The traditions of Theta Sigma Tau
Tau Trivia (part of Live-In Weekend)

Another tradition that takes place during Live-In Weekend is Tau Trivia. This is held Saturday night, after Pledge Dinner has been digested (or otherwise disposed of... we're looking at you, pledges of spring 99... with your burnt pizza and raw brownies!). Tau Trivia is one of the most popular events of Live-in Weekend, drawing many alumni "home" to attend.

During Tau Trivia, each pledge in turn sits in a chair atop the round coffee table, with their Big on the table with them (and any other members of their family/lineage who wish to participate). The Big and other family members all must have drinks; the pledge can have one if they want to but it is not required (this is to ensure that pledges are not being hazed).

The active members and alumni in attendance then call out trivia questions about people, places, activities, and anything else that relates to the the House, its members, or its history. If the pledge gets an answer wrong, their Big (and other family members sitting with them) has to drink (the pledge can drink, too, but only if they wish to). If the pledge gets an answer correct, everyone in the room EXCEPT the pledge (and their Big and family members) has to drink.

Many of the questions involve tales of people whom the pledges have never met, some of whom they have not even heard of. Other questions relate to more general house historic questions. As one might guess, some of these questions can border on the impossible for a pledge to answer.

It's the responsibility of the Big to make sure their Little has learned at least some small amount of Tau Trivia, although if a Big wants to get trashed, they often don't teach their Little too much! And, if the pledge is doing too well, the actives and alumni will begin asking more obscure questions to compensate.

Correct answers are only announced (if not answered correctly previously by a pledge) at the end of the evening. This permits questions to be recycled if an earlier pledge couldn't answer it.

To assist the actives in keeping older, more obscure Tau Trivia from being forgotten, the Alumni Association gave a gift, Tau-Opoly, to the House 2003.

- PWL