Guest Columnist: Fraternities a value to community, where men can thrive

Under the shade of the stately oaks and broad magnolias, there lives a tradition of excellence at Louisiana State University.

For 150 years, this institution has sought to educate the brightest young minds in Louisiana. During 143 of these years, fraternity men have contributed much to the deep tradition that makes LSU famous. From the founding of Sigma Alpha Epsilon in 1867 to the most recent addition of Phi Iota Alpha Latino fraternity this year, 20 chapters now reside on LSU's campus.

A great majority of fraternity men throughout LSU's history have made overwhelmingly positive contributions to the LSU community, but the
irresponsible, sadistic, and indescribable actions of a handful of fraternity men throughout the years cannot be ignored.

What has happened in the past still haunts the fraternity community but action has been taken to prevent future harm.

Today more than ever, fraternity men are held accountable for their actions. In a partnership with the University's own Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability, Greek men are held accountable for everything from hazing to out of control parties to MIPs and more. In the past decade, the fraternity experience has changed greatly at the University and the fraternity man has changed for the better along with it.

Over 13 percent of the
University's male student population are fraternity members. These brotherhoods are often stereotyped for their party-animal behavior, exclusivity, close-mindedness, and general disregard by the rest of the student population, but this behavior is largely not the case at the University.

As mentioned briefly above, this year the Inter-fraternity Council (the governing body of fraternities at the University) accepted as its newest member Phi Iota Alpha Latino fraternity. This is the first step, small as it is, of many steps that the Inter-fraternity Council will take to reduce the perception of close mindedness and embrace diversity.

Last year alone, the Greek community helped to raise $260,000 for national and
local philanthropies, assisted in raising $150,000 to build two Habitat for Humanity Homes in eight days and donated of more than 50,000 hours of community service.

Finally, contrary to popular belief, the Greek men's GPA consistently remains higher than the male campus average year after year.

Fraternity men are striving for greatness at the University and being a fraternity man gives members access to countless leadership opportunities within individual chapters, the Greek community and beyond. To demonstrate this point, this is the second straight year a member of a University fraternity has been elected as president of the student body.

Being in a fraternity at the University is a fantastic experience that embraces tradition, honor, virtue, respect, integrity and scholarship. Above all else, fraternity membership yields bonds of brotherhood that will last a lifetime.

If you are interested in joining a fraternity at the University, please visit the Greek Life website at www.lsu.edu/greeks to learn more about fall recruitment.

Kenny Durio - IFC President
Andrew Alexander - IFC Secretary