Street: What made you get involved with Black Wharton? Jarrid Tingle: It’s a big club in the Wharton community. Basically, they were all in suits and I was like, “Oooh, I wanna be like them when I’m older!” They just looked cool, but as I got involved, I learned the value in being mentored and everything.
Street: What was the hardest part about leading such a professional club? JT: I take professional life pretty seriously, but I also go out and drink and stuff, so it was hard to have to wear suits to every GBM. Gotta look fly all the time. Sometimes we’d color coordinate though, and the girls liked it, so it worked out in our favor. Also deciding what food to order for meetings is always a big dilemma.
Street: Sounds snazzy. Do you have to be in Wharton? JT: You don’t have to be in Wharton. Or black. Or even interested in finance. A lot of people are in it to get good at networking. Although sometimes people are really just flirting when they network. I see people trying to find subtle ways to get each other’s numbers.
Street: What’s it like being in a co–ed fraternity? JT: I thought it would teach me how women think. It didn’t. It’s really just like a group of friends hanging out. It’s only confusing when like maintenance men come in and are like, “Is this a frat or sorority?” People try to assign stereotypes, but we’re really different. For example, I’m not trendy or edgy at all. But I did get an interesting music taste. They love Major Lazer for some reason.
Street: Was it hard being president of such a unique organization? JT: I mean, I had a vision, but it’s hard to bring the house in one direction when we’re so diverse and small. I feel like I can voice my opinions more not as president. Once we were told we had to recruit more preppy kids.
Street: Who’s your alter ego? JT: Flingle. Someone gave it to me freshman year and I started a Fling Facebook name–changing movement. We had a Martin Luther Fling, a Jerry Flinger… an Osama Fling Laden.
Street: What advice would you give to your freshman self? JT: Live in the Quad! I missed out on the whole mattresses in the hallway/I love college pranks craziness.
Street: What will you miss most about Penn? JT: I’ll miss having everyone in one place, because I’m lazy, so it’s nice we’re all here in one place. And I suck at answering my phone.
Street: What’s your guilty pleasure? JT: Teaching myself dances off of YouTube. You know, Stanky Legg and stuff? I led a Stanky Legg congregation with dozens of participants at the art museum party during NSO my freshman year. I was also kind of a Dougie pioneer, I showed all my friends, people still ask me to teach them how to Dougie.
Street: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? JT: An astronaut or scientist, mostly because of Bill Nye. I had an NFL player phase, but, you know, you can get hurt.
Street: Describe yourself in five words or less. JT: Animated, stubborn, frank, restless… and spiffy.
Street: What’s your greatest Penn memory? JT: I was at a party freshman year but they played the “All That” theme song, and everyone flipped. It was amazing. So now when I DJ, I try to work it in every four parties or so.
Street: There are two types of people at Penn… JT: People who grew up watching Legends of the Hidden Temple and people that didn't have a real childhood.
