Reply #16: Dammit

[aePrime]

I hate this stereotype. I'm a fraternity member, my wife is a sorority member (technically a women's fraternity, but since everybody just dismisses Greeks anyway, why bother to argue?). We're both graduate students, we're both liberal Democrats. Sure, there are some stupid people in my fraternity, but I'd guess that nearly half of the guys in my house end up at graduate school. Most of us are computer scientists or electrical engineers. I've met some of the smartest people I know in my fraternity. We drink occasionally, but we're actually a dry house.

When I first came to university, I moved into the dorms, even though the Greek system on this campus is very strong. I had the same stereotypes as most people. Drunk, hazing, stupid jocks. But as I got to know the guys, I realized that they were great people, and I moved in because of that.

Fraternities and sororities on my campus (probably nationally as well) get a higher GPA than the dorms and the all-campus average.

Every year each fraternity (23) and sorority (9) do at least one philanthropy event and give the money to a good cause.

Every year we raise hundreds of dollars to send to Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camps for terminally ill children. Paul Newman is an alumnus of my fraternity.