Beaux and Queens... Always available for bonding, support I ('S an ordinary, unevencful Monday nighc. You're in your room, sprawled out on your bed, watch ing stale sitcoms and pretending to study chemistry. Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupts your reverie. The person in your doorway ushers you briskly downstairs . In front ofyour dorm, a noisy, clamoring mob ofpeople wearing brighdy colored shins rushes at you, surrounding you in a crush of bodies. This scenario may sound like cause for alarm, but for the lucky few chosen as social club beaux and queens. it was actually ooe of the mos t exciting nights of their co llege lives. "I was in a club meeting and my brorher-inlaw came in and gOt me," Elizabeth Root, Chi Sigma Alpha queen , said. "He said] had a phone call from my brother and I needed [Q go back to my room. He was walking me back to my dorm, and when we gOt in front of the laundromat, about 100 people in blue starred running at me and singing to me. I was tOtally shocked, but it was pretty cool." Beaux and queens played a vital role in the clubs that chose to honor them with the ti des. They attended meetings, functions, mixers and Pledge Week activities as a source ofsuppOrt and encouragement. They also shared their own special talents and abilities with the club. Their function also included contributing to the cl ub's spiritual growth and development. "I feel thatoneofmy responsibi lities as a beau is to represent (he spiritual goals of the club," ChrisWhitman , Shantih beau, said. "We're there as spi ritual leaders, to guide and serve the women of the club. " In return for their dedication and service, clubs made it a point to express their appreciation to their beaux and queens. "During Pledge Week especially, ] felt really important because all of the gi rls were sending me mail ," Mac Bell, Zeta Rho beau, said. "My mailbox was completely packed every day. It was a fun week." Beaux and queens often struggled to find a balance between club activ it ies and other aspects of their lives , such as academics. Some also found themselves torn between twO loyalties when duties as beaux or queens conflicted wi th commitments to their own social clubs. .' "] couldn' t go to TNT's final pledge nigh t because 1 was involved with Zeta Rho's," Bell said. "I didn't really want to miss ours, but I'm willing to make those kinds ofsacrifices this year because Zeta Rho chose to honor me in such a great way. When circumstances forced them to choose between (he twO clubs, they usually decided to attend the activitywhere they felt they were most needed. W hen club jersey days overlapped, they had to come up with creative compromises. In spite of the spl it loyalties it occasionally caused. the beaux and queens felt that the benefits of being beaux or queens far outweighed the sacrifices involved in balancing the twO clubs. "I really cherish the times I got to sit down and talk and share with the guys." Root said. "Praying and singing with them, really being able to get to know them - those are some of my favorite memories." - Sara H ardesty Heather Robens, Sub-T 16 Queen, talks (0 former and current Sub-T 16 members on the from lawn during the Social Club Open House. Homecoming weekend provided an opponunity for Social Club alumn i to visit with current club members. Jason Warne r, Ju Go Ju beau, visits with Rachel Belcher, junior, in the Student Center between classes. Part of being a beau or queen was getting to know the members of the club. Beaux & Q ueens 225
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==