University of Louisville - Thoroughbred Yearbook (Louisville, KY)

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LAWAS A GREEK a memory by Doti Shores Sorority life, circa 1967: plush rush parties, candlelight cere- monies for newly “pinned” sis- ters, after-meeting soirees with fraternity men, and the ever- present enigma of the plastic super-smile. | was young, innocent and eager to play the coy-campus- coed game... whatever it meant. And in 1967—to those of us still less than confident in our social potential—believe me, the game meant Success. To begin with, it meant a ready- made batch of true-blue friends. In fact, “instant friendship” was 28 the gist of their most popular pro- paganda pieces: “A sorority al- lows a freshman to enter college life with lots of friends... and we all know how fulfilling it is to walk across campus each morning knowing that at least thirty bright smiles will be coming our way, right?” Always cropping up, that super- smile.... | remember feeling like a mis- fit; | just couldn't get that sweet (but subtly discriminating) half- grin-half-smirk to work on my un- willing face. What misgivings | entertained, agonizing for hours over my in- adequacies as a “‘sister.”” All the other Panhellenistes could sum- mon up that patented expres- sion—the symbol of peace, 1i1- ner-harmony and the Greek Way—without so much as a slight grimace sneaking into the act. Me? | was a failure. And not just in the smile category. | was also incompetent as a frat-man chaser. As every experienced so- rority-type knows (and knows well), it’s here that the fiercest competition takes place. In dire moments of rigid self- appraisal, | scoured my body and soul for the defects that were responsible. Why had | failed so dismally? After all, | was a bright, sensitive, aware young woman. Healthy, and in my prime. On that last count, we (the frat men and |) shared something in common. They, too, were in their prime. That is, according to the lurid reports | heard each Wednesday night from my Con- federate Place cohorts.