<p>Are the frats really ending? Have some been closed down? (Which ones?) What's the deal with all this?</p>
<p>No, they aren't closing and they will remain an integral part of Dartmouth. I'll formulate (or someone will) a better explaination but the Super Bowl is on =)</p>
<p>The original plan in the SLI called for the frats to be shut down in two years (that is, by 2001) regardless of what students or alumni wanted. One frat, Zeta Psi, did indeed get derecognized (although there was a good reason for it). Since then, the administration has backed away from its earlier stance and has even acknowledged that the frats are coming closer to it expects of Dartmouth organizations under the SLI. They haven't derecognized any of the other frats, but hand out probations when they feel necessary. Also, they don't allow kegs (except at parties) or open taps, which is a damn shame. Oh man, open taps would be so awesome. Anyway, the frats are only supposed to give out cans during non-party nights, which is actually kinda funny, because you can drink more that way than if you had to wait around in line for a drink from a keg. So, the frats are still on the hot seat so to speak, but there is no longer the sense of urgency that there was four or five years ago. Oh, and Zeta Psi may be derecognized, but it hasn't been closed down, and it is alive and well.</p>
<p>My friend used to be in a frat called Sigma Alpha Epsilon... just for fun, what's the stereotype of that frat? Hard to get into, a la Ivy Club of Princeton?</p>
<p>Exactly how pervasive is the greek scene at Dartmouth? Can one not get involved with a sorority/fraternity but still have an active social life?</p>
<p>SAE - preppy rich kids.</p>
<p>greenmachine-- about 50% of the elligible Dartmouth population are members of Greek socities. There are plenty of things to do outside the frats (movies, performing arts, FUEL, a cappella, etc.) and most Greek events are open... meaning you don't have to be a member to go to them. This encompasses weeknights as well as weekend keggers/dance parties/band showings. Some nights/'tails are by invite only, but it's fairly easy to get an invitation if you really want to go.</p>
<p>Bottom line... don't have to be a member of a frat/sorority, but many of your friends will join and you might feel left out (or you might form a new group of closer friends?)</p>
<p>eh- it's a college campus. you do the same things here you do anywhere...my friend that went to georgetown told me she has gone into the city once because she's been having too good of a time on campus. It's the same here- you think you'll go to Boston or Montreal or whatever, but then you get here and you can't find a weekend where you'd want to leave because there's so much going on.</p>
<p>I personally go skiing whenever I get the chance...which is like...every other day, lol</p>
<p>that sounds more like it. I am a SKI FREAK. is the skiing up there as good as in vermont or canada?</p>
<p>Killington is fairly close. I've also heard good things about the Dartmouth skiway.</p>
<p>Killington is a 45 minute drive. The Dartmouth skiway isn't nearly as bad as I expected...the snow sucks this year, but I think it actually is a decent place to get in a few runs. I'm a ski nut. I grew up in the Rockies and really didn't like the idea of giving up my beautiful, huge mountains to come to eastern skiing. Yah, the skiing isn't Steamboat, Jackson, or Vail- but it'll do. I enjoy it, and it really is convenient to just hop on a bus on campus that takes you directly to the skiway (a 20 minute ride). I am taking skiing as a PE class (I've been skiing out west since I was 3, so this is just a REALLY easy way for me to get a PE credit)- basically there are like 6 of us in the highest level (in my particular class) who rather than get taught how to ski, just ski and practice doing crazy stuff like jumps and skiing backwards and stuff. </p>
<p>It's also cool to be able to ski for like 2 hours a day. I bought a pass for $125 and can just do it whenever I feel like it. </p>
<p>You know- you could go to school in a city- but what will you do there? You're certainly not going to be hanging out in SoHo or visiting Faneuil Hall every weekend, right? I mean, sure- if you like clubbing- you won't get that here. But I can ski whenever I want during the winter, hike the rest of the year, and ride my bike in beautiful new england scenery. The longer I've been here, the more I've realized this is a REAL college experience- or at least...what I feel SHOULD be the real college experience.</p>