Ideas For A Well-Rounded Roundup | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Ideas For A Well-Rounded Roundup

How Roundup can have a better impact on the UT community.

45
Ideas For A Well-Rounded Roundup

Another weekend of Roundup has passed and students who traveled from colleges across the nation are headed back home with at least one lasting impression about our campus: we throw great parties. While this is true, I feel like just focusing exclusively on the partying does UT and the Greek community a disservice.

Roundup has the potential to raise both money and awareness for UT Greek philanthropies while also providing great college memories. The only true philanthropic efforts that take place throughout the weekend are held at sorority houses. Each house hosts catered events and charges an entrance fee that goes toward their individual philanthropy and ensures that students have access to a solid meal before a night of heavy drinking.

It would be nice for fraternities to do something similar.

If each fraternity were to charge one dollar per person (girls and guys) to attend their event, they could raise some serious cash. One dollar may seem insignificant, but every dollar raised is one more that can go towards making a difference for each fraternity's philanthropy. Also, by doing this it would also help eliminate some of the negative stigma that surrounds Roundup and give the media some positive news to report on.

It would also be interesting for the IFC to require each student to pass an online module about sexual assault and binge drinking prevention before receiving a wristband. The logistics of doing this would be tough, but I believe that it is doable. Although an online module might seem like a joke to most people, it would be a way to get the conversation started and remind people that the dangers of alcohol and sexual assault are real.

Currently, the IFC hosts a safety seminar before Roundup but only asks fraternity and sorority members at UT to attend. Independents and those in spirit groups, as well as Greek members from other schools, do not have to. However, these people make up a large percentage of the attendees.

On Sunday, after the two long days of partying has ended, it would also nice to see a clean-up of West Campus happen. Although I understand that some smaller groups currently do this, I don't think that they have the manpower to clean much of it. It is sad to see thousands of people from other schools trash the area where most of us live and then go back to their school and leave the mess to us. IFC should offer up incentives to get these people to help clean up areas of West Campus. Maybe offering breakfast tacos to help nurse hangovers or providing a partial reimbursement to the $10 fee that non-UT students pay for a wristband would promote growth of the clean up.

With the increasing scrutiny of the media on Greek life, I feel that Roundup has the potential to change how we are viewed. We can still keep the wild and crazy Roundup that we all love while also showing that we are committed to UT's core values. This year, I commend the IFC for supporting the "Not On My Campus" campaign to raise awareness for sexual assault. Their limiting of the wristbands to keep under-aged high schoolers out was also good to see.

I hope that they continue to put into effect even more initiatives that will improve the Roundup experience so that it will still be a fun and safe event when our children are in school.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

2779
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

449290
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

21565
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

44583
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments