<p>Could anyone tell me about the Eclectic Society? Is it really a place for those who are arts/literary minded? Can you live there? Is it like a frat even though it's coed? Thank you.</p>
<p>Eclectic Society is a literary society, which is similar in organization to a frat, and has its own house (where you can live!), but is different in a few fundamental ways. First of all, you "apply" to be in Eclectic with an extremely quirky application, for example... but the rushing process is relatively similar, I believe. The reputation of Eclectic members ranges from the cocaine-addicts to the artsy interesting to the hipster. I can't say I've spent enough time there to tell you for real. However, it can assuredly be said that they tend to throw the best all-campus parties. It's like a frat in that it is exclusive (not anyone can just be a member without some commitment), it has alumni networks, it throws parties, it has a house and its own community, etc. But it is coed and certainly has a different sort of atmosphere than your stereotypical "frat." </p>
<p>There's also another literary society with a house, Alpha Delta Phi, which I know a little more about, since I pledged it last semester. It has more of a highly geeky/sex-fascinated/alternative reputation, and has something of a Joss Whedon cult (you know, the Wes alum who made Buffy and Firefly and Serenity and Angel... and if you don't know, you'll be hit over the head with it when you get to campus :P). They probably have more of a reputation for literature dorkiness and have hosted all-night book readings and the like. If you have any more questions about Alpha Delt, I'm a fan of theirs, so feel free to ask away.</p>
<p>What I'd suggest is don't worry about it too much before you get here - you'd be surprised how much your preconceptions change. Like, I thought I'd NEVER consider pledging any sort of fraternal organization, but even the actual fraternities aren't so bad. The best advice I got is that if you think one of them sounds interesting, just spend some time there towards the beginning of a semester and just see if it clicks with you.</p>
<p>i agree with most of what mad said.</p>
<p>eclectic members are also known for liking indie music... of course any generalizations about a group of people won't fit everyone, but that one seems to work out pretty well for the eclectic members i know.</p>
<p>Though, it's current house is not quite that old, Eclectic was founded in 1837 and is the oldest local (non-national) fraternity in America. Eclectic's house stands on the site where future president, Woodrow Wilson and his wife lived during his years as a history professor at Wesleyan (1888-1890.)</p>
<p>Alpha Delt is no slouch in the age department either, dating from 1856, and has an equally colorful history; it is one of a handful of national co-ed fraternities and has been since the early 1990s.</p>
<p>Together they have, IMO, two of the handsomest buildings on campus. As madjoy has mentioned, Eclectic's is an excellent example of potted palladio, a demure, red brick building with impressive doric columns that dominate the front entry. Alpha Delt has an excellent corner location at one end of College Row where its gigantic mid-Victorian porch has served as a welcome mat for generations of hungry students partaking of its eating club.</p>
<p>madjoy & Johnwesley, </p>
<p>After reading madjoy's post on ecceletic saying that's where the cocaine
addicts hang out (I'm also addressing this post to Johnwesley since he seems
to know all about Wesleyan), is it supposed to be a "cool thing" to be
a cocaine addict at Wesleyan? When we visited last spring (and I've been
there several times since) there seems to the scent of marijuana in the air
somewhere on campus (and in the dorms) even on weekday mornings.</p>
<p>I know there's a lot of drugs at LAC's, but other NESCAC schools seem to
at least try not to have them out in the open so much. How can Wesleyan's
campus police and adminstration ignore all the drugs when in fact they're
illegal?</p>
<p>I'll have to defer to madjoy for anything as recent as last spring when it comes to drug use at Wesleyan. I do know from experience that it only takes one person walking down a hallway to leave a vapor trail of cannabis that lingers for hours. I'm surprised to hear about cocaine in relation to Eclectic because I've always associated coke with decreased libido and that in itself seems contrary to the Wesleyan ethos. I can't deny that drug use exists. But, I can also say that folks who do it out in the open do risk being busted; it has happened in the past, and there's no telling when it might happen again. This is an administration that cares a lot about appearances (witness the outlawing of chalking and the way it reacts to every putative racial incident) and I would not be surprised to see a few people hung out to dry just to set an example to others.</p>
<p>Drug use isn't as common as it would seem. Most colleges have some sort of campus police and also an RA system that, though not permitting of drugs (especially hard drugs, ie. not marijuana or alcohol), are more lenient than the outside police system would be. I expected even marijuana use to be extremely prevalent here, but though occasionally I will smell occasionally on Thursday-Friday-Saturday nights or late night on Foss Hill, it's not <em>that</em> common. It's also not something everyone participates in, at all, and I've experienced no pressure whatsoever to try it.</p>
<p>Something great about Wesleyan is that there really isn't any preconcieved idea of "cool." Before I got here, I heard that the typical high school social ladder is inverted, but that's not really true, either - it's more that the social ladder doesn't much exist. Groups of friends with similar interests and lifestyles tend to come together into broad social groups, but it's not divisive, and there are no "cool kids." However, I certainly wouldn't say being a "cocaine addict" is thought of as a cool thing in any way; when people say that about Eclectic, they're usually putting it down, and basing their assumptions on vague rumours and stereotypes.</p>
<p>Personally, I don't do any drugs, and I don't drink, either. I've had no problems with it, at all, and though some people are, I certainly don't feel like that's the majority of people around me.</p>
<p>polarbearmom, I'm rather surprised that you smelled weed on a weekday morning-- I certainly don't know anyone that smokes then.</p>
<p>Eclectic alum, approaching 50. My gen, mostly theater and film majors, with a few AmStuds, one Russian Studies, one or two East Asian studies, a couple of music majors, maybe a math freak. Satellites (non-residents) included several Art majors and a couple of Physics types. Haus culture morphs from year to year–the punks coming in said “let the hippies have their swan song”, before displacing them. Where it went from there, I cannot say. Some years they’re walking Halloween costumes and some years they’re schlubs. It may still reek of stale beer; I’m guessing stale tobacco smoke isn’t as overwhelming as it was. What do they listen to now? No idea, electronica it seems. Drugs? Heard they pioneered XTC use mid-80s, but could have reverted to straight-edge by now. Believe the undergrads are fighting to save their co-ed shower, but the admin is determined to remodel. Is the house still standing? Amazingly, yes.</p>