Hello to everyone!
matthewg: Hello Fbr Matthias - nice to meet someone from the CV! My brother is a member of the CV too (RS!,Wk!). I'm female, so I am a member of the co-ed fraternity DWV.
SilverTurtle: I think matthewg answered your questions. I would add one thing:
"Studentenverbindung" is the term most frequently used. But there is also "Korporation" as synonym, then a few ones use the Latin word "Fraternitas"; and "Coleurstudententum" is the word which describes the whole phenomenon.
FinerWoman10-A-91: The main reason to found fraternities was and is to achieve a fellowship between students and to help each other.
The *help* has different sides:
1. friendship
2. money: the students don't have to pay much money for the fraternity while studying. When they have finished their study and earn money, they will pay to support the ones which are now studying.
3: science: to give and get help with all things related to university and the study.
4. career: this is the point many non-fraternity members are afraid of: it's natural that fraternity members prefer other fraternity members for jobs.
Then as matthewg said: fraternities were and are political, people are encouraged to take part in the political and social life of their community. But whether a fraternity itsself has a special task in their community apart from the campus work, is a decision of each fraternity.
What is the meaning of "pov"? I don't know a word like that. (I know I'm not good in languages
) An answer is welcome via pm (veritas@flashmail.com) because I think it's boring for all the others.
Regards,
Veritas Z!