Title: Signing the Book

Information about Item:

• Verbal and customary folklore
• Informant: N.R.
• Collected 5/26/2020

Informant Data:

N.R. is a member of the Class of 2020 at Dartmouth and is affiliated with Greek Life. He is from Illinois and studies Economics.

Contextual Data:

• Verbal: “Signing the book” is the term given to literally signing a book at a particular fraternity.
• Custom: By signing the book, a potential new fraternity member lets a house know that he is interested in rushing regardless of whether he shakes out or not.

Item: Potential new members of fraternity organizations sign a book to indicate their interest in joining.

Collector’s Comments:

This saying is similar to a shake out, which is a another way for potential new members to indicate their interest in joining a particular fraternity.

Collector’s Name: Sanjit Deepalam

Tags/Keywords:

• Verbal folklore
• Customary folklore
• Ritual
• Fraternity rush