Frats

[mgoblue]

Re: Frats

My guess, without any knowledge is that the shortened word "frat" carries kind of a negative conotation of a bunch of guys that just sit around drink and drink and accomplish nothing. A fraternity is supposed to be a brotherhood and I think they have some kind of platform (charity) that they support and they're supposed to do good things in the community.

Exactly...

I personally feel bad for those guys who just got drunk all through college...Sure, we threw parties and whatnot, but I have a ton of things I'd never have done if I didn't join the fraternity. Lots of charity work, either our own or Habitat, Greek Week was always fun. I performed on stage in front of 5000-ish people multiple times. We won the fraternity intramural sports title. I played broomball, innertube water polo, sports I wouldn't have known about otherwise.

Fraternities aren't for everyone, no doubt, but the truly good ones are more than just drinking. If you imagine a fraternity as Animal House alone then you've just been dealing with the wrong houses. There are lots who do just drink, screw around with pledges, and all that. They get kicked off campus pretty damn fast.

When I went to college I thought I was the last person who'd join a fraternity. Yet it was one of the better decisions in my life IMO. It really helped me open up and mature, all while having fun.

It's just more than drinking, but I understand why a lot of you guys just think that's all it is. There's tons of bad press, and idiotic "frat boys" out there that ruin it for the rest of us. Those people just sicken me, taking something good and turning it into hazing and other crazy stuff.

I just see all the "paying for friends" talk and that's really just acting on the stereotype. Sure, does that exist? Yeah, it does. At the same time though it's getting to be more the exception than the rule. A friend was involved in policing the Greek System and I got to see a lot of inner workings. Believe what you want, just want to make sure the positive side is heard It's not all bad, if you find the right place.

[ehh]

Re: Frats

They're pretty grimey, IMO. My college didn't have frats but I spent plenty of time at other schools in New England with them and most were disgusting. Let alone the reputation you get, etc, I couldn't imagine living in some of the ****holes those guys did.

[Husker_OS]

Re: Frats

300 bucks? Wow. How do yall throw parties and have formal? Ours is over $2,000 per semester(I'm not gonna say how much over $2,000).

[mgoblue]

Re: Frats

300 bucks? Wow. How do yall throw parties and have formal? Ours is over $2,000 per semester(I'm not gonna say how much over $2,000).

You payed money for other stuff...You end up paying for parties, but people pay for parties not in fraternities. Same for formal, etc. Plus with alumni going to formal it helps spread out the cost. I payed more for other stuff, but never nearing 2k, wow...that just seems so expensive.

[skitch]

Re: Frats

Frat parties, at least at NCSU, are fun as hell. Delta Sig throws huge band parties every Thursday and I'm always on the list, but I'd never join. I guess I just don't agree with the whole... hey, I pay for friends thing. Go to the parties, but why pay to join when you can enjoy the life for free?

[mjb2124]

Re: Frats

I guess I just don't agree with the whole... hey, I pay for friends thing.

This is one of the things that always annoyed me when people said it. When I joined a frat it had nothing to do with "paying for friends" as the group of friends I had before the frat, were the one's I hung out with most often throughout my entire college career. It had to do with joining a group that could potentially help my future while helping less fortunate. We did a lot of charity work, helped out at sporting events etc... It also was nice to put on a resume (ie: I was the VP of my frat and I've used that in interviews to show that if I could lead a group of college aged kids and manage budgets for special projects, I can certainly manage people at work) and to have those life long networking links.

Sure we also had a ton of parties and I'd often leave my own frat's party to attend another one. However, those weren't the only perks to being in a frat. There's always a bigger picture involved.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Frats

The only frat I'd join is called Upsilon Pi Epsilon. It's the Computer Science honors frat.

[skitch]

Re: Frats

This is one of the things that always annoyed me when people said it. When I joined a frat it had nothing to do with "paying for friends" as the group of friends I had before the frat, were the one's I hung out with most often throughout my entire college career. It had to do with joining a group that could potentially help my future while helping less fortunate. We did a lot of charity work, helped out at sporting events etc... It also was nice to put on a resume (ie: I was the VP of my frat and I've used that in interviews to show that if I could lead a group of college aged kids and manage budgets for special projects, I can certainly manage people at work) and to have those life long networking links.

Sure we also had a ton of parties and I'd often leave my own frat's party to attend another one. However, those weren't the only perks to being in a frat. There's always a bigger picture involved.

I'm in no way putting down the work frats do or the advantages, career-wise, of being involved in one... but seeing as how most people, at least that I know, don't join for those reasons... I thought I'd throw it out there.

[fishepa]

Re: Frats

Band parties, formals, etc aren't free, someone has to pay for them.

[Husker_OS]

Re: Frats

Band parties, formals, etc aren't free, someone has to pay for them.

We have a "social fee" that pays for all band parties. We usually take up a $5 assessment for alcohol and the brothers and their dates will get beer all night. This year, formal for us is rather cheap. We got the Astor Crowne Plaza in New Orleans and an open bar at the Tropical Isle for our actual formal that Saturday night.


And mjb, I can relate to the post-grad thing. I've already met a couple of our alumni who have some great connections in my field. Fraternities provide great networking opportunities as a perk.

[nyisles16]

Re: Frats

what fraternities are you or were in?

I was in Alpha Chi Rho - not a huge fraternity (mainly East Coast)

[NoleFan]

Re: Frats

what fraternities are you or were in?

I'm a member of Phi Beta Sigma. There was a little "extra" stuff we did during our intake process but I wouldn't trade the experience for the world. I'd do it again, "extra" and all, in a heartbeat. I don't do a great deal now. I'm very active in my Masonic Lodge though...well, before I moved 2 hours away! Once I'm settled I'll transfer membership to a different lodge and continue my work.