The Charlatan, Carleton's Independent Student Newspaper - Oct 6, 2007

Fraternities: about more than just beer?
Fraternities focus on schoolwork and philanthropy too

By MARGARET CAPPA

Drinking, beer and keggers. These words make up the stereotype Carleton’s fraternity members say they want to break. Nick Bright, president of the Sigma Pi fraternity, says he dislikes when people prejudge him based on his fraternity involvement.

“As a president that works towards professionalism, when you hear someone say, ‘Oh, you’re one of those guys,’ it’s frustrating and ridiculous. But, it’s one of those things you become used to,” he says. Stereotypes stem from many sources but many “frat guys,” as they are often called, say they think Hollywood movies are the main culprit. Tony Phillips, senior dean at the Acacia fraternity, says that he thought fraternities were “no good” at first.

“I saw Hollywood movies, like Animal House, and saw fraternities in a bad way,” he says. The negative image portrayed in this movie was one of the reasons he did not join a fraternity until later during his undergraduate years, he adds.

Fraternity members interviewed say they do not deny that they drink and party, but they maintain it is done in a responsible manner. They say they party the same way any other university student does.

“We party and we drink, not because we’re in a fraternity, but because we are in university,” says Carlos Chacon, a founding father of Carleton’s Kappa Sigma chapter. “I think I break a lot more stereotypes than I fit,” says Phillips. “I drink, yes, but responsibly.” He adds that Acacia is strict with underage drinking and has a risk manager present at all house events, who cuts people off when they have had too much to drink.

Bright says throwing keggers in the Sigma Pi house is a great act of disrespect to their fraternity. He says that Sigma Pi has been around for 110 years and breaking that tradition shows a lack of appreciation for what they have built up.

So if these guys did not join a fraternity to drink and party, why did they join? Some fraternity members say they joined for the sense of camaraderie, much like athletes feel on a sports team.

“I had played sports all my life and when I came to Carleton I found I was losing that sense of brotherhood. That’s why I wanted to join [a fraternity],” says Chacon. Other young men are simply looking for a place to belong, make lifelong friends and network, says Bright.

“One reason I joined was to get to know people — to network — and to help me with future jobs. Once you’ve graduated [there are] 80,000 alumni you have [can contact]. Almost every job I’ve had has been through a brother,” he says.

Fraternity members, called “brothers,” say they see many rewarding outcomes that come with brotherhood. Phillips says his brotherhood is always there when he needs help “Brotherhood is calling them in a time of need and knowing they’ll be there. That’s what a brother does,” he says

Sigma Pi, Acacia and Kappa Sigma all require that members maintain a certain grade point average to remain in the fraternity. They also have programs and systems in place to help their brothers succeed academically.

Kappa Sigma has a room in their fraternity house that is quiet 24 hours a day for study. “I’ve helped my brothers countless times with schoolwork,” says Chacon.

Bright, from Sigma Pi, explains that when anyone in their brotherhood is struggling academically they can immediately see a scholarship advisor or past alumni who had the same major.

Besides academics, philanthropy is a main pillar for these fraternities.

The Carleton chapter of Kappa Sigma is ranked among the top three North American Kappa Sigma fraternities for community involvement even though it has only been an established chapter since March 17, 2007, says Chacon. Kappa Sigma’s official adopted charity is the Childhood Cancer Foundation Candlelighters Canada.

One of the groups Sigma Pi raises money for is the SAM Spady Foundation. Samantha Spady was a 19-year-old student at Colorado State University who died of alcohol poisoning in 2004. Sigma Pi adopted this foundation to demonstrate the extreme importance of drinking in moderation, says Bright.

To help break stereotypes, fraternities and sororities at Carleton have recently come together to form the Greek Council. They say they hope this will establish them as recognized clubs on campus. Phillips, who is also council president, says the body governs and provides a framework for Carleton’s Greek community. Most importantly, “it will show Carleton campus we break those stereotypes,” said Phillips.