In a house full of women, the last place most people would expect to find a man is in the kitchen.

But at each of OU’s 11 sorority houses, men can be found in the kitchen washing dishes, mopping floors and taking out the trash as they fulfill the role of a sorority houseboy.

“Houseboys are extremely important to the livelihood of a sorority house. Many times in a place that houses so many people, it’s hard to keep things in any order, but the houseboys are always willing to make sure things are taken care of,” said Elyse Richardson, public relations junior. “They go above and beyond to ensure a great dining space in our home.”

Houseboys have been around since the OU Panhellenic Association was established almost 100 years ago. At the time, men actually lived in the basements of sorority houses and were on call nearly 24 hours a day. Their living quarters were tucked away from the public eye, and bells or buzzers that ran between the kitchen and their rooms signaled when they were needed.

Houseboys are on a much shorter leash now.

“We staff the kitchen during lunch and dinner, and there are a lot of girls that come through each meal,” said John Loesel, industrial engineering junior and Delta Delta Delta houseboy. “There are too many things that need to get done to keep things moving smoothly, and it wouldn’t be smart for the house to hire more full-time staff for activities that only need to be done during meal times.”

Heather Carrio, entrepreneurship and venture management senior, said the work the houseboys do is more than helping at mealtime.

“They go above and beyond and help us move furniture, hang up heavy mirrors and even give us advice on guys,” Carrio said.

During their time at work, the boys also get a sneak peak into everything that goes on behind closed doors that most people don’t see.

“It’s fun to meet the girls and you get to know them all after a while,” said Drew Russell, Chi Omega houseboy and finance junior. “It’s funnier, though, to see the girls all prettied up during the week for classes and then seeing them again come Saturday morning after a late Friday night.”

Having the houseboys around gives the houses some variety, said Allie Cochran, Spanish education senior.

“It’s a great way to make some good guy friends,” Cochran said. “Plus, when you’re living in a house full of girls, it’s nice to see a guy every once in a while.”

Brandon Talbert, human relations senior, works at the Alpha Phi house as the head houseboy. Being a head houseboy gives Talbert a chance to step into a leadership role, and he is responsible for scheduling, inter-staff communication and the overall condition of the kitchen.

But not all of the aspects of his job are as easy as they sound.

“Being a head houseboy, you have to deal with cranky housemoms and temperamental staff,” Talbert said. “I’ve seen a cook walk out right in the middle of a shift because of a dispute in the house, and I had to handle it.”

Along with working meals during the week, houseboys are also required to help out during weekend events, such as Family Weekend, and they are expected to set up and serve the women at formal meals.

While Andy Flynn, Delta Delta Delta houseboy and public relations senior, admits that being a houseboy isn’t the most glamorous job on campus, the position has paid off in more ways than one.

“Where else could you have a job that gives you free food and a paycheck?” Flynn said. “In the end though, the best part is meeting all the fun people involved in the house.”