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The Guy-Line: How to Deal with Date Party Drama

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Real Life Emory Guy
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Jessica Leigh
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Emory chapter.

Dear RLEG,

How should a girl act if a guy asks her to a date party as a friend? What if the girl has a boyfriend and is just doing the boy a favor?

Sincerely,
Distraught About Date Party

Dear Distraught About Date Party,    

That’s definitely an interesting one.  Let’s start with a few quick definitions…
Female definition of a date party: a party, be it on or off campus, where a girl in a sorority is able to invite a date to attend with her. 
Male definition of a date party: a party, be it on or off campus, where a boy in a fraternity is able to invite a date to attend with him that he assumes will either hook up and/or have sex with him later that night, after he gets her exceptionally drunk. 

Now, here lies the predicament, what if you are asked by a boy as a “friend.”  More often than not, this is harmless and a totally safe, fun way to go out and have a great time with a friend.  However, it is extremely understandable to be wary of the situation.  As long as you’re very clear on the “we’re just friends and we’re not going to hook up” front, I don’t foresee a problem with it.

If you have a boyfriend, that definitely makes matters a bit more complicated.  As a guy, I know that if I had a girlfriend I’d be a little unnerved if she was going to date parties with other guys. However, as long as you and your man have a strong, trusting relationship, going with a friend should be no problem (especially if, like I said before, your date knows that you’re completely “taken”).  BUT, do not commit the mortal sin of texting your boyfriend the entire time you’re at the party.  Nothing is more annoying than dancing with a girl who is more focused on her bbm conversation than on dancing.  A text once in a while is okay and more than understandable… but don’t push it.
 
If you know the guy well and you honestly believe he wants to go as friends, don’t fret, have a blast. Date parties are a lot of fun if you go with the right person.  Being a good date is as simple as dancing, mingling and having a great night together.  And hey, if you decide halfway through the night that you’re tired of being a friend-date and you think he would enjoy it, go for it!  But don’t ever feel pressured, I promise you will never be the only friend-date pair. 
 
-R.L.E.G.

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Jessica lives her life at several speeds. She talks too fast, eats too slow and over-analyzes too much.  When she’s not telling long-winded stories, sitting alone at the dinner table, or staring off into space, Jessica loves all things creative. Screenwriter, play director and poet at age 9, songwriter and choreographer at age 16, now, at 23, all she really wants to do is write, help others, and post Instagrams.  As a social media coordinator for multiple fashion brands, and a post-grad writer for Her Campus, she gets to do just that. Jessica is a Midwestern girl from the suburbs of Chicago, but she fell in love with city living during a summer internship in the Big Apple, and now calls NYC home. Jessica loves chocolate milkshakes, dance parties, Chippewa Ranch Camp, Friends re-runs, Chuck Bass and of course, spending time with her fans (read: family and friends).