<p>Seriously is a frat just an excuse to have sex with girls and drink beer? I don’t get it.</p>
<p>Well, I guess it could be that to some people and at some schools. But more generally, it a social network that carries with it certain obligations in exchange for presumed benefits. Those benefits may include sex and alcohol consumption, but they may also include saving on hotel costs (bothers from one chapter of a fraternity may stay in the houses of their chapters at other schools) or landing a choice internship. Brotherhood is, at least in theory, a large part of the purpose. In some cases it exists, in others it does not. But then, that is true of almost anything. For instance, one common obligation is enduring hazing. Yet there are many chapters at schools around the country who would never ever give thought to such abusive behavior.</p>