinion and there will be other people that tell you otherwise but I have always found my time to mean much more to an organization when it is focused and not worrying about other things (if that makes sense). To each his own, I suppose.

8. Free Stuff/Free Events

5 words: College students LOVE free stuff. It's everywhere. Find it and get it! You'll never need a pen or notepad ever again and pizza will never taste as good unless it is free.

9. Laundry

I am not going to lie to you- laundry is expensive. If you have 5 loads of laundry, it will end up costing $10+ if you wash and dry it. If you do your laundry at a busy time, like Sunday, then you will have to wait. Either way, laundry can take forever. Some tips that I have found useful are

Only wash what you need (if it's something you won't use for awhile, let it sit in your basket until you can take it home)
Make a makeshift dryer in your room using a drying rack and fans
Watch your laundry 24/7. Take your books/laptop and work while you wait.
Moms will help with laundry (THANKS MOM!)
Sort your clothes before you get there.
Fold clean clothes in your room (the laundry room can get a little gross... same goes for above).
Get the most out of your money... don't wash small loads because it will cost the same either way.
This is what I do while waiting:

I would like to credit my unit friends: Bethany R., Bethany G., Laura S., Lexi C., and Megan R. with giving me some extra ideas and thoughts on BU.

Hope this was useful, Dawgs.

P.S. Meal Plan info:

Meal Plan Terms

Meal Plan FAQ

Crazy new members on Bid Day

ChristinaL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:35:50 GMT

So, the new members of Butler's sororities find out what house they are in; then they go to a ceremony in the student union where the Recruitment Counselors reveal what houses they are part of and then... they all come RUNNING out of Atherton Union to join their new sisters on Rowdy Row. It is insanity, but so much fun.

2008 and Feelin' Great

ChristinaD — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:31:00 GMT

Sorry about the cheesy title...

So, planning for Recruitment has taken over my life. Literally. It's all I do, all day, and all I think about. I think I even had a dream about it the other night... (At least it wasn't a nightmare, right!?) My committee and I are moving back to BU on Friday, and the rest of my house comes back Saturday, with our first all-house meeting Saturday night. We'll have Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday to prepare, and then Formal Recruitment begins on Wednesday and ends on Sunday. It's an exciting time, one of my favorite times to be an Alpha Chi, but being in charge of the whole shindig is a little overwhelming and scary. I know everything will turn out just fine, but I'm such a perfectionist that I worry too much sometimes!

The first day of women's recruitment is basically a get-to-know Greek Life. The second day is called "Philanthropy Day" and it gives those going through recruitment the chance to learn about what all of the chapters were founded on--philanthropy and giving back to the community. Alpha Chi's philanthropy nationally is the prevention and awareness of domestic violence; locally we support the Julian Center, which is a shelter for battered women and children. The third day of recruitment is called 4-party, or more commonly, "Skit Day." It's on this day that all of the houses perform a skit for the women going through recruitment to really show off their chapter's personality. Alpha Chi's skit is all singing; our theme is "Alpha Chi on Broadway," and it's pretty fantastic. Finally, there's Preference Night, when all of the women go to only two houses, before making the decision as to which is their "first choice." Bid Day is the final official day of recruitment, and that is when everyone finds out which house they now belong to. It's a massive celebration on Hampton Drive (the street on which the majority of Greek houses are located) -- the police even shut the street down!!! It's complete chaos, but so, so much fun.

I did take a break from all of my planning to welcome in the new year, and here I am, festive and excited about 2008, with two of my good friends from high school.

There's a lot to look forward to this year, and I can't wait to see what life throws at me =) I'll probably be MIA for the next week-and-a-half, but no worries, I'll be back eventually and fill you in on how Recruitment went. Happy Happy 2008!!! (P.S. If you didn't know, I graduate in 2008. Holy. Cow.)

Search results matching tags 'Greek life' and 'bid day'

What I wish I knew then that I know now...

Crazy new members on Bid Day

2008 and Feelin' Great