Fraternities in College. . .

[Talus]

Any alcohol-related death is a tragedy. I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

There are a lot of pressures during the rushing (or nowadays, the PC term recruitment) period. Most official events are dry, and it's usually the after-events where there is trouble.

You can't always leave it up to some chapters to police themselves but if they continue the hazing behaviors, hopefully they will lose their charters and cease to exist. However, not every chapter is like that, and I am truly sorry your friend was put in that kind of a position where you feel like you have no choice.

[Daydreamer]

Let's see if I can name some of the bad things that have happened frat wise since I've been in Alabama.

- Democrat = Almost no chance to get in (remember this is the south)
- Person stabbed in the face at a frat party my freshmen year
- One frat has all pledges do a line of coke or else they don't get in (wtf?)
- Multiple rape charges (usually 1 semester)
- There was one part about a year or two ago where everyone there dressed up as black people and offended the hell out of the rest of the campus (but granted, that was pretty funny)

Though I hear a school in Mississippi topped the black people party by dressing up as blacks, and then hired real black people to pick cotton balls up that they threw all over the lawn while everyone else drank. I don't really know if that one is true, but I like to believe it is just cause it's so horrible and so awesome all at the same time.

Though there are still benefits to a frat, but it seems like it's only if your a business or politics major. They have some serious connections in those areas.

[MisterBob]

Let's see if I can name some of the bad things that have happened frat wise since I've been in Alabama.

- Democrat = Almost no chance to get in (remember this is the south)
- Person stabbed in the face at a frat party my freshmen year
- One frat has all pledges do a line of coke or else they don't get in (wtf?)
- Multiple rape charges (usually 1 semester)
- There was one part about a year or two ago where everyone there dressed up as black people and offended the hell out of the rest of the campus (but granted, that was pretty funny)

Though I hear a school in Mississippi topped the black people party by dressing up as blacks, and then hired real black people to pick cotton balls up that they threw all over the lawn while everyone else drank. I don't really know if that one is true, but I like to believe it is just cause it's so horrible and so awesome all at the same time.

Though there are still benefits to a frat, but it seems like it's only if your a business or politics major. They have some serious connections in those areas.

That just sounds like the typical redneck-south bullshit that would occur at the community colleges/state schools down there.


Hey guys look, I can stereotype too ;)


If you base your views on a group of people by the actions of a few, you have some serious growing up to do.

[Septimus]

Well, it looks like I need to take the Chair of Tolerance™ and look us some frats in Alabama.

If you think that cotton thing is in the least bit funny, there is something incredibly wrong with you, and not in any way that could possibly construed as good. That is disgusting.

[BarthelloSylph]

Let's see if I can name some of the bad things that have happened frat wise since I've been in Alabama.

- Democrat = Almost no chance to get in (remember this is the south)
- Person stabbed in the face at a frat party my freshmen year
- One frat has all pledges do a line of coke or else they don't get in (wtf?)
- Multiple rape charges (usually 1 semester)
- There was one part about a year or two ago where everyone there dressed up as black people and offended the hell out of the rest of the campus (but granted, that was pretty funny)

Though I hear a school in Mississippi topped the black people party by dressing up as blacks, and then hired real black people to pick cotton balls up that they threw all over the lawn while everyone else drank. I don't really know if that one is true, but I like to believe it is just cause it's so horrible and so awesome all at the same time.

Though there are still benefits to a frat, but it seems like it's only if your a business or politics major. They have some serious connections in those areas.

That just sounds like the typical redneck-south bullshit that would occur at the community colleges/state schools down there.


Hey guys look, I can stereotype too


If you base your views on a group of people by the actions of a few, you have some serious growing up to do.

Amen. This shit happens all over the south, and all over the country. It is not focused or concentrated in fraternities at all. It happens there in the same proportion that it happens in the rest of the university.

[Joran]

Fraternities are a worthless and disgusting waste of money that would be better spent on playing FFXI.

[Norelco]

Fraternities are a worthless and disgusting waste of money that would be better spent on playing FFXI.

LOL

Let me try this.

FFXI is a worthless and disgusting waste of TIME and money that would be better spent on....real life.

Flame-bait. Wait for it...

[MisterBob]

Fraternities are a worthless and disgusting waste of money that would be better spent on playing FFXI.

If you're spending more than $15/mo on FFXI (Monthly fees + mules), you clearly buy gil/accounts. If you seriously can't afford to have a social life AND play FFXI (purely in the sense of money, not time), then you fail at life.

[Daydreamer]

Let's see if I can name some of the bad things that have happened frat wise since I've been in Alabama.

- Democrat = Almost no chance to get in (remember this is the south)
- Person stabbed in the face at a frat party my freshmen year
- One frat has all pledges do a line of coke or else they don't get in (wtf?)
- Multiple rape charges (usually 1 semester)
- There was one part about a year or two ago where everyone there dressed up as black people and offended the hell out of the rest of the campus (but granted, that was pretty funny)

Though I hear a school in Mississippi topped the black people party by dressing up as blacks, and then hired real black people to pick cotton balls up that they threw all over the lawn while everyone else drank. I don't really know if that one is true, but I like to believe it is just cause it's so horrible and so awesome all at the same time.

Though there are still benefits to a frat, but it seems like it's only if your a business or politics major. They have some serious connections in those areas.

That just sounds like the typical redneck-south bullshit that would occur at the community colleges/state schools down there.


Hey guys look, I can stereotype too


If you base your views on a group of people by the actions of a few, you have some serious growing up to do.

Amen. This shit happens all over the south, and all over the country. It is not focused or concentrated in fraternities at all. It happens there in the same proportion that it happens in the rest of the university.

That was actually my point, but the thing is here the only people who join frats ARE the stupid redneck stereotypes. I'm sure there are a few decent people in them, but the majority are just...ugh....

[Scythiroth]

LOL

Let me try this.

FFXI is a worthless and disgusting waste of TIME and money that would be better spent on....real life.

Flame-bait. Wait for it...

I actually play it and agree with this statement. >.>

[Grievear]

I am in the Professional Business Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi. When I first went to college I was pretty anti-frat, kind of how Lbell's view is (Oddly enough she stopped talking to me only because I was in a fraternity). A friend of mine told me about AKPsi and how beneficial it was to rush and join the fraternity.

I started by going to some of the events and I really got a long with the people there. No one was a typical "frat-boy" and everyone seemed very sincere and easy to get a long with. Pledging was quite a bit of work, but it was not pointless by a far stretch. The things we had to do involved working on professional skills, learning how to interview in a hostile setting and networking on campus. Once I became a brother I was truly amazed at how well everyone got a long, out of our 250+ active brothers, I enjoyed the company of all of them.

The most important thing I gained from my fraternity was my professional skills. They have inter-fraternity job fairs and professional speakers, most of whom are looking for interns or offering jobs. We do our fair share of partying (Beerlympics <3) but we also focus on stuff that will help outside of college. I recently went to a high profile internship interview (It was a series, a few in a row on the same day) and I couldn't believe how calm and collected I was during the interviews. I was able to answer every question perfectly because I knew what they were looking for. I did get the job, and I'm certain I would not have gotten it if it wasn't for my experiences pledging and as a brother of AKPsi.

Having a fraternity on your resume is always a great thing and I'll tell you why. Even if the person you are interviewing with has never been in a fraternity, they still know what they are and they typical amount of members they have. Lets say you have "President" on your resume for your fraternity. This means you can relate to this for leadership and interpersonal skills. Leading and organizing events and projects for 200+ people is something interviewers LOVE to hear.

The main thing to keep in mind is that Fraternities are all about building bonds between people. Always do your homework before you join one to make sure it's for you. Most fraternities will refund your rush money if you drop out of the pledge process early and you will never be forced to do something you don't want to do. Pushed maybe, but its only to help you grow as a person (At least in my fraternity...).

[BarthelloSylph]

Let's see if I can name some of the bad things that have happened frat wise since I've been in Alabama.

- Democrat = Almost no chance to get in (remember this is the south)
- Person stabbed in the face at a frat party my freshmen year
- One frat has all pledges do a line of coke or else they don't get in (wtf?)
- Multiple rape charges (usually 1 semester)
- There was one part about a year or two ago where everyone there dressed up as black people and offended the hell out of the rest of the campus (but granted, that was pretty funny)

Though I hear a school in Mississippi topped the black people party by dressing up as blacks, and then hired real black people to pick cotton balls up that they threw all over the lawn while everyone else drank. I don't really know if that one is true, but I like to believe it is just cause it's so horrible and so awesome all at the same time.

Though there are still benefits to a frat, but it seems like it's only if your a business or politics major. They have some serious connections in those areas.

That just sounds like the typical redneck-south bullshit that would occur at the community colleges/state schools down there.


Hey guys look, I can stereotype too


If you base your views on a group of people by the actions of a few, you have some serious growing up to do.

Amen. This shit happens all over the south, and all over the country. It is not focused or concentrated in fraternities at all. It happens there in the same proportion that it happens in the rest of the university.

That was actually my point, but the thing is here the only people who join frats ARE the stupid redneck stereotypes. I'm sure there are a few decent people in them, but the majority are just...ugh....

If you aren't in a fraternity, then how do you know that any of them or decent? Or maybe all of them are decent? How do you know that the percentage of retards isn't the same % for the entire campus?

I was in a fraternity in the South, we have a few shitheads that I'm not really friends with, but the majority of the house are cool dudes that are responsible and respectable.

As always, I respect people who decide frats aren't for them, to each his own, but to hate on something that you know very little about or have little experience with is just plain retarded.

[Saphirea]

From what I've seen most people join a frat for that sense of belonging. There is absolutly nothing wrong with that.

[Daydreamer]

Let's see if I can name some of the bad things that have happened frat wise since I've been in Alabama.

- Democrat = Almost no chance to get in (remember this is the south)
- Person stabbed in the face at a frat party my freshmen year
- One frat has all pledges do a line of coke or else they don't get in (wtf?)
- Multiple rape charges (usually 1 semester)
- There was one part about a year or two ago where everyone there dressed up as black people and offended the hell out of the rest of the campus (but granted, that was pretty funny)

Though I hear a school in Mississippi topped the black people party by dressing up as blacks, and then hired real black people to pick cotton balls up that they threw all over the lawn while everyone else drank. I don't really know if that one is true, but I like to believe it is just cause it's so horrible and so awesome all at the same time.

Though there are still benefits to a frat, but it seems like it's only if your a business or politics major. They have some serious connections in those areas.

That just sounds like the typical redneck-south bullshit that would occur at the community colleges/state schools down there.


Hey guys look, I can stereotype too


If you base your views on a group of people by the actions of a few, you have some serious growing up to do.

Amen. This shit happens all over the south, and all over the country. It is not focused or concentrated in fraternities at all. It happens there in the same proportion that it happens in the rest of the university.

That was actually my point, but the thing is here the only people who join frats ARE the stupid redneck stereotypes. I'm sure there are a few decent people in them, but the majority are just...ugh....

If you aren't in a fraternity, then how do you know that any of them or decent? Or maybe all of them are decent? How do you know that the percentage of retards isn't the same % for the entire campus?

I was in a fraternity in the South, we have a few shitheads that I'm not really friends with, but the majority of the house are cool dudes that are responsible and respectable.

As always, I respect people who decide frats aren't for them, to each his own, but to hate on something that you know very little about or have little experience with is just plain retarded.

What's to say I know very little about it? I said in a post earlier that there is one frat here that is completely different, the Christian one. Almost all of them are great people. But every time I talk to or hang out with or go to a party with pretty much any other frat member they fit almost all the stereotypes. No, I'm not in a frat, but it doens't mean I don't know people in them, have gone to their parties, given them a chance. While I don't know their "inner workings" I can still get a good view of how they act...

When did I ever sayI hated frats? I'm just commenting that the ones at my university, for the most part, DO fit all the stereotypes. Hell as far as I know we're the only campus in the country to have the "machine." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Machine
Read up on it, interesting stuff.

I do think frats in other places could be an enjoyable experience, but at this campus, it's complete crap.

[BarthelloSylph]

I see your Machine and raise you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Gimghoul

My only point is that, unless you've been in every fraternity (not visit, actually be a member), how can you comment on what they are like? Every frat, like every book, might look the same on the outside. I'm just suggesting that you don't jump to conclusions about "every" fraternity on campus by the dealings you've had with some of them.

And if all of your fraternities are exactly alike and completely douche baggish, that sucks. Wish you had a chance to see other frats at other schools so that you would know that not all frats are worthless.

[Po]

Theres marketable and financial perks to rushing. 70% of fortune 500 CEO's rushed. It's not all about the friends, and frtas can be very appealing on resume's. With that said, i didn't rush...didn't want the life to hinder my education.

Yea this is the only reason to do it. Other than that yea, didn't want to buy friends.

[Toralyn]

Was reading on wiki about some of those, thought this was funny:

Like the Seven Society and IMP Society, the Z Society is known to paint their symbol around grounds. Superstition holds that if a woman walks directly over the Z on the steps of the footbridge near Ruffner Hall, she will become pregnant before she graduates.

And what if it's a single virgin holier than thou chick? They gonna rape her?

[Daydreamer]

I see your Machine and raise you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Gimghoul

My only point is that, unless you've been in every fraternity (not visit, actually be a member), how can you comment on what they are like? Every frat, like every book, might look the same on the outside. I'm just suggesting that you don't jump to conclusions about "every" fraternity on campus by the dealings you've had with some of them.

And if all of your fraternities are exactly alike and completely douche baggish, that sucks. Wish you had a chance to see other frats at other schools so that you would know that not all frats are worthless.

I do give all of them a chance. I've just started to make a generalization because time after time they've proven to be what I've said earlier, and also as I said, there WAS one exception.

While I'll agree about the book analogy...if they are an ass on the outside wtf would I ever open the book for =D

Oh and that link I had wasn't really a secret society. It's the way all the white frats on campus organize themselves to control pretty much everything on campus. By everything I mean, if you run against them and they tell you not to then they will find a way to make you pay. In like the 70s they put some guys pizza shop out of business because his son ran against them. And well, frat guys buy a lot of pizza ; -)

[Wulfgang]

This thread is a drama magnet. Some fraternities are worthwhile institutions that provide great benefits for its members and the community, others are not. Making a vehement statement one way or the other makes you look retarded. Vote and move on.