Since I started dating Nick I have been introduced to the world of fraternities. Nick belongs to the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity (TKE). He loves it and it means so much to him. He tells me he was president the previous year. If you have been to college, you would know how fraternities are hyper masculine and homophobic. TKE is more accepting and much more accomodating when it comes to issues of homosexuality. This does not mean things are easy as Nick also complains of homophobia within the fraternity.

Last week Nick mentioned that I was nominated to be “sweetheart” for the fraternity. I didn’t know anything about sweethearts so I enquired. It turns out a sweetheart is someone the members of the fraternity choose  for “honorary” purposes. It is someone that would “represent” the fraternity and be supportive at their events. It is someone close to the members. The crux of the issue is sweethearts have always been women. They are chosen from the friends of the members, but the a large pool of nominees come from the girlfriends of the members. Now I have been nominated to be a sweetheart as I have been seeing Nick. It is an honor to be nominated. It is also scary.

This is small city/town St Cloud. This is probably the first time a male sweetheart has ever been nominated. I have been thinking about this nomination for the whole week and the interview is Sunday. I do not anticipate winning as I have been with Nick for a month and I hear there are women who have been there for two years. And know the fratenity very well.

This is a big step for a fratenity in the midwest. I am excited, but also extemely nervous.