fraternity disconnect

[DannyM]

> there are always going to be cliques in a fraternity because we naturally just hang out with people we're attracted to. Not everyone in the fraternity has the same head on their shoulders and this is not a bad thing.

Exactly. Having different cliques or even "factions" isn't at all bad, provided those groups have a mutual respect. You get a wider variety of ideas, and the people in your group will connect with a wider variety of rushees. Of course, that's provided that your meetings aren't turning into bloodbaths.

To the OP: One thing to keep in mind is that as a senior, you've already gotten most of what you'll get out of the fraternity experience. To put it another way -- whatever decisions your group makes today will affect you and your fellow seniors for the next few months, but this last pledge class (presumably sophomores now) will have to live with those decisions for the next three years. In some ways they've got more at stake than you do. That doesn't mean you and your fellow seniors should just hand over the reins of power to them, but you might wanna find out what *they* want and expect out of the fraternity, and if you find their goals and desires to be basically worthwhile -- even if they don't exactly agree with your own -- help them to make those things happen.

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by DannyM

To the OP: One thing to keep in mind is that as a senior, you've already gotten most of what you'll get out of the fraternity experience.

This has no relation to the topic of this thread, but I have a major issue with this statement. You're in college for four years, you're in your fraternity for life. If you involvement ends when you graduate you are losing out on what many describe as the most rewarding part of your fraternity experience. I can't speak from personal experience (YET!) but so many greekchatters attest to the real, lasting bonds they've formed with people after they've graduated. In his Founders Day Message, our "AA" (International President) commented on how he attended a brother's wedding recently and realized that none of the brothers their were even from his chapter, yet they were some of the brothers he was closest too.

Sorry for the rant, you may now return to your regularly scheduled GC.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DannyM

To the OP: One thing to keep in mind is that as a senior, you've already gotten most of what you'll get out of the collegiate chapter experience. To put it another way -- whatever decisions your group makes today will affect you and your fellow seniors for the next few months, but this last pledge class (presumably sophomores now) will have to live with those decisions for the next three years. In some ways they've got more at stake than you do. That doesn't mean you and your fellow seniors should just hand over the reins of power to them, but you might wanna find out what *they* want and expect out of the chapter and if you find their goals and desires to be basically worthwhile -- even if they don't exactly agree with your own -- help them to make those things happen.

Fixed your post for you.

The responsible brother wants to leave a strong chapter as he moves into is experience as an alumnus brother.

[Boodleboy322]

Amen to that Mystic Cat!

Originally Posted by MysticCat

The responsible brother wants to leave a strong chapter as he moves into is experience as an alumnus brother.