My parents went to college back in the old country (Poland) where, under communism, fratnities and the like were illegal. So all they knew about fraternities was what they heard mis-represented in the media, an' were affraid I'd drink myself to death. It tried to explain to them that it's about serving the community, an' scholarship.
They're distrustful of secret societies to begin with; like the masons and stuff. After all devout catholics were forbidden from joining them by pope Pious X, but no-one else remembers that, or even cares for that matter. I figured it would give me connections that last a lifetime.

So finnaly I joined despite their efforts to dissuade, an' it became clear I had to pay my frat fees myself.
It's important to just follow your own dreams, your parents mean well but they can't controll your lives.