Party Themes

Inter-House Parties

Trick or Drink

One of the most successful party nights we've participated in is Trick-or-Drink. This event requires some of the most preparation and organization out of any party you will throw, but if you do it right, it will be one of the best you ever host.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 5 houses
• Maps with designated houses and streets for each participating student
• Designated drinks and theme at each location
• Enough alcohol for 500-2,500+ mixed shots per location depending on size of school
• The balls to turn down someone twice your size at the door for having a shitty costume

How It Works:

This event is generally held during the week of Halloween, doesn't matter if mid-week or weekend. The main idea is that each house has its own theme where the hosts make a large tub of mixed alcohol (see drink recipes page), students come through dressed up in costume, and the hosts serve out the alcohol in plastic shot sized cups waiting for them by the hundreds as they come through the door. The fun thing about this event is that you see students in costume marching in processions by the hundreds down the street barreling straight towards the door of your house. What's going to make this event work is having a clear, legible map with an easy order to follow in terms of when to go to which house. This map is generally sold for $5 to help offset the costs of alcohol for each hosting house. (Practical U Tip: Freshman are always the easiest to sell to no matter what it is you're selling). Bottom line is there's going to be a starting house where everyone gathers at a set time, and once the clock strikes everyone takes their shot, runs to the next house, takes another shot, runs to the next house and so on following the map as they go. We've found that it's best to have at least a few kegs at the last house to keep the party goin' til the mornin'.

Single-House Parties

Mustachio Bashio

Simple: In order to get into this party, you need a mustache. And a real one. We don't care if you have to trim hair from your happy trail and scotch tape it to your upper lip. Plus, who hasn't wanted to rock a mustache at least once in their life? You'd be surprised how much confidence one simple strip of hair can give you as you're swaggering your way through a party.

It gets better though, because you should know you can't just throw on a polo, jeans, and head out the door for this one. Nope. You need to complement that mustache you've spent the last 4 weeks working hard on with an appropriate outfit from a real-life mustache rocker. Portuguese bullfighter you say? Or maybe some true Southern white trash. The possibilities are endless, but don't forget, the mustache makes the costume.

And sorry guys, but looks like the women are going to have a free pass on this one. Although your local Wal-Mart might have a few female cashiers who'd pass with flying colors for this theme.

Transgender Party

Guys can only wear girls clothes, girls can only wear guys clothes (Like you haven't wanted to try it at least once) Maybe we'll exclude the underwear on this one though? Wigs and balloons under the shirt are preferred for guys, and don't skip out on the shoes either. Most importantly, make sure you still wake up in the bed of your preferred sex the next morning. Some confusion might arise after that eighth tequila shot.

Proverbial Beach Party

We're sure you've heard of this one before. It is up there in the difficulty rating of preparation and execution, but well worth it if successful.

What you need:

• 1500 lbs(+) of sand depending on size of basement. If you live in northern climes, contact your local municipality for free sand. Every resident is entitled to some. Otherwise, 50lbs. bags of sand run about $2.50 a piece at your local Home Depot.
• Numerous tarps to put under the sand. Try not to buy tarps. Borrow these if at all possible.
• Umbrellas
• Kiddie pool full of water
• Tropical drinks (pina-coladas, margaritas, etc.)
• Bathing-suit-only attire
• Inflatable shark pool toy
• Wear flip flops or shoes you don't care about ruining

How It Works: You only get in if you're wearing a bathing suit. Doesn't matter if you go to school in east bumfuck Maine, it's January and 12 degrees out. Rumor has it alcohol makes you feel warmer anyway.

Tips:

• Wet down the sand a fair amount just before people arrive. It'll prevent dust from flaring up into your eyes, nose and mouth during the party.
• Duct tape the ends of the tarps about 6" up on the wall to keep the sand contained at all times; makes clean up a lot easier.
• Don't pee on the sand. It smells and it's gross
• When cleaning up, there's no better way to dispose of that leftover sand than to dump it all on your rival house's doorstep, or better yet on your least favorite dean's doorstep.
• Crank the heat, make it feel tropical.
• Put up pictures of palm trees everywhere, if you have a TV with a DVD player throw in some surfing movies and put them on repeat.

Handcuff/Zip-Tie/Duct Tape Party

Think you can stand breathing the same air as someone for 5+ hours? Try this party. No one is allowed inside without being either handcuffed, zip-tied, or duct taped to someone else, generally of the opposite sex. Somehow see a random Freshman who snuck in cruising through the party alone? Simple, either kick him out or zip-tie/duct tape him to another rando you find so tightly that they're bound to be seen walking the same steps together tomorrow morning.

Where this party gets fun:

• Trips to the bathroom.
• Beirut and flip cup with your opposite hand.
• Having a tried and true friend that can recount every obscene line you dropped while spitting game throughout the course of the night, maybe even sharing some pointers along the way.

Graffiti and Blacklight Party

First thing's first. Get some blacklights for your house at the beginning of the year regardless of what types of parties you'll be throwing. Yes, they can add a certain "sketch factor" to your party if that's the only light source you're providing, but in general they are fun. (Practical U Tip: try positioning blacklights over your Beirut table and play with orange ping-pong balls, as they'll glow under the light).

For this party though, make sure everyone shows up in a blank white t-shirt that they are willing to throw away after the party. Go to Wal-Mart, buy a couple packs of dark-colored highlighters, pass em out during the party, and write whatever it is that you please on everyone's shirts. Highlighting sexual misadventures via graffiti is strongly encouraged.

My New Haircut

We've all seen the video. And if you haven't, shame on you. Please watch the video to enlighten yourself if unfamiliar.
My New Haircut.

Every campus has one: the vainglorious, diamond ear studded, gelled hair, chest exposing, middle finger popping, HGH consuming, Strong Long Island Guido. Possibly the best known living counterargument to Darwin's theory of evolution.

How to pull it off?

• Attire consists of a button down shirt, buttoned only halfway up, jeans, gelled hair, "ice" for accessories, fake tattoos, and spray on tan for your face if willing to take it that far
• Three rules for pictures:
  1. No smiling, only dead serious faces or the puckering up of lips.
  2. Either show your clutched Heineken or flip off the photographer with one of your hands. And
  3. Always grab one of your "bros" to get in on the picture. Preferably five or more if around.
• You must talk using Guido lingo at all times. Example you ask? Say you're approaching the bar, "Hey bro-ski, two Heinekens." For more examples please refer to the above video or simply Youtube "Guido."
• When hitting on girls, your pick up lines may only consist of how often you work out, what kind of a car you drive, what your recent bench max was or how many protein shakes you consumed today.
• And for all you Harvard and Yale attendees, it's more fitting if you limit your largest words dropped during this event to three syllables or less.

Dig It?