Comparison of American and German fraternities/sororities

[VictoriaGermany]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I agree. Thanks for starting the thread, VictoriaGermany.

Thank you , I am happy to share my experiences with you.

Originally Posted by MysticCat

My own (possible) German connection: I am a brother in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, a social fraternity for men with a particular interest in music. We were founded at the New England Conservatory (Boston) in 1898, and our original name was The Sinfonia Fraternity (or often simply, The Sinfonia). Fraternity lore has it that the name was suggested by the director of the Conservatory, who suggested that the newly-forming group adopt the name of an organization he had belonged to when he was a student in Leipzig.

Wow, that´s interesting! I just checked, but unfortunately, couldn´t find any information about Sinfonia Leipzig on the web. Possible, it doesn´t exist anymore.

Thanks for writing about music-oriented corporations. I almost forgot to mention that we have them as well . There is one umbrella organisation with fraternities and unisex corporations in Germany. All Corporations have their colours, but they do not wear them. We are in contact with a sorority from Hamburg which was founded last year and entered the umbrella organisation this year in May. It´s the first sorority in this organisation.

Beside this, there are the so-called "Sängerschaften". They are also involved in the academic fencing tradition and I guess in most cases their members sing in a choir. Unfortunately, fencing with sharp weapons and singing in a choir doesn´t fit together very well, therefore more and more Sängerschaften have to close down.

I can only imagine the standing American students´corporation have. In Germany, it is always hard to find new members to keep the idea of a life-long friendship alive.