Rushing/ Mardi Gras

<p>By the time Mardi Gras rolls into Tulane, will a freshman be able to move into his or her frat/sorority house? Is their any cons of mardi gras on campus?</p>

<p>Sororities do not have housing at Tulane. The story is that there is a law that makes it illegal for that many unmarried women to live in one residence that is zoned as a house (the brothel law) but I have also heard that is an urban tale that just is not true, and that in fact the reason Tulane Soroities have no houses with living quarters is that by the time that could have been considered there just wasn’t anything available near campus that was affordable. I don’t know the correct story, but I know there are no residential sorority houses.</p>

<p>I don’t know the answer to the frat question. I do know that like a lot of other schools there is no rushing until second semester freshman year, so you wouldn’t be moving into a frat house then. I know Tulane requires students to live on campus both freshman and sophomore years, but I don’t know if living in the fraternity house is considered equivalent, since frats operate by permission of the university and under their oversight. Someone else will have to weigh in on that.</p>

<p>I’m sorry, but I don’t understand the question about Mardi Gras.</p>

<p>Since Tulane is pretty involved in the Mardi Gras craziness, are there any problems that students encounter during this time? More crime?</p>

<p>The Tulane Greek system rushes in the Fall. Many fraternities have houses near Broadway (off-campus) but Tulane requires freshmen and sophomores to live on campus. There are few exceptions to this policy so only juniors and seniors live in the frat houses. Regarding Mardi Gras–the campus is on lockdown. No one moves through the perimeter without a wristband. Each student may pay $50 for one guest to stay on campus and acquire the wristband, this fee pays for the police presence and they are there in force. The Uptown area hosts many family friendly parades during Mardi Gras and if you are looking for debauchery you can ride the streetcar to find it in the Quarter during Mardi Gras, but it certainly isn’t in the immediate vicinity of Tulane.</p>

<p>The campus certainly beefs up secuity and works hard to keep people off campus that are not supposed to be there. As far as I know there is no major difference in crime on campus, and off campus historically there are more incidents due to drinking as you would expect.</p>

<p>Best to hear from current students. My time there was long enough ago that I don’t think my experience would be useful. How about it people? For you sophomores and up, or more recent grads, what is most different during Mardi Gras in terms of hassles, especially around campus?</p>

<p>Hi Roaming - Things may have changed since you were there. Tulane now participates in the deferred rush, as does Northwestern and many others. From [Tulane</a> University - Division of Student Affairs](<a href=“http://www.greek.tulane.edu/join.htm]Tulane”>http://www.greek.tulane.edu/join.htm)

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<p>Actually you knew that too, I just saw after I posted this that you said the same back in January 2008, lol. I couldn’t remember if you were a Tulane grad or had a kid there. Now I see you had (have?) a child there, did you go also?</p>

<p>Thanks for the details regarding procedure during Mardi Gras. I think they have even raised the fee for a guest to $75.</p>

<p>Can anyone elaborate a bit more on Greek like at Tulane? My son has been accepted to the school and is very interested in attending. He has 2 older brothers who are/were in fraternities at different schools. Needless to say they have been discussing this aspect of college life with him. I Just want to get an idea about fraternity life on campus.</p>

<p>Thanks Fallen. I agree that Spring is when rushing occurs for the Greek system, just a slip of the typing fingers. My DS is in his third year at Tulane and is Greek. Daecollege I would be happy to elaborate if you can let me know your interests. My take is that Greek life at Tulane is quite similar to Greek life most other places-lots of social enagement, competition on intramural sports teams, strong sense of group identity, etc.</p>

<p>Are there any current students who know which frat is very jocky? Which has the most parties? Least? Which frat is the most interested in academics?</p>

<p>pocious - you could get answers on here, but since you will have a whole semester before rush (if you decide on Tulane), why not get it first hand while you are there? Since you are obviously interested in joining a frat, I guarantee there will be lots of students happy to give you their take on it once you are there. That kind of first hand observation and input will be much more valuable to you.</p>

<p>Wait so you have to pay 50$ for someone to stay in your dorm room during Mardi Gras?</p>

<p>Yes, i just checked and it is $50. [Housing</a> & Residence Life: Mardi Gras](<a href=“http://housing.tulane.edu/mardigras.html]Housing”>http://housing.tulane.edu/mardigras.html)</p>

<p>$50 for 5 days is a fantastic deal for a secure place to sleep in a great location.</p>

<p>Now that I think about it that seems fair and a good way to keep campus safe.</p>

<p>I believe the Mardi Gras celebrations happen to coincide with valentines day this year as well. Lots of celebrationsall at once!</p>

<p>Yep. Mardi Gras is 2/16 this year.</p>

<p>The deal is, you’re supposed to pay fifty bucks to have a guest during Mardi Gras. If they’re opposite sex, you’re supposed to have to get a friend of that sex to be their official “host.” However, unless you live in the freshman dorms, you won’t really have any problem at all having someone “illegally.” I didn’t notice any extra police on campus last year during Mardi Gras, and no one ever checked for a wristband for my friend’s boyfriend from out of town, even getting on SafeRide or anything.</p>