The party spin cycle

In general, frat parties are pretty boring. Unfortunately, for a lot of Penn's campus, "going out" often means cycling through a routine that depends on frats. First, you have to find people to go out with. Then all you girls have to dress up in a new and unique way, while guys have to hop into a set of freshly washed pink prison garb.

Once the "going out" pre-treatment is complete (maybe with a bit of pre-gaming), the spin cycle begins. Everyone aimlessly roams around whatever frat seems to have liquor and is not empty. The girls try to dance without having some creepy guy grind with them. The creepy guys try to grind with girls. The DJ sitting in front of his laptop never stops cutting off songs mid-track.

If I want to see the same old people and the same old clothes, I can just do my laundry with my friends. At a large and wonderful campus like Penn located in a major city, going out should be about new experiences and new people. I would trade a million bad screwdrivers made by a cocky new pledge to meet just one new and interesting person at a frat party.

Given that it's the "social Ivy" and a large chunk of the student body lives off campus, Penn should have a much more vibrant and diverse party scene.

Fortunately, there are people who have taken some initiative in throwing the kind of party that fits the bill. Since last September, an informal but burgeoning phenomenon known as "Gay Fridays At Cliff's" has been holding off-campus parties geared toward Penn's LGBT community, but open to all.

Run through a listserv, this organization invites people to parties under the rainbow banner. Some nights have been geared toward certain subsets of the LGBT community, such as transgender individuals. Most have just been regular house parties held at off-campus locations that are volunteered by someone who lives there. The real kicker is that whoever offers the house is treated to a volunteer clean-up crew the next day, which enhances the sense of community.

Last Friday, on a whim, I decided to head to a GFAC party. I was not (and am still not) gay. I had one of the best nights I've had since I got to college.

While the atmosphere and the people were extremely energized, there was also a distinct relaxation in the air. No one was trying to impress anyone, most people had some sort of common ground and everyone was generally having a great time.

GFAC is meant to cater to one of the many niches on campus without being "exclusive and showy," said party namesake Cliff Jones, an Engineering senior. By appealing to that niche (and anyone willing to come along for the ride), a great party atmosphere has developed.

This model is one that should be emulated across the Penn campus. "The choice shouldn't be between going to a frat and staying home and watching movies," said GFAC co-founder Amelia Aldao. She's absolutely right.

Any party worth its weight in Keystone should be unique in some way. There are a million great party ideas out there that can make a simple house with people a lot more interesting than your average night out on the frat cycle.

Since I've been at college, I've seen a few ideas turn into fabulous nights. A 1920s party encouraged people to dress and act out whatever felt '20s (except segregation). Last year we had an awesome underwear party during Spring Fling with a pants check at the door. There was also a Jello-fight party last year followed by a tri-level naked party.

Whether it's to wear '20s-style pants, wear no pants or wear nothing at all, there should be more to going out than circling around trying to have fun at the same old haunts.

So, my challenge to all of you is simple: Think of something that you and your friends like, find an available house and turn it into a party. Invite everyone you know. If you host it, they will come. And -- like most nights in my life -- I'll be willing to come too, just waiting to take my pants off.Eric Obenzinger is a junior history major from New York. Quaker Shaker appears on Wednesdays.

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