Top Fratty Schools
 

To steal shinerbock's post...this about sums it up.....

"I'm sure IU or Michigan or (Enter other large school here) may have strong greek systems, but its of a different sort. I'm sure they've got some successful groups, but the whole culture is not the same greek culture I enjoyed as an undergrad. If the best chapters at a particular school are filled with guys sporting hollister and abercrombie to go with their hair gel and lowered Honda Civic, I can't really say that the greek system is anything like what I consider good. One of my favorite things about fraternity life (in the south and a select few other places) is that some things are just classic. To start with, the fraternity houses. They usually are large and beautiful, with classic architecture and nice furnishings. Sure they get beat up sometimes but they are instantly recognizable, and aren't just any other house with letters put up and a keg on the porch. Another classic aspect is the dress. Contrary to what people may say, greeks in the south don't dress a certain way because they are blind lemmings, but because it is a purposeful and adult way to dress. I always liked knowing that if I ran into a congressman or CEO while I was at a bar or event (both have happened) I could make a good impression without looking like I was 17 years old and at a rap concert. I'm sure in some parts of the country you can wear a hollister shirt and cargo shorts and get away with it, but there are expectations in the south for how adults should present themselves. Another classic aspect is the presence of strong tradition. Look to KA's Old South for an example, or any strong southern chapter's regular formal in a historic city (Charleston, New Orleans, Savannah). We even enjoy different music. People from outside the south always comment on how weird the music we like is, but I enjoy the comments. On a recent trip a bus driver commented on the lack of top 40 songs played, but rather the abundance of Zeppelin, Dylan, Van Morrison, Robert Earl Keen, and Widespread Panic. We don't expect every chapter in the country to act this way, but I don't understand how people view it as a bad thing. What is wrong with promoting maturity?"

In no particular order:

Alabama
Ole Miss
South Carolina
Washington and Lee
Sewanee
Auburn
Clemson
Texas
Vanderbilt
Georgia
SMU
Arkansas
LSU

agreed and nobody else on this board can say anything different. actually they can but who cares what they think

I can't fault what you quoted in the first post. It's great that there are reasons for the culture.

However, having been repeatedly told on various occassions that I'm a fuckin' yankee northerner who is ruining what being in a fraternity is supposed to be about, I can't respect a lot of what is said by most people who brag about being "fratty".

The thing that really gets me is that my experience of being in a fraternity is somehow cheapened because of A) how much hair gel I may or may not use, B) my location being outside the south C) that my chapter valued good grades, campus involvement, leadership D) or that my chapter didn't have a wet house (our house is beautiful, and large and instantly recognizable as a fraternity house) or do a wet rush. To simply say that a chapter isn't good because of these superficial things is offensive since it completely ignores what being in a fraternity should be about - friendships, making individuals better people, memories, being part of something bigger than yourself and the other intangible benefits. If it's only about how people dress, or where they live, or how drunk they can get; then what's the point? You might as well just be like the rugby team or some other campus organization that has a drinking problem.

See though, you are also making assumptions about how it is in the South. My chapter, as well as countless others that I know of, are very involved in their campus and their philanthropy. If you are a strong chapter at a big Southern university, there is a good chance that you and your fellow top chapters have a strong influence on the way things function on campus. Also, I know of many many chapters that go to great lengths to raise money for their philanthropic organizations. For example, SAE's do All Greek Boxing tournaments at many campuses, and down here, the FIJIs do a week long party/basketball tournament called Round Up that functions as a huge rush event while at the same time raising thousands upon thousands of dollars for the community. Grades are also important. Every chapter I know of has grade requirements and good overall GPA's. The notion that Southern fraternities are full of no-go-to-class fuck ups is a common misnomer.

Being in a great fraternity down here is so much more than what you listed. I have extremely good friends, a longstanding tradition pertaining to our chapter, connections for a lifetime, etc. etc. Sure, our house is incredible and the parties are great and such.......but those are not the only thing we look for...I can assure you.

And the hair gel thing is somewhat of a joke and somewhat serious. I think gelling your hair makes you look fruity and unsophisticated. When I go to a job interview at a firm....I can assure you the partners would rather talk to a man with well groomed normal hair and a nice suite and tie than some dude with his hair sticking straight up wearing tight fitting flat front Bananna Republic pants and a vertical striped shirt.

You people just don't get it.

There is nothing wrong with being proud of what your chapter or campus has done. There is, however, a LOT wrong with criticizing people who do a lot of the same things that you say you are so proud of doing (high GPA, philanthropic involvement, large chapters etc) because they dress differently or have a different kind of house than you.

In other words STOP BEING SO SHALLOW and maybe people won't make assumptions about you.

Well I guess we're just shallow. But unfortunately for others, so are the corporate, legal and political worlds.

33girl:

http://www.wilcherish.com/cardshop/humor/pics/idiot.jpg

I don't think I was criticizing anyone.

I was waiting for these homo's to start up this debate again. But, if I were like them in the south, I'd also go home and dry-hump my mom.

Dorks. Fratty sucks sack.

SigmaChi, you haven't seen a vagina since birth.