A Strong Start, Weak End

Will Piker

This weekend started off strong on Thursday, using the evening to release some pressure for a student body still not yet accustomed to the college workload. 

I started at Delta Sigma where a foam party was scheduled to begin around 11:00.  When I showed up there was an enclosure, obviously intended for the night’s events, yet the pit was still dry.  I walked around for a little while, taking in the different people the party had to offer and the dance floor in the house’s basement, which wasn’t the most hopping part, but it still warranted looking into. 

The majority of people, however, were gathered outside around the makeshift, plastic wrap pen, waiting for the main draw of the night to begin.  Around 11:30 the pit finally started filling up, and eventually arrived at a respectable volume at midnight.  I knew I had to be quick in enjoying the foam since I had other engagements lined up for the night, so I jumped in and made the most of the occasion until I decided I’d made the most of my time and escorted myself back to Grand River.

Once back on MSU’s main strip, I walked to Phi Psi frat on Abbott for their graffiti party.  I won’t lie, this party definitely played out well. A large group was gathered out on the house’s front lawn, a mass of people spinning one another about in order to write on the back of their neighbor. Members of the frat stood along the sidewalk, inviting people inside and providing reassurance to have fun to the random passersby.  Inside sitting rooms allowed for good, open space to have a conversation should the basement’s black light dance floor grow tiresome or too crowded.

Once I’d had my share of signatures notifying me of a love for phallus I never new existed, I crossed Abbott to a house party I was totally unaware.  I wandered through the crowd there, introducing and excusing myself from groups of people until I’d been satisfied with this or that individual’s conversational abilities. 

My time at this party was short-lived however, for no sooner had I arrived did flashlights start scanning the crowns of my fellow partiers and cries of “Police!” and “Fuzz” went out.  Noticing it was now a little past 2:00 a.m., I decided there was no better signal to head home and sauntered my way back to Grand River.

Thursday:
Delta Sigma Foam Party:  4/5

Phi Psi Graffiti Party:  5/5

Abbott House Party:  4/5

Friday evening eventually rolled on to high anticipations.  While the only thing I really had on my schedule was a country hoedown at Theta Delta Chi, I expected to pick up more random parties as the night wore since it was a Friday. 

I started off visiting an old friend who was in town for the night. She was a little far-gone by the time I arrived, which was a little disheartening considering I’d always known as a well-reserved individual, but I imagine when hard times fall on anyone you’ve got to relieve stress somehow. 

Slightly discouraged I walked to Theta Delta Chi, only to have my hopes even further dashed.  A dead looking house, with three people waiting on the porch like the crotchety old man who hates Trick-or-Treaters sat looking out at the street, more than enough to deter me from going in.

I eventually walked back to the party later on that night, finding a party that showed all the signs of dying down with the night, which I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt and say that I kept arriving at the wrong time, which is realistically what probably happened.

The disappointing country hoedown aside, I walked up and down through the community, finding nothing that really caught my eye aside from house party on Gunson.  It was not bad, but held at a house far too small to accommodate the number of people arrived.  After a quick rest at McDonald’s, I decided I’d milked everything the night had to offer and then made my way home.

Friday:
Theta Delta Chi Country Hoedown:  3/5

Gunson House Party:  3/5

Saturday morning arrived with doubts that I’d even be able to go out that night.  I rolled out a bed, feeling like my head had been backed over by a cement mixer.  Over the past few days I’d felt a cold sinking in, which was really the result of complete idiocy on my part.  Walking around in 50-degree weather sopping wet for three hours was probably not the best laid plan I’ve ever had. 

I only had one place to go for the night, Sigma Pi’s black and white party over on Harrison, so I decided to just drop in and leave just as quickly.

After a vein attempt to find my bike in order to make a quick arrival and departure from the party, I decided the night was growing late and hoofed my way to the northern most reaches of MSU’s surrounding area.  I showed up wearing a white t-shirt and dark blue hoodie, which I was promptly told to remove at the door.  I obliged and carried it around, tucked under my arm. I spent about an hour or so just wondering around the crowd, dancing a little bit here and there and mostly just playing the role of wallflower against the wall.

I’d like to take the time to point something out.  You’ll usually here people tell you not to play the role of wallflower if you go to a party. While that’s true, I won’t deny that if you’re not completely comfortable introducing yourself to new people, getting people to come to you is a good way to get over any nervousness a person might get around crowds.  Drunk people can’t resist something that looks out of the ordinary, and trust me, you’ll look out of the ordinary standing by yourself in the room’s only spot not flooded with people.

I’d spent around an hour there when I decided that it was time to go.  I was on my way out the door when I caught the eye of a rather fetching young lady who looked like she wanted to dance.  I obliged for about a half an hour, until both of us were fairly exhausted and I decided it was time to work my way home.

On my walk home I was delighted to find my cold was just short of completely gone.  Apparently chicken soup only goes so far, but sweating out a fever on the dance floor will really do the trick.  And to end the story on an even happier note, I found my bike.

A little note on black and white parties: Sigma Pi’s party on Saturday was quite good, but that’s mostly attributable to luck and the frat behind the party.  I’ve talked about the importance of a party’s theme before, and quite frankly black and white is a fairly lackluster.  Bringing a huge turnout that night, the party was a fairly good success; however, I recommend being fairly skeptical of any black and white parties you might hear of in the future.  Without the turnout Sigma Pi provided, it could easily be a letdown.

Saturday:
Sigma Pi Black &White Party:  4/5