Top Greek Schools

[shinerbock]

we probably need to start another thread regarding "fratty schools." I'm sure IU or Michigan or (Enter other large school here) may have strong greek systems, but its of a different sort. I'm sure they've got some successful groups, but the whole culture is not the same greek culture I enjoyed as an undergrad. If the best chapters at a particular school are filled with guys sporting hollister and abercrombie to go with their hair gel and lowered Honda Civic, I can't really say that the greek system is anything like what I consider good. One of my favorite things about fraternity life (in the south and a select few other places) is that some things are just classic. To start with, the fraternity houses. They usually are large and beautiful, with classic architecture and nice furnishings. Sure they get beat up sometimes but they are instantly recognizable, and aren't just any other house with letters put up and a keg on the porch. Another classic aspect is the dress. Contrary to what people may say, greeks in the south don't dress a certain way because they are blind lemmings, but because it is a purposeful and adult way to dress. I always liked knowing that if I ran into a congressman or CEO while I was at a bar or event (both have happened) I could make a good impression without looking like I was 17 years old and at a rap concert. I'm sure in some parts of the country you can wear a hollister shirt and cargo shorts and get away with it, but there are expectations in the south for how adults should present themselves. Another classic aspect is the presence of strong tradition. Look to KA's Old South for an example, or any strong southern chapter's regular formal in a historic city (Charleston, New Orleans, Savannah). We even enjoy different music. People from outside the south always comment on how weird the music we like is, but I enjoy the comments. On a recent trip a bus driver commented on the lack of top 40 songs played, but rather the abundance of Zeppelin, Dylan, Van Morrison and Robert Earl Keen. We don't expect every chapter in the country to act this way, but I don't understand how people view it as a bad thing. What is wrong with promoting maturity?

[Tucker Carlson]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

we probably need to start another thread regarding "fratty schools." I'm sure IU or Michigan or (Enter other large school here) may have strong greek systems, but its of a different sort. I'm sure they've got some successful groups, but the whole culture is not the same greek culture I enjoyed as an undergrad. If the best chapters at a particular school are filled with guys sporting hollister and abercrombie to go with their hair gel and lowered Honda Civic, I can't really say that the greek system is anything like what I consider good. One of my favorite things about fraternity life (in the south and a select few other places) is that some things are just classic. To start with, the fraternity houses. They usually are large and beautiful, with classic architecture and nice furnishings. Sure they get beat up sometimes but they are instantly recognizable, and aren't just any other house with letters put up and a keg on the porch. Another classic aspect is the dress. Contrary to what people may say, greeks in the south don't dress a certain way because they are blind lemmings, but because it is a purposeful and adult way to dress. I always liked knowing that if I ran into a congressman or CEO while I was at a bar or event (both have happened) I could make a good impression without looking like I was 17 years old and at a rap concert. I'm sure in some parts of the country you can wear a hollister shirt and cargo shorts and get away with it, but there are expectations in the south for how adults should present themselves. Another classic aspect is the presence of strong tradition. Look to KA's Old South for an example, or any strong southern chapter's regular formal in a historic city (Charleston, New Orleans, Savannah). We even enjoy different music. People from outside the south always comment on how weird the music we like is, but I enjoy the comments. On a recent trip a bus driver commented on the lack of top 40 songs played, but rather the abundance of Zeppelin, Dylan, Van Morrison and Robert Earl Keen. We don't expect every chapter in the country to act this way, but I don't understand how people view it as a bad thing. What is wrong with promoting maturity?

i agree with everything you said

[macallan25]

agreed, i'll start one.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

What is wrong with promoting maturity?

Honey, I went to a school full of people like the ones you described and indeed in certain respects I fit the description you give, but I don't know if I could call all those fratty boys I loved to love at W&L "mature." LOL

Now, when the Senators come around, for sure, then they're mature.

[shinerbock]

haha, you're right. The maturity I speak of does not involve beer drinking or partying, but rather being ready for situations when they occur. Adults party too of course, and they know when to have a good time and when to act completely business-like. Likewise, fraternity guys down here can party with the best of them, but when a situation comes around (parents weekend, football games, alumni events, being in public in general) you can be sure they'll be well groomed and well mannered. We try and replicate the corporate/legal/political world, where business and social events often mix, and one needs to be prepared to make a good impression even in casual situations. Just as most recruiting for southern fraternities isn't done during formal rush, we realize that the formal interview for that firm means little in comparison to how you handled yourself while draining a few pints with a one of its partners.

[jessXIca]

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

To be correct, there are 14 NIC fraternities, 5 NPC sororities, and two NPHC groups (1 fraternity and 1 sorority).

Oh, oops. Sorry, I must have counted wrong

[sport]

Originally Posted by ucfpnm

Oh, oops. Sorry, I must have counted wrong

At Accepted Students Day, they told us that it was 4 NPHC groups and that's what it says on the website (I just checked).

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by sport

At Accepted Students Day, they told us that it was 4 NPHC groups and that's what it says on the website (I just checked).

Ha, I went and checked that myself. We didn't have AKA and Alpha Phi Alpha as of the time I graduated in 2005, so they must have come last year. That's all Dean Tammy's doing. She rocks. I knew there was interest. We only got Phi Beta Sigma and Delta Sigma Theta my senior year, in the first place. The lack of NPHC groups had been ridiculous and when Dean Tammy came in she spurred the interested people on into finding ways to join the groups and was able to work effectively with the organizations more so than the former dean.

Just checked the website.

The Delta Sigma Thetas are members of the chapter chartered at Roanoke College, Alpha Phi Alpha is a shared chapter with JMU, and the AKAs are members of the Roanoke graduate chapter. Phi Beta Sigma is chartered at W&L but has some members from JMU, I believe.

Actually I'm glad I saw that website because of my favorite people in the world is now an AKA. wow!

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

haha, you're right. The maturity I speak of does not involve beer drinking or partying, but rather being ready for situations when they occur. Adults party too of course, and they know when to have a good time and when to act completely business-like. Likewise, fraternity guys down here can party with the best of them, but when a situation comes around (parents weekend, football games, alumni events, being in public in general) you can be sure they'll be well groomed and well mannered. We try and replicate the corporate/legal/political world, where business and social events often mix, and one needs to be prepared to make a good impression even in casual situations. Just as most recruiting for southern fraternities isn't done during formal rush, we realize that the formal interview for that firm means little in comparison to how you handled yourself while draining a few pints with a one of its partners.

Agreed.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Centre College I have never even heard of centre college...

Centre College is an old "mainline" Southern college located in Danville, Kentucky. Centre - established by Presbyterian leaders on January 21, 1819 - ranks 41st nationally among top liberal arts schools in the 2006 US News & World Report list.

Interesting Tidbit:

"Centre ranks first in the country for the percentage of former students making gifts, reaching 75.1% participation among the alumni contributing to the College's annual fund. Centre is thus known as the college with "America's Most Loyal Alumni." Centre alumni have figured prominently in U.S. history. They include two U.S. vice presidents, one Chief Justice of the United State, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, 13 U.S. Senators, 43 U.S. Representatives, 10 moderators of the General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church, and 11 governors. Others have become leaders in teaching, business, medicine, law and journalism."

Regarding Centre's Greek life:

Percentage of male undergrad students in fraternities: 51.2%
Percentage of female undergrad students in sororities: 52.3%

Current Fraternity Chapters
Beta Theta Pi (chapter founded 1848)
Phi Delta Theta (chapter founded 1850)
Phi Kappa Tau (chapter founded 1914)
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (chapter founded 1882)
Sigma Chi (chapter founded 1876)

Inactive Fraternity Chapters
Delta Kappa Epsilon (1854-2002)
Kappa Alpha Order (1883-1933)
Phi Gamma Delta (1855-1856)

Current Sorority Chapters
Alpha Delta Pi (chapter founded 2000)
Delta Delta Delta (chapter founded 1980)
Kappa Alpha Theta (chapter founded 1980)
Kappa Kappa Gamma (chapter founded 1980)

Inactive Sorority Chapters
Chi Omega (1988-1992)

[kerry4prez]

i think that UTEP and UTSA are pretty "fratty" schools, right? i also heard that florida state and grambling had good greek systems.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by kerry4prez

UTEP...."fratty" school

Sorry, i just have to ROTFLMFAO. I've never heard that about UTEP.

[shinerbock]

He's completely kidding. The schools he mentioned may be the most GDI on the planet.

[Soul D-Psi-ple]

He may be right about Grambling. I don't see Grambling as GDI.

[shinerbock]

yeah, they may be "good" greek systems, all of them. However, if he really was meaning "fratty" then Grambling is obviously not, nor is FSU