TSM: Total Sorority Move or Total Social Malarkey?

Jaclyn Thomas
Kappa Alpha Theta

The website TFM, standing for “Total Frat Move,” has a wall special for sororities, TSM. Anyone from around the country can submit what they consider to be a characteristic “move” of sorority girls, and the best ones make it onto the website's wall. Although a majority of the posts are completely incorrect, I wondered, could any of these be applied to Boulder? I decided to test out how accurate a few of the posts on the wall actually are by asking girls in my house for their thoughts. 

So I asked them for their reactions to the following TSMs. 

People don’t ask me if I’m in a sorority, they ask me which one I’m in. TSM

Megan: “I guess my personality gives it away.”

Leanna: “No. I don’t really see that here unless you’re in a pack of fifteen girls on the hill.”

Aubry: “Maybe if you’re seen at the frats every night.”

Tara: “No, it’s not that obvious.” 

Wearing $200 rain boots with my $10 leggings. TSM 

Megan: “So many people wear hunter boots that this is completely accurate.” 

Leanna: “Sorry, I like to rep my Burberry.” 

Aubry: “Not me, but some people.” 

Tara: “Well actually my leggings cost $200, the boots were $10...” 

I spend more time getting ready for the game than actually at it. TSM

Megan: “Personally, I like football but I know some girls who live for this.”

Leanna: “I think a lot of girls do, but not me.” 

Aubry: “I always make it to the game, but you gotta look good doing it!”

Tara: “If I even make it to the game.” 

Ignoring the 30 minute time limit on the ellipticals at the rec. TSM

Megan: “I always ignore this. I reset it during the cool down.” 

Leanna: “I run outside so there’s no limit on that.” 

Aubry: “I get so mad at people when they do that.” 

Tara: “I do that.” 

I carry my Starbucks and Blackberry in the same hand. TSM

Megan: “Yes. I always go to class with my carmel macchiato and Blackberry in hand.” 

Leanna: “Yeah, I do. Nobody puts their phone in their pocket. That’s how it falls in the toilet.” 

Aubry: “Only if I have my homework that I paid someone to do in my other hand.”

Tara: “Doesn’t everyone?”

As I interviewed the girls it seemed that some posts on TSM may be slightly relatable or even humorous, but overall not accurate. They could potentially connect to a number of girls at CU Boulder, whether in the Greek system or not. Based on the extremely sarcastic responses from my interviewees, who intentionally treated the interview as a joke as soon as I mentioned TSM, and quite frankly the ridiculous posts on TSM themselves, (almost all of which are over-the-top and poor representations of our community), I can conclude one thing. As Greeks, we know how to make fun of ourselves.

As we all know, the site isn't an accurate reflection of the Greek community, but rather cultural stereotypes being blown out of proportion. In my opinion, it's sites like TSM and TMF that can give Greeks a bad name. The solution? Let's just not live up to the unfavorable connotations and instead flaunt the positi