Flower-ins - or kiss-ins, as they were once called - have been a part of campus greek tradition since the early 1970s.
Since then, the name is the aspect of the event that's perhaps been the least changed. With the new year bringing new member classes to DePauw's greek chapters, the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council have mandated a new set of regulations for these events. While some might find these rules inconvenient, they are necessary to conserve an event that's an important part of DePauw's sense of community and its long history of greek life.
The tradition goes that a fraternity is invited to a sorority where they then serenade the women of the house with a song. A boy and a girl from the new first-year class are still introduced to each other; the boy gets on his knee and presents the girl with a flower.
Today's flower-ins are much tamer than those in recent DePauw memory, due in part to the new regulations imposed by IFC and Panhel. Gone are the days of tackling, chanting and the pressure to "make-out." Flower-ins are now a night of heightened feelings of nervousness and excitement, where a sorority and fraternity focus their attention and give support to the new member classes.
A flower-in may sound like a silly tradition, but it's a silly tradition that is unique to this campus. I have heard of no other college greek systems having an event where each sorority and fraternity freshman class are able to be introduced to one another.
Flower-ins reinforce the close knit, friendly atmosphere that attracted us to this campus in the first place. At DePauw, we want people to feel at home. This can be done by creating connections. Flower-ins have the ability to do this by putting a face to a name. Perhaps it's not the most conventional way to meet new people, but it's definitely a moment that you will always remember and a name you won't forget.
In light of the new flower-in policies being implemented by IFC and Panhel, I think flower-ins have been altered for the better. They are events that all in the greek community would like to keep on campus, and regulations are necessary to do so. Requiring one member of Panhel and one member of IFC should not be viewed as an oppressive or overbearing new rule; instead, these officers are there to prevent risk situations and ensure that the greek system is being positively represented to new member classes. This means that there is no chanting, no hazing of the first-year and definitely no tackling of the poor soul presenting the flower.
These are sacrifices we have to make to preserve the flower-in tradition. The rules might evolve, but the message is still the same. They are a fun way for people to break the ice, to create a stronger greek community, to make new friendships with people that perhaps you never thought you would. Yes, it may be a silly tradition, but it is one that has been around for decades. It's one worth preserving, if people are willing to comply with the rules.
If a greek chapter breaks the regulations that have been put in place to preserve flower-ins, then they should be rightfully punished and held accountable. These events are meaningful not just to current DePauw students, but for so many who have lived and learned here. Let's do our best to keep the spirit of the tradition in tact.
- Konicek is a sophomore from Geneva, Ill. majoring in education and sociology.