Impact of Greek Life at Dartmouth

My son goes to Dartmouth. He is in a fraternity. Several members of his fraternity have established their own 501©(3) organizations. Their collective average GPA is higher than average Dartmouth student’s GPA. A number of his fraternity brothers have started their own business and developed and marketed their own products, robots . . . These kids are extremely intelligent, capable and thoughtful. Most of them have serious girlfriends. The Dartmouth fraternity system is unbeleivably open. Everyone, regardless of whether they are in a particular fraternity or any fraternity or sorority at all is always welcome everywhere. Do kids drink too much? I’m sure they do, but it’s worse when people do it in their rooms behind closed doors rather than at a big public party, where people watch out for one another. There are even a number of kids who pledged the fraternity “dry.” Kids play pong with beer OR water, as they choose. I thought I would be opposed to my son joining the fraternity, but I’ve only seen it as a positive experience and as I’ve got to know his new “brothers”, I am very glad that he has forged his friendships with them and welcome them to my home any time. My son has many friends outside of his fraternity and is involved in many other things, he was on a sports team (he left after two seasons) and writes for various publications, serves as an editor, does independent research, and runs his own company. He also has a very high GPA. There isn’t much going on in Hanover, so the kids look to something to let off steam and have fun. Greek life is there if one wants it, but whether one belongs to a Greek organization or not, Greek life welcomes everyone. Freshman are welcome (no rushing until Sophomore year,though) and fraternities can provide an additional option to Seniors for housing or for Sophomore summer. Nobody is allowed in the living areas during parties, just in the party room in the basement. Greek life really has only served as a positive in my son’s case. Fraternity brothers help each other choose classes, help each other with material, study together, and yes, they also play sports together, go skiing, go hiking . . . Is that such a terrible thing?

No, it’s not! (A terrible thing, that is.) My son is a '19 and is finally eligible to pursue membership. I’m not sure he will, but I would not be against it, especially after your description.