A Weekend for BOX Ages

The times that one feels truly in connection with BOX history are few and far between, but when those moments come, they are humbling. Most (maybe all with the absence of Brian?) current members have never met the founders of our proud establishment (hell, I barely knew the generation that preceded me), and there is relatively little personal connection remaining between the class of 2009 and those who first erected the infamous Beta Omega Chi letters on State Street. Regardless of the fact that many of us have never met eachother, some things do connect everyone that ever has lived in BOX or has been an associate of the place. Certain passed down rituals, excessive Thanksgiving party's, end of 1st semester Christmas celebrations, the bond of living in a shithole, and of course, tailgates. These are just a few of the phenomenons that connect all BOX generations. But I think what bonds all of us most is two things: drinking and friendship. I don't think you'd meet any two BOX members, whether they be from 2001 or from 2009, that couldn't sit down at a bar, have a beer, and instantly relate to one another. I know I, for one, love when an old BOX member comes back to the house, whether I know them or not, to get silly drunk (and most likely cause destruction to the place for old time's sake).

Drinking and frienship. Well, in my quest to do my best to uphold whatever tradition BOX has at the University of Michigan, I can lay down at night confident that we have upheld the drinking aspect of BOX lore. I don't doubt that several of us are some of the hardest drinkers on the entire campus. BOX's reputation at U of M: many hate us, girls find our house despicable, many admire us, many love us, and a select few join us as participants of this great house; but no one will deny that we are some of the finest drinkers the university has to offer. And I take the utmost pride in upholding this tradition.

Which brings me to my subject. The Second Annual Old Crow Challenge. While it is a new tradition in BOX, I rever it like it is one of the oldest. Why? Because it combines the two components that glue BOX generations together: drinking heavily and friendship. There's no two ways about it. . . what the Old Crow participants will endure this weekend could be matched by realtively few respectable human beings: a true bender that would put most people to shame. And while this is a tradition of the newest BOX generation (circa 2008), I would like to think that most historical BOX members would not only participate and succeed in, but rever as a legendary BOX tradition. At any rate, my endeavors this weekend to consume as much Old Crow Bourbon as possible will be in an attempt to solidify what I think BOX stands for: frienship and heavy alcohol consumption. It may not be a storied tradition, but in my book it's a quest that stands for everything BOX is. No matter our reputation, no one will doubt us as one of the heaviest drinking houses around.

As for the Old Crow Challenge, this blog will certainly be utilized to convey the events of the challenge as the four day bender commences. I shall drink for what BOX stands for this weekend. If you are in the area, you should clear your schedule to drink bourbon at BOX, and if you are far away being a real person, you should take a shot of bourbon in memorium.

This weekend, BOX will be exactly what the Beta Omega Chi letters stand for.