Fraternities

[Whisper]

It can be very, very different depending on the fraternity you're talking about. Joining my fraternity was one of the best decisions I've yet made in my life. I'm quite close with all of the members at UGA (to the point of considering them family), as well as with various other brothers from across the country. I've gone to dozens of regional/national events, and have had a great time at each one.

I guess you could say that I belong to an "atypical" fraternity, as it's not quite as mainstream as those who've been around for 100+ years. However, in the end, it's all just about the people involved. Judging someone based solely on organization affiliation is ignorance, regardless of what that organization might be.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
the one thing i never quite understood is the whole hazing process. i'm not talking silly harmless hazing, but the serious drink until you puke/vomit/passout type hazing.

while there are plenty of cool people in frats, i've come across quite a few idiots who's every sentence seems to start, "i was so wasted man....".

I don't understand hazing, either. I have friends from back home that are in fraternities that haze, and they tell me there are benefits, that it promotes unity in the pledge class, etc, I think its all BS. I know we don't haze, seeing as I'm the Pledge Educator I should know, I suspect some of the others on campus do, but they certainly wouldn't tell us about it, because that could land them in trouble. At any rate, hazing is stupid, pledging should be used to teach them what its like to be a brother & how to be a productive member, not to make them prove they want/deserve it.

Keep in mind that frat hazing is derived from military team-build exercises. When hazing started, it was true team-building exercises started by men who had been in the military, but the tradition has since been carried on by people who know nothing about that style of discipline. It's all a downward spiral, each generation is told that it's a team-building exercise, and each implements it slightly differently when it's their turn because they don't really know how to build a team, so humiliating someone is the easiest thing they know. It will continue to happen as long as people think these are still reasonable ways to team-build.

 

[getbush]

W., his dad H.W., and H.W.'s dad were all in the skulls. That's why I mentioned it. But that's another topic

 

The true Greek system lost its purpose in the 60s and 70s. Now its nothing but a bunch of retards getting drunk at a big sausage fest together. Maybe if they served a purpose I would support them. (BTW, I'm talking about the social frats, the service ones still do a bang up job)

 

[azazyel]

Back when I was in a Frat I spent some of my time at the dorms because I had friends who didn't rush. Most of the time when hanging out people would rag on the frats until I mentioned that I was in one. They would then usually say, "not you, your different". But the fact is I really wasn't. At least at WSU most of the people were really laid back and friendly. They also changed their tune when I had them over to chill with us. Not even a party just a bunch of guys playing poker, throwing darts, playing pool and drinking some beers. And for the big parties everyone had a great time. As for hazing, it wasn't really that bad. You had a job to do every day but it's worth it, 1 year hell 3 year motel and all. By my second year I had my own room and it was great but in all honesty the first year was the best. Everything was new and going to huge parties every weekend was crazy. They also really cared about your grades. 2 days a week we would have to spend 2 hours in study hall at the campus library where you were supposed to study and some of us actually did. You also get access to test files and older member would have either taken that course or if your lucky might even be in that major.

But if I had started out at UW instead of WSU I probably wouldn't have rushed. If your university is in the middle of the city I don't really see the point. Now, if it's in the middle of BFE then I would encourage you to join up. Make sure you just don't jump on the first offer you get. Talk to the members and see if they match your personality.

 

[ZowieHowie]

Originally posted by: getbush
The stereotypes are real and frat guys themselves promote it. If you're in college to have fun and ruin your liver and STD-free status, a frat just may be for you. If you want to go on to grad school or generally care about grades, they might not be.

You hit the nail right on the head

 

[imported_vr6]

I am in a fraternity, and the sterotypes are not true. I guess it could apply to some, but definitly not all.
Be more specific about what you want to know.

 

[gar3555]

I was in a frat in back in college, and our house was def more like animal house...it wasn't the nicest...but we polished that turd so it looked respectable. We also had about 40% Engineering Students in my frat...not your typical popped call douche bags...although last time I was back at my frat we picked a fight with one of those type of frats for that reason alone... we are less of a frat, and more of a drinking club.

 

[TheSlamma]

Originally posted by: hevnsnt
um how about an option

"People who cannot think for themselves have to pay for friends"

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: HombrePequeno
I was reading through the Sigma Phi Omega girls thread a bit ago and I started to wonder what the general concenus is on fraternities. I hear quite a bit of criticism about the Greek system so I was kind of wondering if it was widespread or just a few people that believe the stereotypes portrayed in movies.

So voice your opinions on fraternities and/or share stories.

I was in a fraternity. Bad idea. You're in college to learn. If you're there primarily to party, you should just go home. Most fraternities where I went to college where all about the booze and distracting one from their studies.

Not to say I didn't have a great time. Its just looking back, it seems like my time could have been better spent.

 

[gar3555]

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: HombrePequeno
I was reading through the Sigma Phi Omega girls thread a bit ago and I started to wonder what the general concenus is on fraternities. I hear quite a bit of criticism about the Greek system so I was kind of wondering if it was widespread or just a few people that believe the stereotypes portrayed in movies.

So voice your opinions on fraternities and/or share stories.

I was in a fraternity. Bad idea. You're in college to learn. If you're there primarily to party, you should just go home. Most fraternities where I went to college where all about the booze and distracting one from their studies.

Not to say I didn't have a great time. Its just looking back, it seems like my time could have been better spent.

totally wrong...the fraternity GPA at my school was higher than the dorm/all U GPA. And if you'll look at my post above...40% Engineering Students....hmmm....oh, and IMO, Engineers drink more than most

its all about your personal time management...blame yourself

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
the one thing i never quite understood is the whole hazing process. i'm not talking silly harmless hazing, but the serious drink until you puke/vomit/passout type hazing.

while there are plenty of cool people in frats, i've come across quite a few idiots who's every sentence seems to start, "i was so wasted man....".

I don't understand hazing, either. I have friends from back home that are in fraternities that haze, and they tell me there are benefits, that it promotes unity in the pledge class, etc, I think its all BS. I know we don't haze, seeing as I'm the Pledge Educator I should know, I suspect some of the others on campus do, but they certainly wouldn't tell us about it, because that could land them in trouble. At any rate, hazing is stupid, pledging should be used to teach them what its like to be a brother & how to be a productive member, not to make them prove they want/deserve it.

Keep in mind that frat hazing is derived from military team-build exercises. When hazing started, it was true team-building exercises started by men who had been in the military, but the tradition has since been carried on by people who know nothing about that style of discipline. It's all a downward spiral, each generation is told that it's a team-building exercise, and each implements it slightly differently when it's their turn because they don't really know how to build a team, so humiliating someone is the easiest thing they know. It will continue to happen as long as people think these are still reasonable ways to team-build.

Bingo. This year, my fraternity ditched all the hazing (advertised No-Hazing party) and we're actually doing team building exercises. For example, one of the events they have to do is a ropes course (great team building exercise).

 

[ryan256]

Well.... I haven't read this entire thread and don't plan on taking the time to do so. But as an alumni of Pi Kappa Phi I feel I can weigh in on this topic.
First and foremost joining a fraternity is NOT buying your friends!! A fraternity is a social organization and just like any social organization it has expenses. Insurance, house payments, events, water, electricity, ect.. ect.. Naturally the money to pay these expenses comes from its members.
Did we party alot? Well yeah! One of the draws of a fraternity is the social aspects. But here again is where another myth is proliferated. Fraternities != STDs, liver damage, bad grades. I avoided the pass arounds, rarely drank too much, and graduated with a 3.2 in Computer Science (I could've probably had higher but that was good enough).
Now. All this being said I know of other members of my same fraternity that would hit anything with boobs, competed for the title of "house alcoholic", and barely made a C in basket weaving. What does this mean? That ultimately it depends on the chapter and the guys in it. There are some chapters of my own fraternity I was glad to see get booted from their campus as they were giving us all a bad name.

 

[VulnoX]

ANYONE that says fraternities as a whole are bad are either ignorant or had a bad experience with one that was so bad that they have to make up things to make themselves feel better.

I am in a fraternity, and can tell you that, while some of the stereotypes may be true about some groups, to say they are about all shows how little you know.

I am in Theta Tau, which is an Engineering based fraternity. We have Car guys, computer guys, and even drinking guys. Hazing is a thing of the past for the most part. We have activities that the pledges have to do, but none of them are ever really bad. Our system works off of member signatures. In order to "get in" (beyond having to be accepted by the group of course) you have to get the signature of all the active members. To do this, most members have you do tasks for them. From the very small like knowing the info of that persons "family tree" in the fraternity, to the larger like my pledge class had to do. We had to drive out to different mile markers and get pictures of us with certain ones. Nothing bad about it really, we get reimburshed financially for most of our activities, and it DOES bring you close to your pledge brothers.

I would do anything for them, and have done quite a lot in the recent past. They have done a lot for me as well. I also get tons of study materials, and people I can go to at any time for help, both in school and in life. Right now I have 2 binders FULL of stuff for Physics 2 which I got from the Engineering Sorority on campus that we are good friends with.

Thats just one minor example. Outside of that, I got my JOB through the fraternity. Not working through college at McDonalds, but working for Federal Mogul at their world headquarters part time. I make twice as much as I did working at Best Buy before this, and I get to make my own hours. Come and go as I wish, work in my own cubicle, own computer, and have lunch with a few of my brothers and other people we know there. Something I would not have had without the fraternity because they were only hiring based on employee recomendations.

Beyond that, I met my current girlfriend of almost a year through the fraternity. She is in one of the on-campus sorority's, and was around our group quite a bit. I most likely would have never met her if not for the fraternity because she had classes on the other side of campus in a building I only spent 5% of my entire year in.

The benifits are limitless. The cost is small. We are $25 a month for dues, just $10 more than a WoW account, with real life rewards. The dues go towards paying for our rush events, and for our fraternity insurance (in case something happens at a party or other event we host).

Pretty minimal for all that I have recieved in return eh?

I have my own friends of course, actually one of them I got to join last year. It isnt about getting friends for a fee or whatever stupid stuff other people say. Its about wanting to do more, get good business connections, and be prepared for when you leave college. We have over 200 alumni in the workforce at Ford, Dell, Compaq, GMC, Toyota, Federal Mogul, GE, Chrysler, Honda, and many many more. I can have three jobs waiting for me when I graduate because of them, while other people who have no real connections get to start at the bottom.



The only negative is that you are dealing with a lot of people, each with their own personality's, and its not always easy to constantly get along with a ton of people, but a good fraternity does it, and we to this day have never had an actual physical fight between our members, but have had our share of arguments. But thats small and something you see in any friendship or family.

This is my third year as a member, and I would hate to think of how much less I would have if it wasnt for these guys. What you can do for yourself can only take you so far before you hit bumps or problems, and thats when its good to have a group of people who will help you get around it.


Side note:
I saw a post from a TKE, we have TKE's on our campus as well (University of Michigan - Dearborn), cool to see you guys here.

 

[RedPickle]

I'm in a fraternity and I've heard it all. When I pledged, my GPA shot up to the highest I've ever had since I've been in college a 3.92. We've done vasts amounts of community service, helping with the MDA telethon, the Special Olympics, and most recently raising money for Hurricane Katrina victims. We have a very social group, we throw parties once or twice a month, have mixers with sororities, and have a lot of brotherhood events. I didn't "pay" for my friends. I pay for the free alcohol, the fun activities, and anything else fun. Hevnsnt probably couldn't get a bid into anything so he just comes to ATOT and bitches.

 

[Xylitol]

After watching old school...

 

[Deeko]

Don't say that RedPickle. I HATE that attitude. 'If you aren't greek and you don't like greek, you must not have been good enough for greek'. Thats ridiculous, its just not for everyone.

 

[spidey07]

I think fraternities are one the best thing any college student can do.

There are simply way too many positive aspects and very few negatives.

 

[NakaNaka]

It's not that all frat guys suck, as two of my good friends are in frats. It's the hazing. Some of the stuff they have to do is disgusting. Some of it is almost criminal. Telling guys "You can't leave until all this alcohol is gone" is just asking for someone to go to the hospital. Even if I wanted to join a frat (which I don't want to) I would never because of the hazing. It's not funny. It's not cool.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

they suck. But if you want to be a khaki and plaid wearing drone, be my guest

 

[HombrePequeno]

Originally posted by: azazyel
Back when I was in a Frat I spent some of my time at the dorms because I had friends who didn't rush. Most of the time when hanging out people would rag on the frats until I mentioned that I was in one. They would then usually say, "not you, your different". But the fact is I really wasn't. At least at WSU most of the people were really laid back and friendly. They also changed their tune when I had them over to chill with us. Not even a party just a bunch of guys playing poker, throwing darts, playing pool and drinking some beers. And for the big parties everyone had a great time. As for hazing, it wasn't really that bad. You had a job to do every day but it's worth it, 1 year hell 3 year motel and all. By my second year I had my own room and it was great but in all honesty the first year was the best. Everything was new and going to huge parties every weekend was crazy. They also really cared about your grades. 2 days a week we would have to spend 2 hours in study hall at the campus library where you were supposed to study and some of us actually did. You also get access to test files and older member would have either taken that course or if your lucky might even be in that major.

But if I had started out at UW instead of WSU I probably wouldn't have rushed. If your university is in the middle of the city I don't really see the point. Now, if it's in the middle of BFE then I would encourage you to join up. Make sure you just don't jump on the first offer you get. Talk to the members and see if they match your personality.

What fraternity were you in at WSU? From what I hear, hazing is pretty bad there. For instance the Kappa Sig pledges have to shovel snow without shirts on while the upper classmen shoot them with paintballs. That's what an Alpha Phi from WSU was telling me anyhow. And the Pike chapter there is filled with cokeheads.

That's not indicative of all frats there, I guess. But since WSU more of a party school, I would imagine the frats focus more on partying and hazing than they do at UW.

And to those that say you shouldn't party in college: that's sad that you didn't have any fun in college. Sure, you are there to learn but there is a lot more to life than studying your butt off. Many of my closer friends in my frat are engineering majors and they study their arses off but they also know how to have fun in their free time.

 

[VulnoX]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
they suck. But if you want to be a khaki and plaid wearing drone, be my guest

I really have to ask where people get this stuff from. In my entire campus, of social and professional fraternities, I dont see ANYONE wearing khaki's and plaid. Anywhere. Ever.



At all.

This is the ignorance I was talking about. People just want to find a reason to hate something without knowing any better. Right now im wearing blue jeans and a black t-shirt, that DOES have my fraternities name on it, but thats just because its our rush week (well, two weeks), and advertising is good.

Other than that, I just wear what I want, as does everyone else.

Originally posted by: DeekoDon't say that RedPickle. I HATE that attitude. 'If you aren't greek and you don't like greek, you must not have been good enough for greek'. Thats ridiculous, its just not for everyone.

This is true, it isnt for everyone. But there are very few reasons why it cant be, as long as your campus as a good range of fraternities, such as social, professional, honor, etc.

Everyone can find a group they like if they actually took the time to look into it instead of closing their eyes and believing whatever someone who knows even less than them tells them about fraternities.

Originally posted by: NakaNaka
Telling guys "You can't leave until all this alcohol is gone" is just asking for someone to go to the hospital. Even if I wanted to join a frat (which I don't want to) I would never because of the hazing. It's not funny. It's not cool.

No, that isnt cool, but either is believing that every group does hazing. You cant let one bad group hurt your feelings for the 200 good ones.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: VulnoX
ANYONE that says fraternities as a whole are bad are either ignorant or had a bad experience with one that was so bad that they have to make up things to make themselves feel better.

I am in a fraternity, and can tell you that, while some of the stereotypes may be true about some groups, to say they are about all shows how little you know.

I am in Theta Tau, which is an Engineering based fraternity. We have Car guys, computer guys, and even drinking guys. Hazing is a thing of the past for the most part. We have activities that the pledges have to do, but none of them are ever really bad. Our system works off of member signatures. In order to "get in" (beyond having to be accepted by the group of course) you have to get the signature of all the active members. To do this, most members have you do tasks for them. From the very small like knowing the info of that persons "family tree" in the fraternity, to the larger like my pledge class had to do. We had to drive out to different mile markers and get pictures of us with certain ones. Nothing bad about it really, we get reimburshed financially for most of our activities, and it DOES bring you close to your pledge brothers.

I would do anything for them, and have done quite a lot in the recent past. They have done a lot for me as well. I also get tons of study materials, and people I can go to at any time for help, both in school and in life. Right now I have 2 binders FULL of stuff for Physics 2 which I got from the Engineering Sorority on campus that we are good friends with.

Thats just one minor example. Outside of that, I got my JOB through the fraternity. Not working through college at McDonalds, but working for Federal Mogul at their world headquarters part time. I make twice as much as I did working at Best Buy before this, and I get to make my own hours. Come and go as I wish, work in my own cubicle, own computer, and have lunch with a few of my brothers and other people we know there. Something I would not have had without the fraternity because they were only hiring based on employee recomendations.

Beyond that, I met my current girlfriend of almost a year through the fraternity. She is in one of the on-campus sorority's, and was around our group quite a bit. I most likely would have never met her if not for the fraternity because she had classes on the other side of campus in a building I only spent 5% of my entire year in.

The benifits are limitless. The cost is small. We are $25 a month for dues, just $10 more than a WoW account, with real life rewards. The dues go towards paying for our rush events, and for our fraternity insurance (in case something happens at a party or other event we host).

Pretty minimal for all that I have recieved in return eh?

I have my own friends of course, actually one of them I got to join last year. It isnt about getting friends for a fee or whatever stupid stuff other people say. Its about wanting to do more, get good business connections, and be prepared for when you leave college. We have over 200 alumni in the workforce at Ford, Dell, Compaq, GMC, Toyota, Federal Mogul, GE, Chrysler, Honda, and many many more. I can have three jobs waiting for me when I graduate because of them, while other people who have no real connections get to start at the bottom.



The only negative is that you are dealing with a lot of people, each with their own personality's, and its not always easy to constantly get along with a ton of people, but a good fraternity does it, and we to this day have never had an actual physical fight between our members, but have had our share of arguments. But thats small and something you see in any friendship or family.

This is my third year as a member, and I would hate to think of how much less I would have if it wasnt for these guys. What you can do for yourself can only take you so far before you hit bumps or problems, and thats when its good to have a group of people who will help you get around it.


Side note:
I saw a post from a TKE, we have TKE's on our campus as well (University of Michigan - Dearborn), cool to see you guys here.

Isn't Theta Tau a coed fraternity? I am at UM Ann Arbor and they had their table set up a couple days ago and I was chatting with one of the current members.

Also I was talking to some guys in a group called the "Triangle Fraternity" which is intended for Science, Architecture, and Eng majors. It also sounded interesting, although they seem to dislike TT. Do they have that one at your UM? Have you heard of it/know anything about it?

 

[alphatarget1]

Originally posted by: chrisms
I've lived in one all summer and it is great. People who don't know what they're talking about will say you're paying for friends, but here it costs just about the same as the dorms except you don't have a parental figure (RA) and the events are organized by the students themselves. For someone who enjoys beer I couldn't live with some burnout writing me up for a few empty cans in my room. And at a fraternity you get your own room for the majority of the 4 years, unless you choose to share one of the bigger rooms.

It's basically like living in a mansion with a bunch of your friends, with mansions full of hot girls all around you.

I will add that it depends on the frat. . . if you see a guys in pink polos walking out of the front door then I can't speak for them and they're likely douchebags

some dude who graduated from my high school died after the this frat hazed him in my college. the dude drank 5 gallons of water.

 

[Deeko]

This is true, it isnt for everyone. But there are very few reasons why it cant be, as long as your campus as a good range of fraternities, such as social, professional, honor, etc.

Everyone can find a group they like if they actually took the time to look into it instead of closing their eyes and believing whatever someone who knows even less than them tells them about fraternities.

I'm not including professional/honor/communtiy service fraternities. This thread is about social fraternities. And while there is a good range of them, and many people CAN find one they fit, no, it is not for everyone, there isn't a fraternity that fits everyone's personality, and not everyone likes that kind of atmosphere. Also, many people don't feel it necessary to join an organization that will make them automatically stereotyped, either.

Regardless of what you think on that matter, I am 110% accurate in my assessment that people with the 'if you dont like or arent greek its cuz you couldnt get in' mentality. Those people aren't worthy of the letters they wear.