As May approaches, young preps across the country are deciding where to attend college. Many would assume that Philly-bound preps will be studying at the University of Pennsylvania, with its classic Ivy League look and colonial roots. However, a small but lively prep subculture exists right here at Drexel University.
Largely congregated within LeBow college, these students dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to their studies. One current sophomore, Lou Zerr, was drawn to his major after finding passion for a hobby. He said, “I was super into sports betting, but I only ever lost money. I’m hoping studying Sports Business can help me actually profit.” Zerr shared with the Rectangle that he is now several thousand dollars in debt.
Affording the expensive preppy aesthetic on a student budget can be difficult. One senior accounting major Hugh DuChe shared a moment that he faced a financial dilemma: “I really wanted another Patagonia vest — I already had black and grey, but I needed a navy… That weekend, though, my frat had a formal and I blew my credit card balance on Natty Light. I had no idea what I was going to do.” Luckily, DuChe was able to find a support system to get him through this tough moment. “I called my dad and told him I needed it for a career fair. He wound up just pulling the money out of my trust. After all, it was an investment in my future!”
Like DuChe, many Drexel preps consider the fashion to be a critical part of their group identity. One first year business analytics student, Anne Noying, has struggled to balance her commitment to aesthetics with the demands of her schoolwork. “My Longchamp bag doesn’t fit my laptop. I had to take all my lecture notes by hand this quarter.” Noying has a GPA of 2.6.
However, Drexel can be a haven for young preps, mostly because of one thing — squash. All three of the above students compete for Drexel’s squash teams. Zerr said, “I came here to play squash. I am devastated that John Fry left. I just don’t know what we’ll do without him.”