Was listening to CW and Blum talk about not knowing what '801 day' is, and specifically not knowing the origin of the name. 801 day occurs on the Saturday before classes begin. As far as I am aware, the name originates from the sorority ban on drinking for the entirety of the week leading up to the Saturday during sorority rush. The ban is lifted at 8:01am on that Saturday, hence the name and the extravagant 'extracurricular' activities.
"801 Day" explainer from a recent former student
- Thread starter OscarBerkshire
- Start date
back in my day. we didnt need a name for drinking.... wait a minute... veishea.... FAC....
801 sounds cool
801 sounds cool
We’d usually get to Ames a week early and just party that entire week leading up to class. If the day ended in “y” it was our 801 day
Yep. Only thing I'd add is that it's not just a ban on drinking, sorority recruits also aren't allowed to socialize with frats or fraternity recruits for the week so at 8:01 they start drinking and gathering throughout Greekland.
My favorite part of 801 day was all of the freshmen saying "I LOVE COLLEGE" before they started contemplating life a few weeks later in calculus class.
it was already a thing when I started attending in fall 2016, so sometime before that
graduated in 2013. never heard of 801 day (also i was not greek)
My son, who is a Freshman, just experienced 801 day. He told me he spent most of the night puking.
That wasn't a thing when I was at ISU. Like others mentioned, we just partied whenever we felt like it.
That wasn't a thing when I was at ISU. Like others mentioned, we just partied whenever we felt like it.
I don't get why it matters for the non-Greek community.
I do remember the Saturday before classes that there was always a huge all day kegger at that apartment complex in the middle of the frats and sororities. But as others said, the whole week before class (****, the whole month of August when I was living in an apartment or house) was an extended party.
Said apartment complex amongst the Greeks looks like it's still there.
And good lord, that street view is absolutely hilarious.
I do remember the Saturday before classes that there was always a huge all day kegger at that apartment complex in the middle of the frats and sororities. But as others said, the whole week before class (****, the whole month of August when I was living in an apartment or house) was an extended party.
Said apartment complex amongst the Greeks looks like it's still there.
And good lord, that street view is absolutely hilarious.
I entered Iowa State in 2013 and 801 day was a thing already. It was only Greek life though at the time.
It really started to explode by the time I graduated. I would guess my junior year was when it really started to expand out of Greek life.
It really started to explode by the time I graduated. I would guess my junior year was when it really started to expand out of Greek life.
Graduated in '13 and was in a frat... 8:01 was definitely a thing and a ******* blast. Pure chaos though, as you would imagine if you unleash an army of sorority girls to swarm frat parties at 8am for the first "back to school" parties of the year for them.
I will say though, that rush week was always awesome because the fraternties had no such ban (at least not enforced) on drinking. Those parties as guys were returning from summer break, moving in, non-sorority ladies, etc. were just as fun.
I will say though, that rush week was always awesome because the fraternties had no such ban (at least not enforced) on drinking. Those parties as guys were returning from summer break, moving in, non-sorority ladies, etc. were just as fun.
I've had two daughters go through sorority recruitment at ISU, their days from Saturday through bid day on Thursday are jam packed so they don't have a lot of down time to do much socializing. They're still not allowed to socialize with frats/frat recruits on the Friday after bid day but most use that day to chill and catch up on rest anyways.
Yeah from what I've heard the frat recruitment process is way, way different and much more laid back compared to the sorority recruitment, which is pretty formal and, honestly, kind of brutal.
