Why I Joined A Fraternity And Why You Should, Too
Across the nation, rush is beginning to heat up. If it’s not already in full swing, it’s rapidly accelerating into a full-time job for those in charge of it. With that said, I realize there are many of you who love this site and think fraternity life may be for you, but are not yet convinced enough to pull the trigger and sign up for rush. For those of you with an embarrassingly short attention span who cannot focus long enough to read this column, the answer is: sign up right now. If you would like to hear the reasons why you should sign up for rush, please continue reading.
I have never alluded to my pre-writing life on here, but I have one very NF confession: I hated fraternities and I nearly didn’t rush.
It’s true. I did hate fraternities. In fact, as much as I loved this website my senior year of high school, it presented a perspective of fraternities that almost steered me clear of Greek life. Sure, we always say it’s “satire,” and that’s the truth–it IS satire. However, as an impressionable high school youth with no family ties to fraternities or sororities, I was slowly led to believe something that was not true. I saw fraternities as cesspools of debauchery and immorality. Although I was an athletic and intelligent high school student, I felt as though that crowd may not be for me.
I specifically remember one of my best friends discussing fraternities with me as I ran around the track during practice one afternoon, just weeks before graduation. He jokingly said, “I can’t wait to join [fraternity redacted], I hear they do a lot of cocaine. That’s so badass.” I laughed with him, but inside, it only further developed my misconceptions.
Fellow students asked me repeatedly, “Why aren’t you rushing?” I never really had an answer other than, “I just don’t think that life is for me.”
Fast-forward several months into the summer. I found myself on the shores of Florida, enjoying a beach trip with friends. One of the guys on the trip with me, one of my best friends, had just completed his freshman year at the university I was set to attend (shout out to you, JJ). He had gone Greek and was determined to change my views and sign me up for fall rush. After several days of nonstop discussion, I broke down and sent in my information to the Department of Greek Affairs. I, one of the most anti-Greek people I knew, was taking the plunge.
It quickly became one of the best decisions I had ever made.
The fear of the unknown that had kept me at a distance quickly disappeared as I realized that fraternities are not breeding grounds of rape, the objectification of women, and overt drug and alcohol use, but rather unique, miniature communities of college-aged males who enjoy being with one another and like the infinite perks that come with being initiated into a fraternity.
Fraternity brothers become your family away from home. They become your confidants when things get rough, yet they’re also the ones who will kick you back into gear when you need to be set straight.
Think of the number of fraternity chapters throughout the country. I haven’t done the math, but I would imagine there are thousands of chapters. Now, recall the number of fraternities that are featured on this very site for their despicable actions or downright stupidity. In the grand scheme of things, that number is nearly irrelevant.
The fact of the matter is that any large group of men in their late teens and early twenties are going to find themselves in trouble at some point. The odds are against them. The law does not discriminate between Greeks and those who are unaffiliated. However, a news headline featuring an outrageous, illegal action with fraternity letters plastered next to it draws ratings.
Rape, sexual assault, drug use, and other illegal, reprehensible activities occur in our society all day, every day. Pick up your local paper and count the number of everyday citizens arrested for those crimes. They outnumber the Greek affiliated college students arrested for the same crimes by far. My point is, for those of you who think that joining a fraternity condemns you to four years of immoral and criminal activities, you are incorrect. In fact, if you decide to rush, you will be pleasantly surprised at what you find.
Many of you may not be worried so much about the overblown reports of rampant drug use and other issues that are often associated with Greeks, but rather you are unsure if you will fit in, or if you’ll be ostracized for not being of a certain race or for wearing a certain brand. Let me tell you, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
If you are reading this, you’ve most likely read Fail Friday at some point. Check out one of the most recent editions and count the number of kids wearing letters. Yes, those kids received bids and were initiated into fraternities. If they found a home, there is absolutely no reason you can’t as well.
I believed that I would not find a home, that I would be the outcast of my pledge class. That wasn’t the case at all. You will meet fellow pledge brothers for the first time and tell yourself, “There’s no way I will ever like this kid.” Sure enough, by the end of the semester, that kid is your best friend. Things have a funny way of working out, and it always, without a doubt, works out.
By the end of my freshman year, I had gone from one of the most anti-fraternity graduates at my high school to one of the highest ranked pledges of my class. I fell in love with it instantly, and it is something that I now know I would have forever regretted had I not taken the leap of faith and rushed.
While I do understand that fraternity life is not for everyone, I highly encourage EVERYONE to go through the rush process and experience the brothers firsthand. Fraternities are truly exceptional organizations and have become a vital part of my daily college life. Just like everything else in life, that which is unknown is the most frightening.
If you’re unsure as to whether or not Greek life may be for you, I encourage you to find an active brother or alumnus of any fraternity and ask him any questions you may have. Meet some of his brothers and gain firsthand knowledge of fraternity life. Who knows? You may just end up like me.
Take the plunge, men. It’s an experience that doesn’t compare to anything else.
So now we’re actually writing FOR high schoolers and GDIs? Where’s the love?
10 years ago at 10:40 amDid you even read the article, dumbass? He’s trying to say that going Greek was the best choice he made. He’s also encouraging everyone to at least rush or ask members of Greek life what being in a fraternity is all about.
10 years ago at 10:47 amYou were that high schooler and geed once. This article could have swayed your chapter’s future president to rush.
10 years ago at 10:53 amGood shit, Bogey.
10 years ago at 10:50 amGoing Greek was the 2nd best decision I made, after being born an American
10 years ago at 10:53 amYou 100% did not make the decision to be born American.
10 years ago at 10:54 amFuck you Dorn, you inconsiderate piece of communism disguised as a horrible column writer.
10 years ago at 11:43 amYou’re trying way to hard to get on the next “TFM staff reads mean comments” video
10 years ago at 12:00 pmYou caught me red-handed.
10 years ago at 12:13 pmSo you’re the Communist in this situation…
10 years ago at 12:47 pmI laughed.
10 years ago at 3:06 pmGreat article
10 years ago at 10:55 amGreat article.
10 years ago at 10:57 amSeeing smokeshows wearing Greek letters also helps convince you to rush.
I fucking love the term ‘smokeshow’, I gotta start using that more.
10 years ago at 3:14 pmI said the same thing back in ’99…
10 years ago at 7:53 pmWater is wet. Greek life is amazing. Dorn likes little boys. Nothing new here
10 years ago at 11:02 amI joined because frats are cool haha lol tfm
10 years ago at 11:03 amlmfao lol yea haha
10 years ago at 11:08 amdon’t try to get likes by posting that. my haha lol tfm was a joke.
10 years ago at 11:14 amYour jokes are bad.
10 years ago at 11:22 amYou’re golf game is bad bro
10 years ago at 11:24 amJust stop
10 years ago at 11:35 amYour*
10 years ago at 11:46 amTake a lap
10 years ago at 12:07 pmThere’s a button for that.
10 years ago at 12:47 pmI literally want to fucking kill you.
10 years ago at 1:06 pmI’ve seen you comment on three things now and I’ve already made up my mind that I hate you
10 years ago at 11:26 am“Cesspools of debauchery and immorality” turning you off. TSM.
10 years ago at 11:09 amI couldn’t agree more.
10 years ago at 11:16 amYour username makes me want to kill myself
10 years ago at 11:45 amPlease do.
10 years ago at 2:39 amFurthermore proving that the number of high schoolers on TFM is slowly risking.
10 years ago at 11:31 amRising*
10 years ago at 11:40 am