Somewhere in the world of TV, movies, Total Frat Move, and now Old Row, the modern college fraternity man has become some kind of confused cluster of mindless drinking, drugs, and overall douche-baggery. Somewhere, deep underneath layers upon layers of Chubbies shorts, bro tanks, and Rowdy Gentleman shirts, lies a confused 19 year-old who really has no idea what he’s doing, but he knows it will probably end up on Fail Friday. However, next to him is an older brother. From the rise of the Polo Ralph Lauren chest tattoo, to #YetiButts, he has seen it all. And from this lifetime of experience, he’s learned a few things. Most of all he has learned the outstanding difference between the frat bro and the fraternity gentleman.
Tobacco
A frat boy will walk around campus with a half a can of Skoal Apple Pouches in his mouth, spitting on the ground, and holding in his impending nausea because he didn’t start dipping until he saw a sweet video online of some kid packing a full can in his mouth. He’ll also probably rail out a couple, or 10, drunken heaters on the back patio later that night because someone showed up to the party with a pack of cigarettes.
A fraternity gentleman may love to smoke or dip, but he doesn’t need to advertise it. If -- key word is "if" -- he choses to dip on campus, he always has a koozie on his spitter and if he runs into a lady he always asks her to please excuse his tobacco.
Alcohol
The only thing a frat boy does more than drink, is talk about drinking. He always makes sure everyone knows when he is hungover and exactly how many games of BP him and his boy won the night before. He starts every night out at the 18+ bar with a y-bomb right after he washes the Xs off his hands and he usually ends it with his head hanging out of someone’s car yaking.
The fraternity gentleman isn’t perfect, but he knows his limits. He understands that quality is more important than quantity and he always has a safe way to get home. There will still be nights when the fraternity gentleman is blacked out and can’t seem to button his shirt, but he has prearranged a ride home and his friends are keeping him in check.
Women
A frat boy uses the word “slampiece” more than “hello” and loves to tell the world about his escapades. He is known for his extremely inappropriate pick up lines on Tinder requesting things like “OTPHJ’s” and “butt stuff.” At the end of the day, he probably hasn’t kissed a girl sober since high school. But he’s probably told everyone he’s been slanging wood like he was Paul Bunyan.
A fraternity gentleman always respects women. No matter what, he respects them. He may still find himself in a casual one night stand, but he keeps the details to himself and doesn’t take a shacker pic for Snapchat. If by chance he has found himself a nice young lady to become his girlfriend, he never ever cheats on her.
Being a frat boy or a fraternity gentleman goes a lot deeper than just your words or actions. You represent, yourself, your chapter, your brothers, your university, and your family, so please make wise decisions and live well. As the great Robert E. Lee of Old Virginia once said, “Study hard, live cleanly, and most of all, be always a gentleman.”
