[1-30-12] She's who I want to do me.

[Adrishiana]

Also, Leah does have a nice moment via telling Sara that she's going to be okay - something I know from experience that loads of college freshmen desperately need to hear.

[CEOIII]

There is NOTHING wrong with being a defensive back. Look at Greg Lloyd. Look at James Harrison.

X3 You're kiddin' right? I was shortenin' Douchebag.

I swear on my life I threw a in that post. Huh.

[Alice Macher]

As far as I can tell, Leah is just very dedicated to upholding her sisterhood's standards.

Then why did she feel the need to lie to Sara about it?

I'm with those who say there's more going on here than "sorry, gotta follow the rules."

Also, look how fast she went after Sara, whom she knows came in with Lisa and is her friend.

Leah isn't the worst person ever OMG, no, but she is something of a bully and a sleazy manipulator. Possibly with some biphobia thrown in.

[retrophrenologist]

I'd be more sympathetic to Leah if she had done that- it would've been more honest.

More sympathetic to someone who (hypothetically) goes to insane amounts of effort and expense to publicly humiliate someone for a minor faux pas than someone who is probably passive aggressive because that's how many, many people (women especially, who tend to be socialized to be both nice and indirect) learn how to solve problems?

I'd assumed that you were using hyperbole to make your point. I meant that Leah's actions- passive-aggressively ushering Lisa out the door, and then implying to Sara that leaving was Lisa's choice- gave the impression (to me, at least) that she was being manipulative and deceitful.

[Adrishiana]

Alas, I cannot be completely certain that Hillary wouldn't do just that. D:

[Zanosuke Kurosaki]

Looking at this turn of events, I can't help but think. Wasn't it just this morning/the other morning (comic-time) that Lisa said something about Sara is probably going to have a harder time than she would following an agreement about "private time" type activities? I also can't help but shake my head in chagrin at how fast Sara is switching who she's crushing on and wanting to hop into bed with. Reminds me far too much of me during my pre-college years - if she keeps this path up, she's got a good chance of ending up just as miserable for a while, too. Ay-yi-yi, girl. x.x

[SomeCanadianWeirdo]

I didn't get the impression in the previous strips that it was simply a case of "Oh, you don't fit our membership requirements." To me Leah seemed resentful of the attention Lisa seemed to be starting to get. If it was simply a case of her not wanting Lisa around because she isn't a lesbian her behaviour would merely seem tactless, but it struck me as being more than that.

[Dezziemonster]

As far as I can tell, Leah is just very dedicated to upholding her sisterhood's standards.

Then why did she feel the need to lie to Sara about it?

I'm with those who say there's more going on here than "sorry, gotta follow the rules."

Also, look how fast she went after Sara, whom she knows came in with Lisa and is her friend.

Leah isn't the worst person ever OMG, no, but she is something of a bully and a sleazy manipulator. Possibly with some biphobia thrown in.

Hence the reason I mentioned she didn't exactly go the best route when she pulled that one. I'm not going to say she isn't manipulative and bound to brew trouble, but my point is I don't think she's going to be some evil villain. I'm more willing to write it off as poor judgment than pure malevolence.

As for her singling Sara out, it's a rush party. When sorority girls identify someone they'd like in their sisterhood, they swarm like vultures on a bloated carcass. I'm not speaking for EVERY sorority out there, but when I went through recruitment workshops, we were taught to be pushy, attentive saleswomen.

[Valerie]

Why is everyone still assuming that Leah is nothing but pure blackest evil, based on one action? The rest of her actions look just fine. Do you all have loathing for the person who has to tell someone that she's not qualified for the listed position? Everyone is acting like she drowned a puppy.

It's the way she did it, paired with the way she misled Sara about it, grouped with the way she's totally coming onto Sara afterward. It's very sleazy and manipulative.

Pretend Leah's a man for a moment. Male-Leah saw two attractive women come into a party. Male-Leah got one of the women to leave so that the other woman is still at the party, then intentionally misled people about the first woman's leaving. Then, Male-Leah proceeds to subtly flirt with the remaining woman. Leaves a seriously icky taste in your mouth, doesn't it? Get the one you're interested in alone and then zone in on her. Eww.

I know that I make these "pretend ____ is a man/woman" comparisons kind of often, and I'm sorry if they offend anyone, but sometimes it's the easiest way for me to describe my points.

[Zanosuke Kurosaki]

@Dezzie: Honestly, I don't think Leah is some horrible monster or anything, either. But as Alice and others are noting - there is just something in what we've seen so far, that is hard to point to (besides the bum-rush of course) and say "This is why I'm not sure about her, and don't want to trust her." Personally, I suspect ulterior motives beyond "getting a new member." I'll probably be wrong though, just so T can have the last laugh. XD

[Mung]

Leah needed to enforce sorority rules, BUT also needed to keep the hot prospect on the line. She sees Sara as a good add to the sorority. Lisa didn't fit and needed to be moved along, but Sara is a great fit and needs to be encouraged. Leah is all about the organization, not Lisa or Sara. Sara is, of course, reading too much into Leah's attention. That may or may not be part of Leah's recruitment technique. I honestly don't think Leah is doing anything more than schmoozing in her mind. It's Sara attaching import to Leah's actions.
Basically, Sara and Lisa were confronted by "an organization" which found one of them desirable and the other not. Can their friendship endure?

[Adrishiana]

I didn't get the impression in the previous strips that it was simply a case of "Oh, you don't fit our membership requirements." To me Leah seemed resentful of the attention Lisa seemed to be starting to get. If it was simply a case of her not wanting Lisa around because she isn't a lesbian her behaviour would merely seem tactless, but it struck me as being more than that.

I don't know that it was a matter of being resentful of Lisa talking to Monica, since she only had a problem once Sara mentioned Lisa's boyfriend.

[Falaris]

About the second to last picture and where's Lisa?

I'm guessing Sara's all quiet, keep the lights off, in order to not wake Lisa, whom she assumes is asleep. Wether she actually is in her bed or not is impossible to tell, because that has to be one of the highest upper bunks I've seen. Ever.

[Freemage]

Okay, this whole, "Leah was just moving Lisa out because of the rules" thing? It's bunk.

1: Folks making this claim are completely ignoring the art, and the context. Both make it amply clear that Leah is anti-bisexual and a manipulator. The former may have a reason for being, mind you, but it's still the obvious motivation for her actions.
2: They're ignoring the lie. And yes, it was a flat-out lie. No, Lisa did not just leave because she was bored by political discussion; she left because she was shown the door.
3: Again, this is the first rush party of the year, and an open-door event. There's AMPLE time for the sorority to decide to be choosy--not the least, the invite-only events that inevitably follow.
4: BTW, it's worth noting that the organization usually discusses prospective members as a group--they don't just unilaterally give someone the bum's rush. There'd usually be a meeting (how formal depends on the group) the next day or two after the party was over. THAT is when the line should be drawn, and when a member of the org who finds out some 'disqualifying' info would bring it up. "Lisa, that crazy-haired girl? Total fauxmosexual--she's got a boyfriend." For one thing, that makes sure that the whole group knows NOT to re-invite her.

[mindstalk]

Woot, drink spilled on the sofa!