To all Men in Fraternities
 

I don't know about your GLO's or chapters, but my chapter gets very offended when people use the term 'frat'. is this common among any of you other GLO's out there?

My chapter is the same way....

We aren't a bunch of frat boys *always* (key word always) getting drunk and throwing parties...if you want that, go join one of the other houses on campus.

We are Kappa Sigma Fraternity, not the Kappa Sigma Frat. We aren't frat boys, we are Fraternal men.

Same here. I know a lot of guys in my chapter get offended if the word "frat" is used instead of "fraternity." Then they make a statement that goes something like "It's a 'fraternity', not a 'frat'...would you ever call your 'country' your 'cunt'?"

*Shrug*. No, but I'd call my telephone a 'phone.
Like docetboy says, it's generally down to the word 'frat' being associated with an old fashioned predominantly 'Animal House' image which misleadingly suggests all fraternity members do is have keg parties, hazing, toga parties and slobber over girls. ;) I'd guess that's why your GLO gets offended when the term is used, nauSIGGY. All the hard work on academics, philanthropy, leadership training, safe events etc., are all impliedly brushed aside by the 'drink-till-you-get-alcohol-poisoning' "fratboy" image! Most members on GC know what is *actually* involved in GLOs; a lot of people only ever see the media image (haze/drink/haze/drink) and the less we associate our own GLOs to those images (via use of terms which suggest all these things to people) the better for us.

Frat has a certain negative connotation.

We don't use it.

I know the thread is to all men, but as a sorority woman, I've always thought "frat" was derogatory. I've always referred to fraternity houses, fraternity parties, fraternity men, etc. It strikes me as strange sometimes when I hear fraternity men say frat. I knew a Pike several years ago who said that he hated the term "frat guy", so I never used it after that. Glad to hear that this is a common thing amongst you all.

Beautiful, decadence! I've always thought that "would you call your 'country' your 'c*#t'" is one of the most stupid comparisons possible, since last time I checked "frat" wasn't considered obscene. People shorten names for things and institutions all the time without meaning or conveying any disrespect. Just ask the students at Caltech.

As for me, I don't use the word "frat," but I don't get offended at all if someone else uses it, as long as it doesn't appear that the person using it means it in a derogatory or disrespectful sense -- even then, its going to be a very small degree of offense. Without question, "frat" has taken on the derogatory connotations that others here have described. But I'd rather save my "I'm-offended energy" for bigger things.

The Alpha Men that I know call each other "Frat" as a synonym for "Brother."

Example: "What's up, Frat? How's it going?"

On the whole, I don't think we have a problem with the word Frat as an abbreviation for Fraternity. This is probably the same in other NPHC orgs, but I can't speak for them.

My chapter uses the term "frat" quite frequently.

Example:

1. "Hey, you wanna go over to the frat and watch the game?"
2. "Me and the fratties are going to get a burger, wanna come with?"

Now, when discussing the fraternity with your mother or father, or a colleague:

1. "My fraternity was founded in 1839"
2. "Yes, I was (and still am) in a fraternity in college. How 'bout you?"

I do get disturbed when a non-greek attacks the system, and uses terms such as "frat house", "frat guy" or "in a frat".

Its kinda like the word "cracker". If you ain't one, don't be using the word.

I believe I used the word "frat" only once, and was quickly reprimanded by my boyfriend's friend, who was Greek. Since then, it's like nails on a chalkboard. Using it makes you sound like uneducated trash.

The way NPHC groups use it is another matter entirely.

I say 'frat party' and 'frat house' only in a casual joking way, when the guys are doi8ng something stupid like, "oh i guess billy and bob are doing case races again over at the frat house." they deserve it then, really. more than anything i skip it altogether and say "house." it rolls off better than fraterrnity.

From a LXA website:

A fraternity man joins a fraternity for the rich friendships and growth it brings to his life.

A frat boy joins a fraternity and expects others to take care of him; he generally pays his dues late.


A fraternity man, if he drinks, realizes he must drink responsibly.

The frat boy drinks to get drunk and becomes disgusting.


A fraternity man understands others are watching and knows his actions impact his fraternity.

A frat boy has no idea how his actions impact others and he doesn't care.


A fraternity man does what's right, even when nobody's watching.

A frat boy puts on a show for the world, but when nobody's watching, is rude and vulgar.


A fraternity man is a campus leader, who takes part in activities offered on campus.

A frat boy does not become involved and steps away from positions of leadership.



A fraternity man focuses on his class work and uses his time wisely.

A frat boy may go to class, but usually misses one or two while recovering from the night before.



A fraternity man spends time with alumni and has respect for them, realizing that much can be learned from those who have come before him.

A frat boy is disrespectful towards his elders and the alumni, and eventually runs them off.


Lambda Chi Alpha --- Fraternity men, not "frat boys"

at my school, fraternities are called "houses". nobody really uses the term fraternity or frat. you always say "what house are you in?" or "lets go up to the house"

I can definatly say that we hate the word frat, for all its negative connotations. I don't think I have ever heard someone use "frat" in a positive way. "Oh your just a bunch of FRAT boys," ect. I think LXAAlum put it best with his post, and we actually have a section of our national newsletter called our very own frat boys, where our national Headquarters tells us about chapters that have screwed up and how they were punished.

Another question... We were told last year at a Greek leadership forum that we shouldn't refer to chapters as houses, because some chapters don't have houses and may be offended. What are your thoughts??

We have a little saying in our chapter:

Don't call it a frat, it's a fraternity. Would you call your country a c*&#? - Yes, I'm sure you all know what that word is....


That is all....

NPC has been saying this for years, and (for once) I agree. Not only because all chapters don't have houses, but because the focus/reason people pledge should be on the members (the chapter) instead of the structure (the house). It's kind of like the difference between the words "house" and "home."

We were told this too -- not to use "house" to refer to the chapter because it puts too much emphasis on the structure instead of the people.

I use the term "frat" very rarely - usually only when quoting something someone has said to me. By and large, I stick to "fraternity". I even trained my non-greek husband to say "fraternity". "Frat" does have negative connotations.

I do use "house" from time to time, usually when I'm talking about fraternities and sororities collectively. I know that's strange, coming from someone from an unhoused chapter, but there you go :)

We use the term "frat" regularly. Actually it's very common for one of us to say to another "wassup frat?" However the "frat boy" image is something else and not something we associate ourselves with.

all our 19 (soon to be 21) IFC fraternities have houses

No Need
 

I don't think that there is a need to get upset about the word frat. What i mean is alot of fraternities are not so called drug, drinking guys who skip school all the time. I think it's all in how you look at things, what will be the difference in someone calling your a fraternity. So when you think about it it's no difference at all in the word it's just how you use the term. I'm proud to be consider a frat or apart of a fraternity it's not think for me. So think about what your goal is as a organization and role with that. U feel me..lol

i joined a fraternity to be the sae true gentleman that i am...but their are many moments that make me a frat man, unruly drinking and breaking things...i sometimes try to live up to the frat boy name

It depends on what kind of mood I'm in and in the situation. I will call it a frat when its just me talking to some unenlightened people, but mostly call it a fraternity.

Well I'm in Kappa Kappa Psi and we(local chapter, regional chapters[esp. HBCU chapters, ours isn't one though]) use the term Frat to refer to brothers. One of the reasons I think our chapter does is one of our newly alumni members is APhiA and he'd just pointed out that it's how you say it, not how THEY(the media and anti-greek) mean it. If you are saying it to a fellow brother then there shouldn't be any negative connotation. Also, we are living in a sad condition when we allow words to dictate how we feel about ourselves and our organizations. My brothers and myself aren't drunks, we drink intelligently, but should we not drink because of the way some liberal thinks(putting out notice that I'm a moderate Democrat just so you know). When it comes down to it, me calling one of my brothers frat don't mean that I think they are fall down drunks who can't walk straight, it just is an expression or for that matter a shortening of the latin "FRATER" or "BROTHER". I leave you with a dictionary quote of the definition.

Well said, bonelifer.

We were told last year during recruitment that we shouldn' say House, but Chapter house instead, as it refers to the structure. You would use Chapter to refer to the org itself, and so on. But I still use House on my campus, and I know a lot of other people do as well. But notice, mine is House, not house. Personally, I just see a difference. (Chapter House vs residential house)

"what's poppin', frat!?!!?!?"

"ay frat, who's that chick in them jeans?"

"dayum, frat.....that chick is workin' it."

common ways the word "frat" is used, lol. it's something interchangeable with "bruh." but as stated earlier, we're not frat boys, we're <insert greek letter> men. Iota men will NEVER be associated with that connotation.

I didn't understand what the big deal about the word "frat" was until I became Greek. Now I understand, and it's like fingernails on a blackboard.

I love what LXAAlum and SigEp42 posted; it really does help to distinguish between a frat boy and a fraternity man. Similarly, I distinguish bewteen "sorority girl" and "sorority/fraternity woman." Don't even get me started on trying to explain to non-Greeks why Kappa is a fraternity (the etymology posted by Bonelifer comes into play there).

Anyway, I don't like the whole "country/cunt" comparison, and it seems a little silly to those who don't get it. I remember an XBF using that comparison and thinking that he was just being melodramatic. I'd more likely compare "fraternity/frat" to "ethnic group/racial slur" because that comparison truly shows how insulting some of us find the term "frat" to be.

[tangent]This is a particularly touchy subject on my campus, where only one of our three NPC sororities is housed. A typical exchange goes like this. Non-LU Sorority Woman: "So, how many houses do y'all have?" Me: "One." NLSW: "But I thought you said that y'all weren't housed." Me: "Correct. We have three chapters. Only one has a house."

Or, as I often say to my university's disgruntled fraternity alumni, "I sincerely hope that you see your brotherhood as more than a pile of bricks."
[/tangent]

Regarding the term "frat," it is split at my chapter. Some people are highly offended by this term and like to use the pharse "would you call your fraternity a frat? would you call you country a cunt?" However, some guys like to use this word. Those who use the term are the type more in the fraternity for drinking and nothing extending to brotherhood and such.

Here at UNLV only people who are non-greek use the word "Frat", when people use it you can tell they are not greek or are anti-greek. Terms are different on all campuses. For example we never refer to our chapters as houses because we don't have any. But, frat here is definately derogatory. I'm not sure about NPHC though.

Delta Gamma
 

I never understood the negative connotations the word "frat" had until i joined Delta Gamma Fraternity. Yes, for those of you that do not know, Delta Gamma is a fraternity. I personally become annoyed by the use of the the word "frat" because it relates to me too. I have learned to ignore people as much as i can who use the word "frat" because i realized that they do not realize how important the term fraternity means to me and they do not realize the impact of greek life.

Delta Gamma Fraternity...not a sorority! :D

frat=bad
fratty=good

My fraternity doesn't like to use FRAT either. We correct anyone who does everytime... trying not to be rude of course.

Other organizations refer to themselves as frat. I don;t really mind.

old term
 

I pledged in fall '54 and the word frat was 'out' then, generally
said by ignorant people, but ignored. It was in our pledge book
not to use.
When our college doors opened wider and less than previously
qualified were matriculated, the word "frat" became gradually
in use. Glad to see some still do not like it.

I didn't rush until the spring, but for my fall semster I hung out with one fraternity on campus a lot. A few times I refered to them as a frat, and they would correct me and say it was "fraternity, and that no man in a fraternity should refer to their fraternity as a frat." One of my friends also said that when he came to school, he always said he would never join a frat. He was glad to say he didn't, he joined a fraternity.

Sigma Chi addresses this in our pledge book, The Norman Shield. It tells the brothers that we are a "fraternity", not a "frat". It also tells us that our official nickname is "Sigs" not "Sig Chi". I've had to clear that up with people on occasion.

As was said earlier, every "Sorority" is a Fraternity in all actuality. There is only one that is not, but I can't remember it's damn name. I'm told its because all others were helped founded by men, whereas theirs was founded by only women, but I really don't know.

also when rushees come in and say frat, we know who to black ball, they were just born GDI's (or ends up, tkes, betas, and sig eps)

Gamma Phi Beta is not a fraternity from what I have been told.

DaffyKD

It has nothing to do with the involvement of any men in founding -- that's a Greek urban legend. There are "Fraternities for Women" founded completely by women, and there are "sororities" that had assistance in founding from men.

The word "sorority" wasn't coined until it was first used by Gamma Phi Beta, founded in 1874. The organizations for women founded prior to that date were either "Fraternities (for women)" or "societies." Of those that came after that date, or that changed their names after that date (such as the Adelphian and Philomathean Societies, which became Alpha Delta Pi and Phi Mu), a choice was made as to whether the official name should be "fraternity" or "sorority."

By my count, 15 of the 26 members of the NPC are officially "Fraternities."

More on it here: are you a fraternity, or a sorority?

By "every 'Sorority'" you mean NPC, correct?