"Folklore of Student Life" holds the accumulated wisdom and wit of several IU undergraduate classes and of a good many IU undergraduates, all focused upon the folklore -- those shared avenues of creativity and expression -- that is part of the college experience at Indiana University. This website is a joint production of Prof John McDowell and his students in a number of undergraduate classes
Speech items from the journal of Lindsey H. Text 1 “While at a Halloween party, I saw a guy dressed in a plaid shirt, jeans, and a red wig. I wasn’t sure what his costume was, until he spoke in Continue Reading …
Sayings from Lindsey B’s journal “Here’s to you, here’s to me, and if we shall ever disagree, then fuck you and here’s to me” “It is better to be loved and lost, than to never have loved at all.” “Sex Continue Reading …
Roommate 1 Interview Source: Kelly Wentzlof, current IU Sophomore; Mar 29, 2021 Text: How often did you cook your meals compared to eating dining hall food? 4-5 times a week ate in room or assembled food there What kinds of Continue Reading …
Text 3 Contributor: Lindsey B Informant: Amanda Meyer Title: Rituals in Sorority Life Semester, Year: Fall, 2005 A.M. Well, when we first get initiated we have a really fun week, “totally sober”, get to know you type deal. So the Continue Reading …
Roommate 2 Interview Source: Laura Gerber, current IU Sophomore; Mar 29, 2021 Text: How often did you cook your meals compared to eating dining hall food? 2-3 times a week prepped food/ate in room What kinds of meals did you Continue Reading …
Text 1 Contributor: Lindsey B Informant: Jacob Phillips Title: Rituals in Fraternity Life Semester, Year: Fall, 2005 J.P. One tradition that we have is lavaliering. When a guy in Alpha Beta (pseudonym) gives his girlfriend his Alpha Beta ring meaning Continue Reading …
Text 2 Contributor: Lindsey B Informant: Jon Arrivo Title: Rituals in Fraternity Life Semester, Year: Fall 2005 J.A. Umm, let me think. Well, a couple years back they started this thing called 40’s at 4. The brothers all get together Continue Reading …
For the ethnography collection, my group decided to divide up so we could research party songs, fraternity songs, or sports songs or chants. I chose to research party songs. I decided to interview five different people about party songs that Continue Reading …
Text 3 Contributor: Megan Colleen Hillier Informant: Kirstin Olson Title: Receiving a Son Semester/Year: Fall 2005 I had a mom’s night and my friend or whatever, the father—his name’s Sparky, or at least that’s what I call him. Uh—he was Continue Reading …
Game 3: Quarters Date Collected: April 12, 2008 Quarters is a drinking game which actually goes back many years. I observed this game for a few rounds and discovered this unofficial sport/game has a very simple, standard set of rules: Continue Reading …