What is a College Fraternity?

When you first hear the word ‘fraternity,’ you think of beer. It’s true. Many of the frats on college campuses are nothing more than big groups of guys who like to drink together. But this is not their primary use or goal. When you joined a frat a few decades ago, it meant that you were accepted into a secret society. And today is no different, but with a lot more booze. To learn more about what frats are actually supposed to be, read on.

The Point of a College Frat

There are a number of ways that college fraternities can be designated, including:

• Asceticism
• Charity
• Chivalry
• Crime
• Ethics
• Ethnicity
• Family power
• Performing arts
• Politics
• Religion
• Service
• University education
• Work skills

There are frats for everything. First started by the Greeks, these groups were designed to fulfill distinct purposes and to help like-minded men have a group to share. They would meet regularly and they were talk about their interests. Oh, how times have changed.

Today’s Fraternity Life

Yes, today, frats are trying to do more, drinking. Seriously, the goals of the fraternities today are noble in some cases and do not affect the time one spends at the bar.

• Academic excellence – Some frats want to be known as the smart groups, so they will work with each other to make sure they have the highest grade and academic achievements.
• Community service – Other fraternities work to ensure they are helping the community by volunteering and by working with those who need help.
• University outreach – The frats can also focus their energy and attention on helping others at the university, whether by spreading certain pieces of information or by helping at the school events.

The Future of Fraternities

The truth is that fraternities and all of their drunkenness are probably not going anywhere. These are institutions now, not just places that allow you to drink profusely and beat up on pledges. However, the idea of hazing and harming many of the frat members is now being frowned upon – even made illegal on college campuses. While the hazing might still happen, this does not mean it will continue to be the highlight of the frat’s nights.

In time, fraternities might lose their appeal, but for now, there’s a lot of history standing in the way of a frat and its members. Brothers strong, these groups aren’t going to go quietly into the night, even if they pass out from another bottle of vodka.