How to choose a fraternity

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Originally Posted by clones_jer

For your ammusement:

I've hung out with a lot of greeks from the Gods gifts (TKE) to the closest thing to the animal house movie (Theta Xi) to whatever that one is with the big deck just a few north of the Farm House.

I had some good times and a lot of free steaks & beers my freshman year at a lot of them while they attempted to recruit randomly (some of them must have sales goals, it was worse than the army recruiter in the mall)

The "buying your friends" has nothing to do with the financial comparison of cost between dorms and frats. It has everything to do with you buying into a secret handshake winkwink club rather than taking on the challenge of obtaining a group of friends from the population of Ames as you begin your college career.

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I just don't understand why you are posting on this thread if you dislike fraternities so much. The kid already said he wants to join one. He is looking for advice on finding the right one. He was not asking for an opion on if he should join one.

This is solely my opinion, but anyone who goes out of their way to bash something they have little to no actual experience with has some kind of ulterior motive or a bad experience in their lives that came at the hands of a greek system member.

Are there complete morons, idiots, pompous ***es in the greek system? You bet.

There are just as many in the dorms and off campus.

Stereotyping a greek system member is no different than doing it to any other group of people. Some individuals may live up to the billing, but it is far from accurate for every person involved.

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Originally Posted by Bader

Oh come on man that's lame, you could say the same thing about the marching band or being an athlete.

I can understand having an issue with the greek system but let it go

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lame is a cookie in the center of a circle.

besides, THEY pay YOU to be in band or athletics ... totally different.

its much closer to paying the "who's who" book fee.

Oh boy, another one of these threads... I'm not pro-frat by any means but for some people its a good fit for them. Personally, I'd recommend at least giving the dorms a year before trying a frat because I think it's a lot harder going from a frat and finding out that is not for you then trying the dorms out. Personally I never had any interest in a frat and after being someone "recruited" over a dinner once my freshman year it pretty much re-affirmed why I didn't want to join one. But as for the going from frat to dorms some people don't accept those people right away from some of the things I saw in my years at school. The whole being behind it is that ISU does have a really big greek system but are still outnumbered by the number that live in dorms and the whole greek vs residence hall thing really gets heated when it comes to campus organizations and such because they committees are usually dominated by greek students. I remember 1 year we had a VEISHEA person come and talk and even they poked fun at how VEISHEA was mostly made up of greeks and she was one of the few that didn't belong to a greek house on the planning commitee.

Here's my personal take on this. I have always felt you are more free to be an individual not being part of a greek house than if you are. Greeks will argue this till they are blue in the face that this is not the case but I don't buy it because as a member of a greek house you have a lot more things required of you to uphold the terms of being a member of the house plus the greeks love to take credit as a whole for things but are quick to point out it was an "individual" who did something negative and it was not a result of their environment. I don't want to go into detail on that one either because I have numberous stories from when I was at ISU to share about that. I've also had friends from HS or acquaintances from 1st year join a greek house then become complete jerks that I could no longer associate with because we were no longer in a sense "good enough" for them since we were't greek too. I even dated a sorority girl once and never felt comfortable when I visited the house or went to a greek activity as her date because once they knew you weren't one of them you either got the "recruitment" or the cold shoulder like you were an outcast.

Sorry, guess I just got carried away there and fell into the "greek vs dorms" debate that has been beaten to death here but I just had so many bad expiriences with the greeks when I was in college I really have a hard time endorsing them as an option. I do have some friends now that were greeks in college and some of them I really don't know how they ever were based on the way they are about certain things so like I said for some it's a good fit, others it's not and that is what incoming students have to ask themselves when they are looking at living options. There are always going to be stereotypical "friend buying" greeks or "geeky" dormies but I don't look back regretting never giving the greek life a chance because the interaction I did have with it I think I would have been miserable.

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Originally Posted by Cyclone711

So I'm an incoming freshman and am strongly looking at greek life (dad was a greek at ISU and my brother currently is at Minnesota). I know the biggest thing is if you get along with the guys in the frat, but what are some other good things to look at (am currently looking at four and really have no idea how to narrow it down). I am planning another trip to ames to do some frat tours but would appreciate any advice.

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Decide how much you wish to pay for your friends, then find the house in your price range? :biggrin:

Seriously though, I would decide by finding out which houses are not dry yet. While I was in college, damn near every house went dry, and every cool guy I knew who was in a frat moved out of the house. Never understood the desire to pay someone to tell you that you can't have kegs.

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Originally Posted by CloneIce

Never understood the desire to pay someone to tell you that you can't have kegs.

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You mean like living on university owned property? :eek:

I read the original post and thought, hey, here's a thoughtful kid looking for a little advice - I think I can help. Then I scanned through all the replies and thought, man I don't care. Reading all of this crap reminded me how wrapped up kids are in the small stuff. Dorm people hate greeks, greeks could care less what the dorm people think.

Kid - make the choice that makes sense for you. I was in a house at ISU and it helped me through the experience. I stay in contact with most of the guys throughout the 25 years I've been out, and the house is still home base every home football game. No matter how long I've been away, the house is still "my house" and the current inhabitants - even they could be my kids - are my brothers. I've never lived in the dorm - perhaps they feel the same way.

I advise you to "Tri Delt"..... everyone else has.

Joining a frat is fine, just dont do anything stereotypical of a fratter and youll be ok. =)

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Originally Posted by Bader

You mean like living on university owned property? :eek:

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Yeah, that is completely ridiculous to me.

I lived in 4-7 bedroom houses in West Ames through college. My advice is to buy the crappiest, cheapest house you can find, party like crazy, and don't ever expect a deposit back. Buy a house where you can clean the floor with a shop-size push broom. Expect to have many "nuisance party violations" written in your name.

The only way you'll know for sure is to visit each one.

It is amazing how you, Clones Jer, can move a topic and make it about you. These, are your posts in this thread. Most don't add one bit of value (my opinion) to this thread and you keep coming back.

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Originally Posted by clones_jer

I would advise a year in the dorms and then get an apartment with some friends (you know, the kind you don't have to buy)

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typical smart *** comment.

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Originally Posted by clones_jer

good luck to you then, just don't get stuck with the cracker.

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see above.

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Originally Posted by clones_jer

seven intramural shirts here - no frat living.

also have a championship shirt from whatever that soho flag football tournament against violence is. 20 frat teams, 2 independants and we brought home the trophy. BTW: if any of you get a team in that tournament it is the best time ever - they basically allowed full on blocking and it was a way better time than normal intramurals.

your mom will always be proud of you ... say no to frat life as yes to independant thought.

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stroke and then see above

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Originally Posted by clones_jer

"The 300" greek?
or
"My big fat greek wedding" greek?

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give a little break on this one, as it was a bit funny.

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Originally Posted by clones_jer

ok, you're right that came out wrong. I was trying to let him know you don't have to be in a frat to have good times in intramurals. ego-checked (for the time being)

yes, totally. They had free ice cream bars at work a little while ago - but I could go for a cookie.

I disagree.

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realized you went too far... then started back up with the 'see above'

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Originally Posted by clones_jer

Congratulations! You can change the wording a little and insert this post into any of the following:

• any beer thread (snobs verses rednecks)
• any music thread (music "purists"/snobs vs popular music crowd)
• any politcal thread
• any lawn care thread
• any ISU/IEU comparison thread

We all are on varying sides of any topic ... take one particular poster for example - he'll drink any beer (more power too him) and thinks of others as snobs but he's going to be dang uppidy about music choices because its something he's invested in.

My posts in this thread are the equvalent to whoever those guys were telling you you spend too much time / $ on your lawn. It's not a revalation, everybody disagrees and chides each other all day on this board.

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kettle meet pot and see above.

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Originally Posted by clones_jer

For your ammusement:

I've hung out with a lot of greeks from the Gods gifts (TKE) to the closest thing to the animal house movie (Theta Xi) to whatever that one is with the big deck just a few north of the Farm House.

I had some good times and a lot of free steaks & beers my freshman year at a lot of them while they attempted to recruit randomly (some of them must have sales goals, it was worse than the army recruiter in the mall)

The "buying your friends" has nothing to do with the financial comparison of cost between dorms and frats. It has everything to do with you buying into a secret handshake winkwink club rather than taking on the challenge of obtaining a group of friends from the population of Ames as you begin your college career.

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yet again.. a swipe ... then a smart *** comment.

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Originally Posted by clones_jer

lame is a cookie in the center of a circle.

besides, THEY pay YOU to be in band or athletics ... totally different.

its much closer to paying the "who's who" book fee.

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can you let it go? ... anything go?

Personally, I don't care for the Greek system... I really didn't have anything nice to say or to add in the topic... so I *gasp* stayed away, since the ORIGINAL POSTER was asking for input.

-keep.

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Originally Posted by CloneIce

Yeah, that is completely ridiculous to me.

I lived in 4-7 bedroom houses in West Ames through college. My advice is to buy the crappiest, cheapest house you can find, party like crazy, and don't ever expect a deposit back. Buy a house where you can clean the floor with a shop-size push broom. Expect to have many "nuisance party violations" written in your name.

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I wish I would have bought a house back then. Would have been nice to build up some equity and rent out some rooms to others. Instead I blew too much money on crappy apartments. Byrd Manor was nice, but the Westbrook apts sucked.

I dont get all the two way hate in this thread...do you meet people at ISU games and say "hey did you attend ISU, oh yeah where did you live frat or dorms?" It doesn't matter one way or the other college goes by waaaay to fast live it where ever you live!

I like my house since we are "damp". Thats means no alcohol on the weekdays. That allows you to focus on your studies during the week but then have a good time on the weekends. It gives you an incentive to get through the week.