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By Adam Gerstenfeld, University of Florida  March 10, 2015 http://college.usatoday.com/

“Oh no, it’s not that kind of fraternity.”

But my mother is still unconvinced. I’ve explained in mind-numbing detail the rush process, pledging, initiation (“it’s all Greek to me” she quips) as a haze of unease continues to settle between us.

“Just…make sure it’s something you want to be a part of.”

Of course it is. How else can I explain the importance of Pi Lambda Phi in my life? A fraternity whose motto is literally the “elimination of prejudice.” An organization who has found their niche at the University of Florida by opening their arms to men of all races, religions and sexualities.

So no, we are most certainly not that fraternity. Which begs the question: who is?

Fast forward to 2015.

It’s certainly been a busy week for the ex-members of the University of Oklahoma’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. One minute, they’re gallivanting to their Founder’s Day celebration and the next day, they’re facing death threats and eviction just days after a video was posted online showing members chanting racist remarks. The clip is just nine seconds long, and manages to contain wildly offensive racial slurs, overt narcissism and references to lynching.

But none of that is what I find most troubling about the video. The truly insidious nature of the clip is that the chorus sounds so familiar to these men. Tear down the insulting language, and what you really have is a group of people saying, you don’t belong and you will never belong. Now, to be clear, the fraternities of today are not the Animal Houses of your father’s generation. Gone are the days where university heads will glance at these fraternal antics, shrug and explain away “boys will be boys.” Zero-tolerance hazing policy is the status quo. However, the elitist attitudes have struggled to die, and there’s a few reason why that’s the case.

1. They are expensive

Yes, those almost cartoonishly large mansions did not pay for themselves. Fees can easily skyrocket into the thousands when you consider meals, housing, social expenses, among other costs. So it’s not exactly rocket science to see that Mom and Dad have to have a pretty full bank account to let Junior go Greek. Now consider this: according to a Pew study, in 2013 white households were on average, thirteen times wealthier than black households. And they were ten times wealthier than Hispanic households. And so, along with fraternities splitting their base along socio-economic lines, there is also the uncomfortable separation amongst races that comes along with it.

2. They were created to be secretive

Fraternities as we know them today really began after the Civil War in the late 1800s, and they were designed to promote honor, scholastic interests, and gentlemanly behavior, all under the guise of secrecy. Today we have secret handshakes, secret chants, secret rituals…all things that might cause an outsider to pause and deem “cult-like.” But for us, these traditions have meaning, and serve as a connection to generations of people before us. They’re fun, and they’re powerful forms of cohesion. But it’s still something your best friends outside the pact can’t know about.

3. They exclude women

Uh…obviously?

Of course, there aren’t women in fraternities, that’s what sororities are for, you say (with respectful recognition toward co-ed honor societies and service fraternities). But what comes out of this divide is an interesting discrepancy. When socials happen, one gender grouping must go to the residence of the other. And since the decision made by the 26 sororities in the National Panhellenic Council to ban alcohol in chapter residencies, most of the in-house parties are held in fraternity houses. Which means essentially in many cases where alcohol is involved, the women must come to the men. This sets up a bit of an odd precedent if you think about it: men can dominate the social arena because you can’t very well kick someone out of their own home.

How fraternities are opening their doors

So what does this all mean? Is the fraternity system as we know it today simply too outdated for 21st century inclusivity? I don’t think so, but I also recognize the need for change. One way I’ve seen my own fraternity open up is by offering merit-based scholarships, so fees become a lower barrier. And not all fraternities pride themselves on secrecy: the Delta Upsilon fraternity was built on a foundation of a “secret-less organization,” where many rituals are open to the public. To be sure, I’m proud of being in a fraternity, just as I’m proud of standing for values of diversity and inclusion. Let’s hope more fraternities take these values to heart.

(Length: 795 words)

Since ancient times, our ancestors were sure that all people have common ancestors. In the mythology of almost every nation there is a myth explaining both the creation of the world and the appearance (and subsequent reproduction) of people. The most famous is the story from the Bible about the creation of Adam and Eve, the first people on earth. This plot has been used thousands of times in various forms of art, carrying the idea of ​​consanguinity of all people: living, living and future generations. The call to unite people is often heard by world classics. An example is the famous ode «To Joy» by F. Schiller, which was used by L. Beethoven in the finale of his ninth symphony. «People are brothers among themselves. Embrace, millions! Merge in the joy of one!» These lines sound solemn and sincere, one truly believes in the possibility of world unification, renunciation of war.

Sometimes people of completely different nationalities easily find a common language. . If a person discards racial stereotypes, then people of different nationalities can become real friends. There is no need to be afraid to show positive feelings towards people of another nationality, to pay attention to condemnation from other people. For example, in Leo Tolstoy’s novel «War and Peace», Pyotr Rostov was ashamed of his good feelings towards a French boy. He considered it shameful to make friends with the «enemy», because at that time Russia was at war with France. But Russian partisans will become an example of tolerance for Rostov in relation to people of another nation. They will give the boy an affectionate nickname «Spring», they will take care of him as if they were their Russians. Thus, for Pyotr Rostov, this became an important lesson, he realized that the partisans see the boy first of all as a person, not at all paying attention to the fact that he is French.

1. But my mother is still unconvinced.
2. I’ve explained in mind-numbing detail the rush process, pledging, initiation (“it’s all Greek to me” she quips) as a haze of unease continues to settle between us.
3. How else can I explain the importance of Pi Lambda Phi in my life?
4. A fraternity whose motto is literally the “elimination of prejudice.”
5. An organization who has found their niche at the University of Florida by opening their arms to men of all races, religions and sexualities.
6. So no, we are most certainly not that fraternity.
7. It’s certainly been a busy week for the ex-members of the University of Oklahoma’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
8. One minute, they’re gallivanting to their Founder’s Day celebration and the next day, they’re facing death threats and eviction just days after a video was posted online showing members chanting racist remarks.
9. The clip is just nine seconds long, and manages to contain wildly offensive racial slurs, overt narcissism and references to lynching.

• But none of that is what I find most troubling about the video.
• The truly insidious nature of the clip is that the chorus sounds so familiar to these men.
• Tear down the insulting language, and what you really have is a group of people saying, you don’t belong and you will never belong.
• Now, to be clear, the fraternities of today are not the Animal Houses of your father’s generation.
• Gone are the days where university heads will glance at these fraternal antics, shrug and explain away “boys will be boys.”
• Zero-tolerance hazing policy is the status quo.
• However, the elitist attitudes have struggled to die, and there’s a few reason why that’s the case.
• Yes, those almost cartoonishly large mansions did not pay for themselves.
• Fees can easily skyrocket into the thousands when you consider meals, housing, social expenses, among other costs.
• So it’s not exactly rocket science to see that Mom and Dad have to have a pretty full bank account to let Junior go Greek.
• Now consider this: according to a Pew study, in 2013 white households were on average, thirteen times wealthier than black households.
• And they were ten times wealthier than Hispanic households.
• And so, along with fraternities splitting their base along socio-economic lines, there is also the uncomfortable separation amongst races that comes along with it.
• Fraternities as we know them today really began after the Civil War in the late 1800s, and they were designed to promote honor, scholastic interests, and gentlemanly behavior, all under the guise of secrecy.
• Today we have secret handshakes, secret chants, secret rituals…all things that might cause an outsider to pause and deem “cult-like.”
• But for us, these traditions have meaning, and serve as a connection to generations of people before us.

unconvinced not certain that something is true or can be relied on or trusted.

detail to report minutely and distinctly

explain make (an idea or situation) clear to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts.

fraternity a group of people sharing a common profession or interests.

organization an organized group of people with a particular purpose, such as a business or government department.

meaning what is meant by a word, text, concept, or action.

busy having a great deal to do.

celebration a special enjoyable event that people organize because something pleasant has happened or because it is someone’s birthday or anniversary

contain have or hold (someone or something) within.

find discover or perceive by chance or unexpectedly.

insidious proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very harmful effects.

language the principal method of human communication, consisting of words used in a structured and conventional way and conveyed by speech, writing, or gesture.

generation  those being a single step in a line originating from one ancestor

university a high-level educational institution in which students study for degrees and academic research is done.

hazing obscure with a haze.

reason a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event.

cartoonishly In an unrealistically simplified or humorously exaggerated manner reminiscent of a cartoon or caricatur

skyrocket a rocket designed to explode high in the air as a signal or firework.

science knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested

consider think carefully about (something), typically before making a decision.

Household a house and its occupants regarded as a unit.

uncomfortable causing or feeling slight pain or physical discomfort.

promote support or actively encourage (a cause, venture, etc.); further the progress of.

Handshake an act of shaking a person’s hand with one’s own as a greeting.

tradition an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action