u235

I recently returned to my old university for a nostalgic look-see. As we drove around I couldn't help noticing that every rock over the size of a pumpkin was now painted. Well ok, in principle there's nothing wrong with that, although in a natural setting (which most of these were in, being situated between trees, amongst flower beds, etc.) garish blobs of glossy paint in primary colors is mildly disconcerting. This wasn't some attempt at scenic improvement, it was the product of the ritual claim-staking of the various fraternities that had been allowed back on campus.

Yes allowed back. See over a decade and a half ago the fraternities had been banned from the university campus for instigating unrest, fighting, petty crime and general stupidity. After banning them for a few years they were allowed back, much to the surprise of many of the staff. At once the stupidity returned. The pseudo-militant attitude of the frats really added nothing positive to the campus, and only caused problems. The public humiliations of the pledges - jogging in lines, carrying painted cinder blocks, disrupted meals and classes. Campus parties suddenly required metal detectors, something unheard of. The frats brought with them unwelcome outsiders from the City who brought with them knives and guns. There were shootings, and even deaths.

To me this is what the rocks represented, the loss of innocence where 16 - 22 year olds partied by listening to loud music, guzzling beer from mini-kegs or mixed drinks from huge garbage pails, having sloppy sex and maybe getting a pron movie confiscated by the building monitors. The rocks are constant reminders that what was once naive over-indulgence was now replaced by money, guns and hard drugs. Back when I was a freshman the biggest worry was someone sneaking grain alcohol into the punch and the victims waking up one dorm over in bed with a double-bagger. Not OD'd on smack or forcibly raped by someone older and shopping for fresh ass.

I'm sorry my University allowed them back. It was a better place without the divisiveness of the fraternities. Like the rocks they forced the barriers between people who should be spending a short time in their lives in pursuit of studies, friendship and youthful inebriation. There's enough time in life after college to decide where to pigeonhole your loyalties, why do you have to brand yourself (literally in case of many frats) as a teenager?

It's true you can never go back, but what makes it really sad is not wanting to. I had a good time and got a great education. I'm sorry that no one else can have that experience. But I suppose if they can't compare it to what I had they won't know the difference.