Anyone who reads this blog probably knows by now that I'm engaged. He/she may also know that my betrothed is a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. On a recent visit to the fraternity house, I was introduced to a local ritual of Ohio Wesleyan University Greek life when a brother makes a romantic commitment (called lavaliering). As recognition/punishment for the act of giving one's fraternity letters to one's significant other, the brother is traditionally kidnapped, tied up, carried across campus and dunked in Ohio Wesleyan's (in)famous sulfur spring. I can safely say that I have never witnessed anything like this before and it's hard to say how I felt about the whole thing. It was hilarious, yet disturbing to watch as the entire fraternity pounced on Chris, tied his hands and feet, put a hood over his head and hauled him like a sack of potatoes from one side of campus to the other, singing and generally making a scene, before finally lowering him into a stagnant pool of putrid sulfurous water. The grand finale was Chris, having cut himself free of his bonds, dashing after the brothers, in true Swamp Thing form, barefoot and dripping with rancid spring water.
Here is my documentation of this event. Enjoy, Chris.
