Only at Swarthmore: SAGER and DU

<p>I had to chuckle at this Phoenix article today:</p>

<p><a href="http://phoenix.swarthmore.edu/2007-02-15/news/16881%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://phoenix.swarthmore.edu/2007-02-15/news/16881&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>It seems that the DU fraternity is going to be one of the venues for the big annual Sager Party.</p>

<p>Sager is a weeklong symposium on gay and lesbian issues funded by an endowment from a Swarthmore grad Richard Sager '73. Sager week is capped off by the huge all-campus Sager party, one of Swarthmore's more...how shall we say....wild and provocative events of the year.</p>

<p>Last year, they held it at two of the old frat lodges -- the Woman's Center and the Olde Club (usually used for indie rock shows), but ran out of room. It seems that the DU frat boys are making an effort to change their image on campus this year, so they have ageed to add their frat lodge to the the venues, making three adjacent venues for the large party.</p>

<p>I loved this line from the article:</p>

<p>
[quote]
DU’s decision to co-host the Sager Party was partially driven by the fraternity’s desire to present a more wholesome and hospitable image to students and administrators. “We are trying to strengthen not only our relationship with the campus, but our relationship with the deans.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Sounds to me like the new dean Jim Larrimore is starting to make his presence felt on campus by "encouraging" the two frats to improve their image on campus. I must say that the frats have been notably absent from Phoenix headlines this year. The only drinking story to hit the Phoenix so far came from a big debate weekend, when three visiting debaters from UMaryland and Princeton ended up being transported to the hospital. Good for the dean, good for the frat boys.</p>

<p>But anyway, the big gay/lesbian event of the year and the DU frat in combination: only at Swarthmore, I guess.</p>

<p>I read the article yesterday and thought it was incredibly cool, especially with all the editorials about the frats and about the white straight men on campus lately, haha. Hopefully it'll be for the best!</p>

<p>I feel like there is a lot of skepticism about DU and the brothers' intentions around campus (especially among the queer community)... but I say good for DU. At least the brothers are trying and they all seem like nice, genuine guys.</p>

<p>DU has been trying to change its image this year, but Phi Psi not so much. I wonder if Phi Psi is going to do something comparable next year...</p>

<p>unrelated, but fits the title of this thread...</p>

<p><a href="http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/org/daily/photo.php?month=02&day=16&year=2007%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/org/daily/photo.php?month=02&day=16&year=2007&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>