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Where are you living next year?
I'm thinking of rushing a fraternity.
That way I'll have the hook-up on all the parties.
Are you scared of getting hazed?
I've heard a lot of horror stories about Greek life.
I'll probably get hazed, but it's not that bad.
Not all frats and sororities are like in the movies you know!
That's no problem, I don't really drink.
I'm not a big drinker.
I decided it's better to keep a clear head and focus on my studies.
I've got my whole life after college to drink.
Just let me know who's coming and I'll put you on the list.
If you need a place to crash you can totally stay at our house.
I don't know about leaving my girlfriends overnight at the frat house!
But I'll be the DD so no worries! (DD = designated driver)
Background Information:
You'll frequently hear "fraternity" shortened to "frat".
American college students tend to drink a lot, and if you don't you may be in the minority. If you tell people
flat-out that you don't drink, they may think you don't like to "party," or don't want to be friends.
Try using one of these phrases instead. They let people know that you don't drink, but still make you sound
friendly, and like you want to be included.
Frat parties often have a "guest list" of invitees to prevent the party from getting too large and out-of-hand.
Women generally have an easier time getting into frat parties than men, but nevertheless you may want to
check if there's a list and try to get on it before you go.
Americans drive a lot, and drinking and driving is a big problem. People who throw parties will often offer
their house as a "crash pad" for guests who have too much to drink. It's important if you throw a party where
alcohol is provided, that you take a little responsibility for the safety of your guests, and make sure you
know how everyone's getting home.
The first Greek society in North America was Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776 in Virginia, in response to
the inadequacies of existing academic societies. Today, the majority of fraternities and sororities are "social"
organizations, meaning they help their members embetter themselves in a social way. These can be
organized to specifically focus on service to the community, professional advancement, or scholastic
achievement. Other Greeks are organized by religion, emphasizing membership of Christian and Jewish
students, for example. Others are based on ethnicity; especially popular are Latino fraternities.
rushing
Joining a sorority or fraternity is an involved process known as "rushing," most of which takes place in a
week at the beginning of the school year known as "rush week." To rush a Greek usually involves getting
"initiated," meaning that the members of the house play pranks and make requests of you that are usually
humiliating and at times even painful or damaging to the health. At the end of "rush week," members extend
invitations or "bids" to the students that held up best and impressed them the most during rush week. The
new members, or "pledges," then have a fixed amount of time to accept or deny the invitation.
hazing
When the initiation rituals cross over into the harmful and/or illegal realm, they're known as "hazing."
Portrayals of Greek society hazing rituals in the media and especially in film are largely responsible for the
negative image of fraternities in the public eye. Hazing is illegal in most US states, but despite the backlash
against it in recent years, it's still an integral part of the initiation ceremony in many Greeks.
good frats
Despite the reputation Greeks receive in the media of being all about parties, philanthropy is an integral part
of every Greek organization, and values such as giving back to the community and being charitable are
highly prized. Most Greeks are involved in various sorts of community service and fundraising activities
throughout the year, and participation in these activities is required of all members.
Copyright © 2010 by Mark McCracken, All Rights Reserved.
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