Just as we have a new curriculum here at UIC, we had a new and revitalized pledging season as well. One event that was added to the roster was ‘A Night in Las Vegas.’ Picture this. The classroom of the COP was transformed into the Phi Delta Chi Casino. Brothers and pledges alike were encouraged to wear their best ‘gambling suits’. Tables were covered with green and red construction paper to mirror poker tables in a casino. When the guests arrived they were greeted with mocktails and fun snacks including Jelly Belly® Roulette. Once everyone found their seat at their ‘poker’ table, we played our own version of Phi Dex Hold’em (no relation to Texas Hold’em…seriously). It was a game created by the pledge parents in an effort to get to know each other better. In all honesty we didn’t know if it would work but we thought if we could spark the conversation over common interests we would see bonds of true brothers being formed that night. The logistics of the game were as follows: pledges started as the ‘dealers’ and brothers were dealt cards with a series of rather silly questions on them and from that hand they selected which question to answer. At the end of the round pledges and brothers switched, brothers were then the ‘dealers’ and pledges the players.
It wasn’t long before the whole room was filled with laughter over the fashion faux pas of wearing Crocs® EVER and deep conversations over which TV show you MUST binge watch after finals are over. Hometowns, undergrad schools, favorite memories, and Starbucks drink orders were shared. SUCCESS. Real organic conversations were being formed between brothers and pledges no matter how silly or basic the conversation starter was. When it came time to shuffle groups it was hard to stop the conversations going on between brothers and pledges. It was absolutely magical.
A Night in Las Vegas being a new event this year quickly became one of my favorite pledge events. As pledge mom overseeing the event I could not be prouder of the bonds of brotherhood that began that night. In this case, what happened in Vegas did not stay in Vegas for these friendships will certainly live beyond that night in every setting, every situation, and at any point in our lives. No doubt in my mind that A Night in Las Vegas and the other pledge events fostered lifelong relationships I like to call ‘brotherships.’
It was certainly a night to remembe.
Viva Las Vegas
- Brittany Brozek, AE 1460
A Night in Vegas
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