Californian at LSU
 

Howdy, to give some background I'm going to be majoring in economics at LSU next fall. I was raised in Southern California, however I was raised like a Texan by my father who was a Kappa Alpha at Texas A&M. I'm an intelligent, conservative, religious man with manners, I play tennis, and am very into football. I'm not like the majority of liberal, snapback and vans wearing Californians. I have always admired Southern culture and have been wanting to get out of California and go to an SEC school since I was in 8th grade. I was wondering if some of the top/middle tier fraternities exclusively take southern men. If so, would some one who isn't technically southern, but was raised like one be looked down upon?

Also, since my father was a Kappa Alpha at Texas A&M, would that hold much weight at the LSU KA chapter?

Any information on this is much appreciated! Thank y'all so much!

Sorry if there are already posts on this, but the search function on this site isn't the best.

There are conservatives in California and Liberals in Texas. Just throwing that out there.

On some fraternity chapter sites, the chapter will have a section for alumni, and on that page it will invite the alumni to recommend a young man who the alumni thinks might be a good fit. If the LSU KA chapter has such a page, your Dad could recommend you to the chapter.(But before you have Dad do that, wait for some of the GC gentlemen to say whether this is a good thing to do or not).

I'm unfamilar with the South, so I'll leave that alone. That being said, two things I would suggest. One, while tiers will effect your social life at the University, the bonds you build have the potential to last forever, so keep that in mind when pursuing a chapter to join. Second while it is admirable to want to follow your father's footsteps, keep in mind that the LSU KA might not be a good fit for you.

I do not know much about LSU fraternities but I do have a daughter who is in a sorority there. I do know that some sororites (hers included) look for girls from the south mostly. They feel that girls from to far away are likely to leave LSU and they would rather have girls that will be there for 4 years.
But she has also said the fraternites are much more relaxed about many things that the sororites get all uptight about!!!!
KA is considered one of the highly sought after chapters so it might be good for you to get someone to contact them in your behalf. Also look into all chapters, the KA's have a very distinct reputation and type of guy that they pledge that might not be your style. It might not matter to you but I will say that girls have a very different opionion than guys about which chapter is good. Some of the top tier groups are considered jerks by a lot of the girls. And some of the lower tiers are considered much nicer guys that gilrs like to hang out with.

Just wondering why you are not headed to A&M? It sounds like a perfect fit for you.

I'll bite. Yes, if KA has a spot for alumni to tell them that a legacy is headed their way, have your father do this. It doesn't guarantee a bid, but it will get your name to a chapter. I don't know how the KAs at LSU take it, but my chapter took a good long look at legacies.

I would do it soon. I am sure that most chapters already know the majority of guys that they will extend a bid to.

Where is my "like" button?

I guess you missed the manners lesson on not generalizing about who you're not like -- say, for exampe, the majority of liberal, snapback and vans wearing Californians.

Seriously, I'm just going to put this out there to you -- I'm about as Southern as it gets from a family about as Southern as it gets, and few things turn me off as much as statements like the one quoted above. It just comes across as trying too hard. Be yourself, feel free to mention Southern connections like your dad, but don't get into telling people how you're not like stereotypical Californians or how you are like stereotypical Southerners.

And do be aware that not all Southerners are conservative, and that many are conservative about some things but not so much about others. Granted, in the groups and schools you're probably eying, there may be a heavier conservative lean, but Southern = conservative is a stereotype that doesn't work any better for you than Californian = liberal.

Good luck!

If Californian= liberal worked, then Prop 8 would not have passed.

Princessamy - Notice I said "majority". :)

FSUZeta - Thanks so much for the tip!

tootiepie2 - I'm not only rushing the KA chapter there, however I was asking about the legacy policy between KA chapters to see if it could possibly give me leg up in getting a bid.

Just interested - My family and I simply can't afford the $38,000 + fraternity dues that we'd have to pay at A&M. I looked through SEC schools and found that we could only afford, Mississippi State, LSU, and Ole Miss. After visiting the campuses and finding out my information, I decided on LSU.

Mystic Cat - I'm sorry if I sounded rude to you, however I was simply putting that out there in order to get information as to whether or not I would have too much bias against me when I rush at LSU. Honestly, the majority of people that come from where I'm from are stuck up people, that don't have respect for anyone or anything except for themselves. With that said, I'm sorry if I got a little carried away with trying to separate myself from them. I would never say something like that to some one in person, I was just saying that in order to get some information on biases against Californians. Lastly, I know that not all Californians are liberal, and not all Southerners are conservative, however I am conservative. I was just providing information about myself in case anyone from LSU would be able to recommend certain houses or anything like that.

Thank y'all so much for giving suggestions and answering my questions!

The way through this is -> I would introduce you as a native Texan raised by Texans in California. Much as I was a native of the Mississippi Delta, raised by a passel of Mississippi Delta women in varied locations such as D.C., California, Alabama, and New Orleans. Strange origin story cured.

I was going to take issue with your original comment earlier, but I think I get a better sense of what rubs me the wrong way now.

I think you have a case of "grass is greener" syndrome. You seem to have such a negative opinion of where you grew up, the culture and the people, while idolizing old school stereotypes of the South. From the brief passages you've written, you paint a truly terrible picture of Californians that not only damages your credibility, but is just not accurate. When I hear someone have that much negativity to their environment, I usually suspect someone of playing poorly with others and having adjustment issues.

My general advice is to be respectful of people, seek middle ground and work at finding the good in others. Be aware that a change of scenery doesn't always change your interaction with the scenery.

LAblondeGPhi - To be perfectly honest, that might be the case. I am coming off as kind of a douche to a lot of people on this thread, I can tell. However, whenever I visit the South I have ALWAYS encountered nicer people there than the people where I am from. It is possible that just fit in more with them, or it could be that a good amount of people from my area are just stuck up people. I'm not saying that everyone from California is stuck up. All I was saying is that the majority of people that are from my area are not respectful to their surroundings. Either way, I will be more sensitive about bringing this up in the future.

I don't think there are any male Gcers from LSU here to help with KA leg policy. sorry. Best bet is to get your dad to contact someone and find out. And like I said the sooner the better.

Yes ma'am, that's what I'm doing right now.
Thank ya'll for everything, I found all the advice I need.

This.

And this. Frankly, what I suspect is someone who all of his life has heard comparisons from his parents between "home" and where they live now. Often in those comparisons, "home" takes on a somewhat romanticized patina, with the the good parts coming to the fore (and being exaggerated), the bad parts being forgotten and stereotypes on all sides being reinforced. When I read statements like the OP's, I tend to think there's a somewhat skewed, unrealistic expectation going on of what the South is like.

GetMeOutOfHere, you aren't coming off as a douche at all. You're coming across as someone who's enthusiastic, who may have an image in your mind that isn't quite realistic, and who as result might be trying just a little too hard.

To the OP, I'm from Texas and have traveled all over the U.S. and some countries abroad. To your credit, I think you're right in your assumption that certain regions have more self-absorbed people than other areas of our country. At any rate, give LSU a shot without going in with preconceived stereotypes about the fraternities. You just might find your own fit.

:rolleyes: Really? I lived in Baton Rouge for 17 years and have lived in the northeast and southwest. My brother and sister in law who had lived in Louisiana/Mississippi their entire lives moved to California a year ago for work and have meet the most wonderful and gracious people as I have in all the places I have lived. Sounds as though someone else is a little self conscious.

No fooling. People from Texas are interesting, to say the least.

:p

Born in TN, raised in NorCA, schooled in SoCA and AZ, live part time in CO. "I love everybody"! (would link to Lyle's album but that's pushing it, even I know that).

To AOPiA and AzTheta, I've been in Mississippi for a long time now. Maybe I need to "get out" more, but, at any rate, I'll always be a Texan. To our credit or discredit, you know we can't help it!
That being said, I do so hope the OP will have a positive experience at LSU, coming from so far away. Love you girls! ;)