Chanting pledges, multiple house, motor bikes and the bright lights of DPS vehicles created the scene on the corner of University Street and 13th Street outside the EMU Thursday night.
All fraternities were gathering outside the EMU to officially welcome new pledges to their respective houses. Within the first few moments, one fraternities celebration methods had caused some trouble.
A few students part of the Fraternity Kappa Sigma were stopped by DPS after illegally riding motor bikes down 13th in a non-motor vehicle zone. The fraternity celebrations already taking place in that area just added to the commotion.
“We had a few of our guys who owned motorcycles ride from the duck store to the EMU,” University junior Sean Larson, the Philanthropy Chairman for Kappa Sigma said. According to Larson, within 10-15 seconds of arriving at the EMU, two DPS officers had stopped the motorists.
“I think most people know that area is off limits, so I don’t really know their logic behind it,” Larson said. The motorists ended up with warnings from DPS.
Graduate student Parrish Kittinger was riding along 13th when he saw these events unfolding.
“I started hearing all these people shouting,” Parrish said. “And then came the first public safety truck. The guys on bikes were all holding flags.”
Witnesses recall hearing the motorists honking horns and yelling as they rode. Kappa Sigma was especially excited as they were celebrating their first official Bid day. Their methods might have caused a stir, but they are happy with the results.
“I think we turned some heads,” Larson said.
Even with the DPS pulling aside these bikes, the Bid Day celebrations continued. All around the police, chants for each specific fraternity, as well as a more general “Bro! Bro! Bro,” echoed across the amphitheater.
“Having that kind of entrance was kind of cool,” Larson said. To him, it made their experience even better.
During the chaos, students walking by were confused by what was happening. Questions of riots and parties bounced around from group to group as they looked in wonder at the motorists.
The fraternities were yelling, running and jumping together in their house groups. Every fraternity had their own methods of celebration and did their best not to be bothered by the officers in the middle of it.
About 20 minutes later, DPS and the motorists drove away while each frat finished their Bid Day rituals and left one by one.