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The Shacker Etiquette Handbook

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Rachel Miller
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Elizabeth Wagmeister
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCSB chapter.

It has been said that chivalry is dead, but I think that it’s about time that Isla Vista revived this medieval movement. Guys, I’m not talking about opening the car door or pulling out the chair at the restaurant for your date; I’m talking about chivalrous shacking.

For those of you who do not know what is meant by the term “shacking,” a “shacker” is a person (usually female) who sleeps over after a one night stand and walks home in the morning. This is a frequent term on college campuses in dorms and in frats. We have all been there at one point or another—and if you have not yet, you will. You’re with a cute guy (or at least your beer goggles tell you that he is attractive), you’ve had a couple drinks, and want to go home with him. Things get fun back at his place and before you know it you’re waking up in the remnant’s of last night’s outfit to the sound of your mystery man snoring. Here is when you must get yourself together and commence your dreaded walk of shame.

So, boys, how can you make our shacking experience less humiliating? Follow the Shacker Etiquette Handbook I have compiled and have yourself a pleasurable shacking experience:

  • Provide us with a ride home.
  • If you sincerely do not have a way to get us home, lend us some clothing (i.e. sweatshirt, shorts, sweatpants, etc.) so we do not have to do our walk of shame in our clothes from the night before
  • Offer us water or snack post-hook up…we deserve it.
  • Provide/use a condom…we go to UCSB, keep it safe.
  • Post-hook-up cuddling.
  • If you have an early morning class, let us know and avoid the awkward “shuffle out.”
  • Offer us some sort of bag to put our clothes/heels in so we don’t look so painfully obvious.
  • Let us borrow face wash…then don’t judge us when we use it to take off our make-up. Also, toothbrush and toothpaste–necessary.
  • Not everyone likes to sleep in the nude, or in their skimpy dresses, so offer us something to sleep in.
  • If it is the third or more time that we have shacked it at your place, a goodbye kiss is required. Don’t be an a**.
  • LOCK YOUR DOOR! It’s not fun being walked in on.
  • Never okay to hook up with your roommate in the room, even if you claim that he is a “heavy sleeper.”

So there you have it. Girls, choose your men wisely. And boys, treat your shackers with all of the respect they deserve (see above). Happy shacking!

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Rachel is a senior at UC Santa Barbara and studies Communication and Global Peace and Security. Rachel is from a small, beautiful town in southern California called Palos Verdes. However, Palos Verdes is just one of the many places Rachel has lived. Rachel spent her childhood moving and traveling all over the world, living in places such as Indianapolis, Indiana; Santiago, Chile; Vienna, Austria; and Orlando, Florida. Rachel has found her heart and her home in California, choosing to spend her college years in sunny Santa Barbara. However, Rachel continued her wanderlust when she studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain in Fall 2012. At UCSB, Rachel is an immensely dedicated and involved member of her sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma, where she held the positions of Panhellenic Delegate, Inter-Greek Counselor, Rho Gam, and a member of the Nominating Slate. Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is a passion of Rachel's, as she is their Social Media Coordinator as well as an active and proud member. As a member of the Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honors Society, Rachel is able to implement her prowess and affinity for communication and communication-related issues. When Rachel is not writing, participating in Kappa events, or volunteering, you can find her in the gym, on the soccer field, watching Modern Family, or cooking. Rachel's love for sports, food, and writing often times go hand-in-hand, as one may see in her weekly blogs. For the past two summers, Rachel has been freelance writing for the Los Angeles Times, and hopes to continue her career pursuit of journalism after she graduates. Rachel is elated to be a part of Her Campus's fabulous team and loves every moment of it!
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Elizabeth ('12) is studying Communication and Professional Multimedia Writing at UC Santa Barbara. Born and raised in Calabasas, California, she is a valley girl at heart, but loves spending her time in big cities or at the beach. Elizabeth is currently interning at Santa Barbara Magazine, and is also a writer and reporter for the food, arts, and entertainment sections of her university's newspaper. After a semester studying abroad in Europe, she spent the past summer in New York City as an editorial intern at TV Guide Magazine through the highly competitive ASME Summer Internship Program. Aside from previous internships including a local radio station, Elizabeth worked in Los Angeles at FOX 11 KTTV as a production intern for the top-rated morning show, Good Day L.A and FOX 11 News, and was also recently published in Seventeen magazine. An entertainment fanatic, Elizabeth has interviewed E!'s Giuliana Rancic, the cast of Glee, Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and more. She is also a dedicated member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and served her chapter as Vice President and executive board member. When she's not editing Her Campus articles, you can expect to find her at the gym, shopping, eating chocolate, or watching any show on Bravo. Elizabeth is preparing for a career in print or broadcast journalism, and loves working for Her Campus!