For some it's spring break. For others, it's when the trees or daffodils bloom. For me, it's Derby Days.
That's when I know spring has arrived and the school year is heading into that period where productivity becomes nearly nonexistent and people start either 1. reminiscing over the past year or 2. freaking out that they have no clue what their summer (or, for seniors, life) plans are. And then there is option No. 3: Abandon all sleep and schoolwork and go on a campuswide scavenger hunt.
The annual weeklong event hosted by Sigma Chi fraternity is intended to raise money for their philanthropy, the Children's Miracle Network. Additionally, it raises sorority girls out of bed at odd hours of the night and morning as they don all-black, Greek-letterless clothing, grab that emergency flashlight mom packed, and head out in the pitch black of night or early morning light to search for a hat or the clues that will lead to it.
There is really nothing quite like it. List servs become clogged with e-mails (yay for Gmail) detailing possible places to search, (over)analyzing the ins and outs of clues, forming search-and-rescue teams. And somehow the excitement is strewn through all 10 Panhellenic Council chapters. After months of benefits and poorly attended events designated to raise money for causes equally worthy as the Children's Miracle Network, hundreds - if not thousands - of women pour their heart and soul into competing in field events, attending as many point-awarding events as possible and, of course, searching for that precious black derby all in the name of fraternity - or, I mean, philanthropy.
While I am somewhat hopeful for entertainment's sake that the discovery of this year's black derby will be as exciting as last year's climatic ending (more biting?), I wonder what everyone not caught in the Bubble must think when they hear women dress up in terrifically hilarious costumes and wake up at 5 a.m. in efforts to gain as many points as possible just so their chapter can be announced as the victor at Saturday night's party. Do other schools compete as intensely? Or is that just one of those quirky things that Vanderbilt has that no one else does?
Whatever it is, I'm oddly obsessed with it. As much as I love to make fun of it, well, who am I kidding? I'm a Greek woman. Let's go derby hunting!
