I’m totally vibing with this article from the NY Times Magazine about fraternities being forced to go dry. The author, who didn’t see himself as a fraternity man but ended up joining an eclectic chapter, has mixed feelings about the alcohol-free initatives (instead praising the wet-Sig Eps “Balanced Man Program”). He also came out to his fraternity while in college.

Sometimes I still can’t believe I actually joined a fraternity in college. Somehow I managed to be oblivious to the fact DePauw was 85% Greek before I started as a freshman in 1993, and I subsequently went through Rush with the rest of the majority of men in my class. My fraternity days were a lot of fun, mixed with a certain amount of apprehension based on my closeted status. But I wouldn’t trade them, because they’ve contributed to whom I am today.

Working now as a college student affairs professional, I’m appalled and embarrassed at some of what I did as a undergrad… but I also think many current university policies of no-tolerance in regards to drugs and alcohol miss the mark. A certain number of college students are always going to drink. That’s why I’m such a supporter of the social norming approach, in order to help students make responsible choices about their alcohol use.

One crazy thing the article reminded of was fraternity theme parties. One of the fraternities at DePauw stages a mock funeral and wake every year (which I discovered is a nation-wide tradition) — basically, an excuse to get drunk. I used to love brainstorming ridiculous theme fraternity party ideas — my favorite was the “Inherit the Wind” party (reenact the Scope Monkey trial and then get drunk over disappointment at the ruling).