There is only a very small portion of the population that actually like frat boys. It has gotten to the point where even I, a sorority woman who loves Greek life, cannot blame the media for bashing them or for people who are not apart of Greek life, for hating them. Let's face it: Frat boys are obnoxious, often times delinquent boys that have an especially horrible reputation when it comes to how they treat women.

Here's my issue with all these stories tearing apart Greek life: This group of boys that attract so much negative attention are giving real fraternity men an undeserved bad reputation. What so many people don't realize is that in reality, a frat boy and a fraternity man are two very different members of the fraternities around the country.

I hate frat boys. I love fraternity men.

It's time to set things straight.

In your typical social fraternity, there are two types of members: the frat boys and the fraternity men. They belong to the same fraternities and wear the same letters. They are often not just brothers, but good friends with each other. You can't tell the differences between them by the way they look or what they wear (odds are they all dress in the stereotypical apparel). They typically enjoy the same activities as well (gym, partying, etc.). So how am I sure that there really are two different groups?

It's all about how they handle particular situations.

A 'Frat Boy' is a young male who behaves in a boisterous or foolish manner and considered typical of members of most college fraternities (Thanks, Google). These are the boys that we fear at bars and parties; the ones we won't (or at least, shouldn't) accept drinks from; the ones who the media warns us about; the ones that treat women like objects made especially for their entertainment. They exist, there are many and they are dangerous.

They aren't the only members that a fraternity is comprised of though.

A fraternity man is a member of any given fraternity that not only knows the value and purpose of their fraternity but strives to live the meaning behind these words every day. They don't try to get out of the seminars and philanthropic events that the fraternity holds but instead are the ones who organize them. They are the ones who actually look out for women at parties and go out of their way to help sorority women.

Now don't get me wrong, a fraternity man will still enjoy a drink (or five). He's bound to goof off and make a fool of himself when he's with all his brothers. He may even make mistakes and upset a few women along the way. When it comes down to it though, a fraternity man is truly a good guy who wants to better the college he attends and the community he lives in.

My university, the University of South Florida, is fortunate to have a Greek life filled with fraternity men. Not all schools can say the same though, especially as greek life continues to expand.

I am writing this because we hear so much negativity regarding greek life and fraternities that it is easy to question why they even exist. For all the bad though, there is twice as much 'good' being taught to these men about what is really important in life and even how to treat women. Through fraternity men, the community is given thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of community service. Fraternity men are the kind-hearted, intelligent, driven men that we need in this world, so don't let the reputation of frat boys take away from the real fraternity men out there.