<p>Hi. This question is for a friend of mine who is also applying to Brown but doesn’t have a log on:</p>
<p>How involved with campus activities are the fraternities?</p>
<p>How would you choose which frat to join once you get to Brown (he’s from England where there is no Greek system, and will be transferring in as a junior)? Do the frats have different ‘personalities’ etc?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Anyone? Even if you’re not in a frat, do you know anything about the brothers/greek houses? Thanks!</p>
<p>Two nifty things at Brown:</p>
<p>Alpha Delta Phi is a co-ed literary society that broke off from the frat of the same name in 1992/3. They are on Greek council and live near the other frats, and they have rush / pledge, etc, but they’re really chill. For more about ADPhi, click here: <a href=“http://www.brown.edu/Students/Alpha_Delta_Phi/[/url]”>http://www.brown.edu/Students/Alpha_Delta_Phi/</a></p>
<p>St Anthony Hall is a co-ed literary fraternity. They are not on Greek Council, are smaller than the other frats, and have a house away from the other frats. They’re more “literary” than ADPhi, and have a cool intellectual character. For more about them, click here: <a href=“http://kappa.arrr.net%5B/url%5D”>http://kappa.arrr.net</a></p>
<p>Ooh thanks ILoveBrown! They actually look really interesting for me (an English major). However, my friend was interested in the more typical fraternities. He doesn’t want a frat that is only interested in drinking or elitism but one that is involved on campus and has relaxed, friendly brothers in it. What’s your impression of the regular frats? Thanks again!</p>
<p>Some of the frats can be a little sketch, when taken as a whole. I’ve never met a frat brother who is inherently obnoxious though. If your friend is Jewish, he might want to check out AEPi, which is pretty friendly.</p>
<p>Thanks Rabo. I heard AEPi is good, although he’s not Jewish. How are they sketch? The ones at our school certainly are! Most of them just drink, do drugs, do bad hazing things and can be pretty obnoxious and very elitist! But from what I saw on campus, the frat houses are near the College Green and the dining hall, rather than far away from campus.</p>
<p>For the most part, they aren’t. Some just have certain reputations. For example, a conversation I overheard went:
“I want to drink tonight.”
“We could go to Phi Psi. There’s always something going on there.”
“No thanks, I don’t want an STD.” </p>
<p>Now, I don’t mind Phi Psi myself, but if you’re sober when you go there, you might get that impression. That’s the kind of sketch I’m talking about.</p>
<p>Phi Psi has the reputation of being one of the sketchier frats. But compared to frats in my home town (a major state university town), the hazing and binge drinking is pretty tame.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.thegreek.us%5B/url%5D”>www.thegreek.us</a> will answer all of your questions</p>
<p>Thanks fanimal, I’d never heard of that site! I bookmarked it to send to my friend. I’ll also let him know about Phi Psi. ;)</p>
<p>I go to AEPi occasionally to play poker… pretty friendly people overall…</p>
<p>Thanks water. Are you a Brown student? How do you like it?</p>
<p>Yup… im a freshman right now…</p>
<p>Brown is F U C K I N G amaing…</p>
<p>Wow, so glad to hear your enthusiasm! :)</p>
<p>Lol it really is that good… have you applied?</p>
<p>Yep, as a transfer.</p>
<p>Snap, Phi Psi isn’t sketch. People at Brown just have a negative view of fraternities because Brown is extremely liberal and Fraternities are viewed as conservative institutions associated with negative stereotypes (not in the sense that the members are conservative but rather that a lot of fraternity culture is rooted in tradition). Also, people don’t tend to look beyond the surface of fraternity life and just assume that all the fraternities are complete “Animal House” style places - especially at Brown this isn’t true. Keep an open mind and meet some of the people in different fraternities - each one has its own flavor, and you’ll definitely find people that you like in them.</p>
<p>very well said bogo</p>
<p>im most likely going to join a frat at brown, just because i want a little more of that “traditional” college experience than seems to be the order of the day there</p>