The Civil War II: North Frats vs Southern Fraternities, Parts 3-6
Guys, judging from the comments, I’d say that last article went pretty well. Though, I’d like to point out a serious issue I have with a few of the commenters on this board. I’m pretty disgusted by the Uncle Toms that like to talk about how “even though they’re from the North, they know the South is superior.” There hasn’t been a more transparent grab for ‘nice moves’ since StuffFratPeopleLike wrote about his hatred for high waisted shorts after we already agreed they were overrated. Are you also the guy who hangs out at the sorority house long after everyone else left to talk to some poor wounded bird about how “you don’t understand men, either?” Have a little pride, assholes. No matter how you feel about the situation, you don’t turn your back on the place that brought you up. Take a cue from the Midwesterners, who came out in droves to defend their home turf. They didn’t care that they were using Chicago as the only example of the Midwest’s cultural and historical significance (like pointing out the only hot chick in a sorority of Buscemi look-a-likes) because they claw and kick and do whatever it takes.
All joking aside, though, there was some serious anger at the comments I made about the Midwest; specifically that…I was hyperbolic for the sake of comedy (with questionable success), but what I was really getting at was that the Midwest is not allowed to disassociate themselves from the North and standoff on the sidelines, blaring John Mellencamp from their ivory perch. Those John Candy (male AND female) lookalikes are an intrinsic necessity in the argument, in fact MORE important than the Northeast to the North’s chances here, since there are far more get-down colleges located in the Heartland. Take the Midwest out and by definition it’s no longer The North, and what’s left doesn’t stand a chance against the powerful South.
On a personal note, I spent a large part of my childhood at my grandparents’ in Pure Michigan, and there’s a few things I realized: Midwesterners lack pretension, self-aggrandizement, and the kindness they exude isn’t the aggressive theatre they try to sell you in the South. It’s genuine interest. And while I still believe the Midwest lacks the history, culture, and cuisine of some of the coastal regions (Seriously, it’s practically science. History starts where the boats land, you guys), it’s clear that Midwesterners exist in spite of all that by delivering the finest interpersonal experience on Earth. That’s why the schools are so fun. I’d call it America’s greatest region if not for their women stuffing their fat faces all the time with cheese, and, of course, the existence of Indiana. So, after I celebrate the best of the Northeast tonight by eating falafel with a hot chick in pleather pants, perhaps I’ll dream of the sun glimmering off a glassy Lake Michigan and the softest sand I’ve ever felt.
Which is a long way of saying: North vs. South, all in. Lets do this.
Style
This one is tough because it seems that the collared shirt/Sperry/khakis/hat uniform was created by some southerner. Now he lives with his billions on a Sperry shaped yacht getting serviced by a harem of Lilly Pulitzer clad blondes. The problem is, EVERYONE in the south wears that look and it’s hurting one of the most important members of every fraternity, the fat guy. Every fraternity has a fat guy, every single one, and he’s meant to roam free and unhindered by the constraints of a tucked in shirt and a belt. He’s meant to have a personality and wear t-shirts that say “I’m anorexic” or “Hoof Hearted.” There’s nothing sadder than the fat guy looking as uncomfortable as the eight year old who had to dress up for church. One thing about the North, their fat guys are dressed like fat guys. This lends to a diverse house that makes it easier not to rush an Asian.
Winner: North
Houses
Both the North and the South have nice houses. This category isn’t about the nice ones, it’s about the bad ones that bring down the average (no “hot sorority” has a pledge class with a 1 in it). When you walk around a “bad house” in the South you think, “I could make this work.” When you walk (step over old TVs) around a “bad house” in the North you think, “How many women do they have chained downstairs?” The South takes this one because if they get a paper cut in their living room they aren’t worried about getting TB.
Winner: South
Tradition
Your traditions and how seriously your house takes them should make the fraternity experience MORE fun. They should be yearly events like a daylong party where you throw meatballs at everyone, with one pledge dressed as a meatball, called… The MeatBall.
A couple of years ago, when I went to the Carolina Cup, I decided to check out a southern chapter of my fraternity’s tailgate. I wanted to grab a beer, hang with the guys, and stare too long at their chicks. You know, dude stuff. When I got there, I was asked six different times for a handshake I couldn’t remember (sorry I’m an adult with porn website passwords to remember). I get that you have to protect yourself from getting screwed. But six times? We could have been rocking the tailgate asking girls for vagina handshakes. We could have been having fun. The South has some of the best traditions, but they seem to grab onto them even to the detriment of their good time. Squeeze a puppy too tight and it’s head pops off like a champagne bottle. Then, all you’re left with is a dead puppy blood fountain (aka a boner) and a group of men all wondering what to talk about at chapter.
Winner: North
Women
This is a slam dunk for the South. Those girls have looks, sophistication, charm, and that look in their eye that says “I’d drink this whiskey from my sorority sister’s butthole.” The only reason I want to bring this up is because I’d like to point out that the collegiate women in the North apparently all collectively decided to wear different colored garbage bags to class. There’s a weird game theory move going on there, and when a girl decides to wear something that couldn’t be mistaken for a barrel with straps, all the other broads turn into catty bitches. If you are a girl from the North reading this right now, your hoodie looks as bad as it did when you wore it to bed last night. You’re not adorable. You’re lazy.
Winner: South
Overall Score: North: 3 South: 3
Style: I’ve seen how they dress in Northern fraternities (big schools and small schools) and the majority just wear t-shirts and basketball shorts all the time. And I mean all the time. This includes a range from going to class to going to parties. You just said it yourself: “EVERYONE in the south wears that look (in reference to khakis, sperrys, collared shirts, etc.)” So because of this, that makes the North more stylish? Because your fat guys don’t dress well? I can’t be the only one that doesn’t see your logic in your reasoning.
Tradition: So because you were asked your fraternity’s secret handshake 6 different times, that makes the South less traditional than the North? How the fuck does that even make sense? We do it because there’s always been imposters that claim to be in our fraternity from different chapters that just want access to a free party. The secret handshake is there so that you can identify any brother from any chapter, and if you don’t take it seriously, then I don’t take you seriously.
I don’t even care who wins the tie-breaker, because you’ve lost all credibility in this topic
11 years ago at 12:38 pmIf you can’t even remember your fraternity’s handshake, that is a little sad.
11 years ago at 12:44 pmThe gay frats in the north dress poorly just as they do down south. Most fraternity men in the Northeast dress very well and they aren’t doing it to try to be fratty. It’s their true lifestyle being from New England and shit. Most of you never worn any of this type of fashion until freshman year. Keep pretending to be wealthy and preppy down South kid.
11 years ago at 1:01 pm^ try less
Also, judging the style of the North by the small cluster of WASPs in New England is like saying Southerners are all guides based on Miami.
11 years ago at 2:02 pmguidos*
11 years ago at 2:02 pmThe reason everyone in the South dresses excessively in collared shirts, boat shoes etc… is because you are all posers. All trying to be something you are not. Said small cluster is the real deal. The people you want to be. Its flattering to be honest.
11 years ago at 4:11 pmApricots, have you ever been to the South? Like Lake Martin in the Carolinas, Athens on a game day, Auburn or Tuscaloosa on an average weekend? Have you ever been to a High School or Middle School in any of the decent regions of the South? Take a trip, and you may realize your opinion, which has earned you the right to go fuck yourself, is biased and ignorant. My 12 year old cousin wears khakis, oxfords, and docksiders. It’s not to be a poser, it’s how we do things down here.
11 years ago at 4:41 pmApricots…yes. That is all.
11 years ago at 5:08 pmLegenwaitforitdairy, stop being a fucking twat. Apricots its dead on. The WASP look is an actual thing and not just something they picked up from j. crew or some shit like in the south. frathardplayhardwvu, people dress as nice as that in any nice community get over yourself.
11 years ago at 9:58 pmFrathardplayhardwvu, no way dude your cousin wears khakis, oxfords, and sperrys!?!?!? Sounds like typical private school attire to me, thats not a big deal.
11 years ago at 12:14 amApricots- you make it sound like only northerners wear Brooks Brother and VV before they go to college. There are plenty of southerners who grow up wearing “Preppy” clothes JUST like in the north, so just drop that stupid ass joke of an argument.
11 years ago at 3:17 pmWhat kind of douche forgets their fraternity handshake? Besides a shit-head like Jtrain, who obviously pledged some bottom tier fraternity….
11 years ago at 12:40 pmSo far you have written about 6 topics and its tied 3-3. You’re going to make the tie breaker column #9 aren’t you asshole? Fuck you for making me read.
11 years ago at 12:41 pmHow did the North win style? Y’all think cargos are still an acceptable pairing to go with your hoodies and Vans.
11 years ago at 12:41 pmNot to mention he called out how shitty Northern style is in the “Women” section. Contradictory lookin’ ass…
11 years ago at 1:00 pmplease exclude MA from this argument. Jersey and New York give us a horrible rep. Fucking guidos
11 years ago at 1:14 pmCalling everyone a guido from NY or NJ is equivalent to saying everyone in the South is a redneck. Let’s try to intelligent here.
11 years ago at 1:54 pmCallling everyone in the South a redneck is equivalent to saying everyone in the north wears cargos hoodies and vans. Let’s try to *be* intelligent here
11 years ago at 2:02 pmSounds like the South gets pretty butt hurt when they lose a little attention. Whores!
11 years ago at 5:09 pmLet’s be honest here, the only reason the North is winning any of these categories is because he has to write 9 categories worth, and it’d look pretty bad if the score was 9-0 South.
11 years ago at 5:40 pm*Yinz
11 years ago at 8:45 amGrey Vans are fine if paired with a nice button down and some polo shorts.
11 years ago at 11:52 amBuying porn site password. NF.
11 years ago at 12:42 pmDo your research man. The south has higher rates of obesity. Unless you are in to those chunky monkeys, there is no way the south wins for girls. Plus, with the beer capitol of America in the north (Wisconsin) you just can’t go wrong. You’re going to vote against beer? I mean seriously, what has beer ever done to you?
11 years ago at 12:44 pmHave you ever heard of a Southern Belle, you fucking moron?
11 years ago at 12:47 pm^weak argument kid
11 years ago at 12:53 pmYeah that died when they all started eating 1/2 a cow in burgers a day
11 years ago at 12:53 pmMy school begs to differ with your candy ass.
11 years ago at 1:00 pmEveryone says that about their fucking school moron. Its called pride in where you go. Fact still remains that this column is using old fucking stereotypes to compare the two. A “Southern Belle” is way too far and far between because all your other girls look like they ate them.
11 years ago at 1:13 pmI think a few people from outside my school would say that our student body is pretty attractive.
11 years ago at 1:20 pmAin’t nothing wrong with a little cushion for the pushin’.
11 years ago at 11:33 pm-1 point for whatever region you come from, you lazy pile of shit.
11 years ago at 12:44 pmThe fact that you forgot the grip is pretty unforgivable. I couldnt forget mine even if I wanted to
11 years ago at 12:44 pmHow the fuck do you forget a grip? Really. It’s not that hard.
11 years ago at 11:51 pmJtrain I enjoy the columns, a lot. They’re some of the best things on this site really exploring fraternities and what the different facets of Americanism/Greek life culture are depending on where you come from. Coming from the Midwest I appreciate you breaking down us down in this section and I thought it was incredibly true and observant. I also think your descriptions are for the most part very accurate and thought-provoking, with a few miscues. The south does seem to have more “tradition” but (admittedly as an outside) it seems to almost be tradition for tradition’s sake and not all that genuine. Anyways, fuck the hatas, do you, which is great.
11 years ago at 12:47 pmThis column is horse shit…and so is your podcast. -sincerely “The South”
11 years ago at 12:51 pm