I am someone who is not in Greek life/a sorority, so I am known as what is called a GDI, or a "Gosh Darn Independent." However, some of my closest friends from this year are in Greek life, and even further, they are frat boys.
Now, when I mention fraternities, there is this large stigma surrounding them that they are dirty, predatory, and irresponsible- that all they care about are house parties and sex. This, however, is not completely true. It is also important to note that because I go to Oakland University, Greek life looks drastically different here compared to larger universities like MSU or U of M.
The men I have met here and that I have grown close to are caring individuals. If I need help, support, or just someone to talk to, they will be there for me.
There is this idea that they are a different breed of college students; incapable of compassion and empathy, and this is even further fed by today's media. Movies like "Neighbors", "21 and Over", and "Animal House" all paint fraternity brothers as being wild animals with beer bongs in hand.
This is unfair; just as we shouldn't judge others by their college majors or hobbies, we shouldn't judge people by their Greek affiliation.
I remember my first frat party ever and the first of the semester. That night, I made friends that I still have to this day and that I am sure I will have for the entirety of my college career. Whenever I have a problem, they are who I go to first. Through the intense ups and downs of my first semester, they have been at my side.
It is also statistically proven that fraternity brothers have higher GPAs on average when compared to the entirety of men in the collegiate sphere. They are dedicated people, and their dedication to their chapters exemplify that even further. I have met numerous brothers that are in the Honors College here and also have the same full-ride academic scholarship. They are dedicated to philanthropy and the service projects they take part in. They care about their grades and are mostly dedicated to whatever they plug themselves into.
Yes, they like to have a good time and party. But there are plenty of GDIs who are the same way, so why do we put frat boys under intense scrutiny, this microscope that judges them inside and out?
I have cried on the shoulders of some of these men. I have been prayed over and for by some of these men.
They stand up for me when necessary, and they have my back. I am grateful for my best friends; I am grateful for these fraternity brothers.
