Fraternity/Sorority - is it for you?

I came across an opinion piece that was written 10 years ago about fraternities and sororites at Gallaudet University. It's an opinion that I've come to agree with and it nearly mirrors exactly how I feel. I don't know who this deaf person is (assuming he is deaf or hh) but the person wrote an excellent opinion piece. The article below is not mine but it's something worth reading. Would joining a fraternity or sorority at Gallaudet Univesity highly over-rated. Or not? That depends on your perspective.

It has become very clear to me that traditions and standards are not necessarily upheld between distant chapters of fraternities around the country. The feeling of camaraderie between the 'brothers' does not necessarily cross chapter boundaries. Each fraternity chapter has to be viewed on its own as a separate entity, because the Greek letters don't carry the tradition they are purported to.

Anyone who has been in the cafeteria lately can attest to the fact that Gallaudet University is heavily clique-oriented. There's girl tables, there's guy tables, there's frat tables, etc. etc. Can you spell junior high? I knew you could. Any student at Gallaudet can point out where "the Kappa Gamma table" is without hesitation. Similarly, the theatre and music people have their little region. You get the point.

What groups of people on campus are more directly responsible for perpetuating the clique mentality than the 'social clubs?' At a school of less than 1500 people, where knowing everyone isn't a difficult task, allegiance to a particular social club only serves to divide up the campus into distinct cliques with surprising homogeneity. I think that this sort of behavior only hinders diversity and bolsters a stagnant social atmosphere.

People who are opposed to the Greek system often site that joining a fraternity forfeits, to some degree, individuality. I disagree with this to some extent. I could join a frat tomorrow and be no less weird. But, joining a fraternity does label you as 'one of them' just as my good standings in school labels me. As much as I hate generalizations and stereotypes, people do tend to choose a fraternity based on the similarity of the members to themselves. I'm a literature freak who doesn't drink - what fraternity do you think I would join? I know that members of the Greek community on campus are very quick to dispel generalizations concerning any Greek organization, but I want one of these people to look me in the eye and honestly tell me that when I say 'The Dork Frat' nothing comes to mind. Seriously, how many people on campus don't know what I'm talking about when I say 'The Frat for Overdeveloped Drunk Jocks?'

Of course the fact that these generalizations exist does not mean that they are valid, right? Not necessarily, but at least to a large extent they are. Each and every Greek organization on campus carries with it an image that is applied to each of its members and it is that image that the rest of the world associates with the organization name. As individualistic as the members of a given fraternity may be, the organization as a whole still carries that image. The fraternities at Gallaudet each have their distinctive images, and you don't need me to tell you what they are.

There's not necessarily anything wrong with the inherent homogeneity of our fraternities and sororities. If it weren't for some semblance of common interest, it would be difficult to attract new members. All I'm saying is that the choices for fraternities at Gallaudet are pretty slim, and none of them possess an image that I would want to be associated with.

In fact, all four Gallaudet fraternities possess and uphold a stereotypical image of one form or another that I would be ashamed of. But, then again, when I look around at the student body and the Greek organizations in particular, I'm glad for the differences that separate me from them. In short, the reason I didn't join a fraternity is that I'm too proud of my independence, self-reliance, and individuality. As much as I hear people arguing the contrary, joining a Greek organization does constitute a forfeiture of independence to some degree. Allowing myself to be placed under the fraternal label would only bring me one step closer to being like them - and for me that's a step in the wrong direction.

Aside from the whole image problem, none of the typical reasons for joining fraternities are appealing to me either. The whole networking thing, to me, is annoying, As much as it may be true that a prospective employer might hire me over someone else because we're fraternity brothers, I find the possibility revolting. If I get hired, I want it to be for my skills, not because someone I've never met was in a social club with the same letters as me. I think any employee that uses this to their advantage is short on talent and any employer that does so has their priorities all screwed up.

Another reason people join fraternities is for the feeling of family; to have brothers there with you to share in your experiences and troubles. Well, I've already got all the close friends I need, and I'm certainly not going to pay dues to have those friends handed to me in a big group. I'd rather pick and choose for myself. Also, I never want anyone to feel obligated to be friendly with me. There's an element of false friendship or respect that goes along with signing in to a family. There's not a fraternity chapter I've ever seen, certainly not one on this campus, that doesn't contain some people that I truly have no respect for at all, and I'm not going to be pressured into false tolerance. I'll despise whom I choose, thanks.

The last real reason that leads some people to join fraternities is the social aspect. On a larger campus, maybe this would hold more weight, but at Gallaudet it's sort of a moot point. Certainly for me, anyway, considering that I don't drink and my idea of a good party doesn't involve passing out on the lawn. When was the last fraternity social event at Gallaudet that didn't center around the keg? Why would I want to join a fraternity?