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A new "Frat" novel from OK
'Frat' book reflects author's OU experience
Scott Savoie recently wrote a book satirizing fraternity life.
Jason Rider - Daily Staff Writer
February 10, 2005
A newly released novel by author and former OU student Scott Savoie, entitled “Frat,” represents one of the latest efforts in the media to portray fraternity life.
In the late ’70s, director John Landis immortalized images of toga parties and beer-guzzling pranksters in his film “Animal House.” A couple of seasons ago, MTV chose to emphasize the brotherhood and community service aspects of fraternities in its reality program “Fraternity Life.”
“Frat” merges both of these perspectives in its story of a year in the life of the Phi Rho Tau house at Southeastern State University.
Savoie, who has acquired some of his story inspiration from his own experiences at OU, said that while the events of the story are fictional, they represent the dichotomy of what being in a fraternity is like.
“In many ways having fun and partying are what a fraternity is all about,” he said. “[But] nobody ever mentions anything good that fraternities do. All of them contribute to charities and do good work.”
Interfraternity Council president and Chinese and economics junior Trey House said that he agrees the media tends to ignore the aspect of community contribution with fraternities.
“They focus on social functions and reckless behavior in contrast to the colossal amount of philanthropic work and charity many fraternities do,” he said.
Kevin Faulkner, letters and religious studies junior, is a member of the OU chapter of Triangle, a national fraternity for engineers, scientists and architects. He said the media representations of fraternities in general sometimes negatively affects the reputations of the individual houses.
“My fraternity doesn’t have the giant parties and do pranks,” he said. “But when we moved into our neighborhood, the neighbors were concerned we’d be these lunatics.”________
Savoie, who didn’t write the book to make a statement, said he just wanted to poke fun at some of the common perceptions of fraternities.
“It is part satire and part memoir,” he said. “There are a few inside jokes that I think only OU students will get.”
“Frat,” published by MGA, is now available in paperback through several retailers.
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