What's the Hype?

From what I remember (and this says something about them, that I remember them), University of Chicago parties either involved cramming of 300-plus drunk people into one living room in a K&G apartment, or three people--one morosely reading a book, one morosely chainsmoking, all drunk--sitting in a living room in a K&G apartment or dorm room. I always assumed there was some other social life experienced by frat-sorority types, but never gave it too much thought, as there are, what, three such people at the University? That may be, but these three people are looking to shake things up.

A group calling itself "UChicago Hype" hopes, among other things, to "eliminate the antiquated idea of the University of Chicago as a school with a lack communal identity through fun and engaging events in the city." Unless they mean going to Fox and Obel with one other person, I'm not sure what they're referring to.... But seems "Chicago Hype [what happened to the "U"?] aspires to be a Registered Student Organization at the University of Chicago that specializes in event production, marketing, and public relations catering to the student body." What, what? "Event production, marketing, and public relations"? Those have to be the fields UChicago students would be least likely to enter, no, forbidden by law from entering. OK, maybe some types of marketing (confession--I don't know what marketing entails, and I have friends who do this), but events? PR? Impossible.

While not yet an RSO, it appears this group has organized some events-- a yacht cruise, a sporting event (ick) followed by a night at a Lincoln Park nightclub (why?), and, strangest of all, a trip to go study at a crummy (even by Hyde Park standards) coffee shop on the North Side. Are the Reg and Classics not good enough for today's youth? And let's not get started on the fact that these events involve private busses taking attendees to and from Hyde Park, which will surely delight those the busses pass by, who are standing outside waiting either for CTA busses, campus busses, or the alleged Red Line Shuttle (did that ever take?).

Compared to many of my classmates, I was a big fan of parties and of going into the city. But I'm afraid that this has crossed a line, and I'd like to let any prospective UChicago undergrads who might be reading this know that the school will not be "hype"-ish unless you're really, really looking for that... or unless it's changed beyond recognition in the last few months.