Still have not figured this out, and I speak five languages, two of the dead. I do not get it at all.

I don't recall any negative connotations associated with "frat" when I was in college. I don't like it when "frat" is used as some type of synonym for inappropriate behavior.

Srat...ugh. I'm wondering if that arose as an amusing way to describe women's fraternities? It still seems strange to address a package to my daughter with "Pi Beta Phi Fraternity" -- so I write sorority, even though that isn't technically correct.

The other day she texted me to say she was "freezing her sratty booty off."

Another usage: "Srat Squat" -- front row women leaning forward for group pictures.

Thanks Titchou. Given that context, I can understand your reaction.

What doesn't make sense to me is the reason I've typically heard: that it is somehow inherently disrespectful to shorten "fraternity" to "frat." This reason is often backed up by The Very Stupid Analogy involving ones country. That one makes no sense to me at all, especially since it leads to the conclusion that it's not inherently disrespectful to shorten the actual name of the fraternity (to something like Kappa Sig, Pi Kapp or Sig Ep), but that shortening the noun "fraternity" is terribly disrespectful.

And that is generally the real issue, I think. Linguistically/etymologically, shortening "fraternity" to frat" is no different from shortening "the dormitories on the quadrangle" to "the dorms on the quad." It's a standard Englah practice that often suggests familiarity and often even affection—hence the references one can find in older writings such "dear old frat." But somewhere along the line, "frat" acquired a negative connotation for many Greeks, and that's why many GLOs and why Greeks on many campuses discourage use of it. I do think it's important, though, to remember that there are groups and campuses where the negative connotation hasn't been seen as so strong as to require avoiding the word altogether.

As for "srat" and "srat to," those are just terrible made up words that need to go away.

Sort of like when I came home from first semester at boarding school outside the south and said something was "bitchin'." Almost got me backhanded across the dining room.