Hello! I am a prospective member of the Class of 2023 who is in love with Dartmouth and I am considering applying ED. I am also a gay male with a couple of concerns.
One of the reasons I love Dartmouth is because of the tight-knit community created by such a small and rural undergraduate experience, however, this also raises concerns about the size of the gay and LGBT community on campus. I am curious about how large and vibrant that community is at Dartmouth and whether these concerns are truly valid. Is there a sizable gay population? Is there still a vibrant and active LGBT community despite the small college population and lack of urban center?
Second, how are the frats? I would want to join one as part of my undergraduate experience, but I am hesitant because of the stereotypical ultramasculine, conservative frat bro image that I keep picturing in my head. While I know that’s not a true or fair representation of Dartmouth fraternities, it would be great if someone can talk about gay acceptance at fraternities. Are certain ones accepting while others aren’t? Is it normalized within the Greek system? Does it harm pledgees’ chances? Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated!
I’ve scoured past threads and online articles on the topic, but since it’s such an important decision (4 years of my life after all), I would love to gain more input from current students or those who are familiar with the topic! Thanks in advance
Note - as a parent I don’t speak from firsthand knowledge. My daughter is currently at Dartmouth and is active in the Greek social scene. She has several LGBT friends. There seems to be varying levels of acceptance depending on how far the person strays from traditional cultural norms. Sexual preference isn’t an issue if the person otherwise looks/acts like a typical student. I believe there is one coed frat/sorority that is particularly supportive but I know many of the other frats/sororities also have LGBT members.
@Publisher I am not sure what about my original post makes me seem unfamiliar with the school, but I am actually incredibly familiar with Dartmouth College and I find it’s mostly an amazing fit for me academically and socially. However, I haven’t found a satisfactory and current perspective on gay student life at the college. I know there is the triangle house and OPAL, and I am aware that it is mostly an accepting place. But I want deeper insight into both being gay at Dartmouth and being part of its small, rural, and frat-based environment before I make a choice that defines my next four years.
D, a 13, never encountered anything at Dartmouth comparable to the abuse she suffered in high school. Hmm, that sounds like damning with faint praise, which was not my intent. I don’t believe she ever encountered anything negative at all, even when she and girlfriend went to frat parties or her sorority’s prom. There were people who were considered weird because of their behavior, like the early morning trumpet (?) player, but that had nothing to do with sexual orientation or gender identity: he was just a jerk.
There are definitely some frats with progressive members and outlook, and the non-Greek societies such as Panarchy. If you want a personal contact with a current student who might have a useful perspective, please message me.
