Fraternity

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Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:

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Originally posted by dbg_fan:
Unless anyone else who has responded has been both a fraternity member AND a D1 baseball player, then all you are really getting are opinions and conjecture. For the record, I am neither of the above.

My son is in his senior year of school and is both a D1 college baseball player and a fraternity member. All of his good friends are on the baseball team. All of his closest and best friends are in the fraternity. It is no coincidence that most of the baseball players are in the same fraternity.

I did not favor the idea of his joining a fraternity. I would say now that joining the fraternity is one of the best decisions my son has made. The network established through the fraternity extends well beyond the students he will meet during his 4 years of attendance. The friendships will last a lifetime.

I do beleive FrankF's Josh was an RA at a fraternity?

I think lots depends on the situation, the school, the coach's philososphy, that particular Greek organization, etc.

I used to think this was not common (baseball players joining fraternities), but finding out it is more than we think.

Yes he was. Like dbg_fan, I can't personally comment considering I was neither either (is that good grammer? ) but my son relished his time in the frat which was commonly known as the "baseball frat". He had to budget his time wisely to get everything he needed done. As far as I know, the Ivies are very much frat/sorority oriented so it isn't the end of the world to join one.

My oldest son was in a frat at SMS (now Missouri State) and they did a lot of community service related things.

To all who worry about their sons joining a frat should realize that they will still be invited to all the "pong", drunken orgies, etc... that the members enjoy. Now where is that sarcasm emoticon when you need it.

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Originally posted by TG:

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Originally posted by gotwood4sale:



Ahhh...the subtleties of the Greek culture.
.
.
.

Seven years of college, down the drain!!!!

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

Schnike! This doesn't look like Gdansk!

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Originally posted by Bee>:
[QUOTE]by CD:
1) cheaper room & board

2) cheaper meals

3) priority parking

4) an expanded social circle

5) extra academic support

6) community visibility via community service projects

7) a few parties

Are these listed in the right order???

Bee

I am sure they would prefer your number two choice but pretty sure what they have is an older gentleman that I believe may have come with the house.

Says the food is pretty good though.

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FRom Bee tell us more I have a wide range of images in mind

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Originally posted by Bee>:
smart money says that freshman initiation to the baseball team is FAR more severe than any that today's frats would dish out

there are some college teams who initiate freshemen each in their own way ...
(review college freshman topics) - imo, a harmless mild hazing

AND - - I will stand by my view that ANY frat "NOW A DAYS", who -

awakened their pledges at 5 am,

ran 'em til they puked,

made 'em do groundskeeping/yardwork,

carry heavy equipment while others do NOTHING,

made 'em work out,

shaved their heads,

would be surrounded by Janet Reno w/tanks . . .
& if that sight itself wasn't eonugh punishment,
would be put on double secret probation, dismanteled, AND thrown off campus



that's pretty much a standard fall semester for a freshman baseball player

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that's pretty much a standard fall semester for a freshman baseball player

* dont forget chasing foul balls in the stands and parking lot.

Have never been a frat member nor a D-1 baseballl player so hopefully I am still entitled to my opinion.

I believe that it is time to get out the old steno pad and start a list of the cons and the pros for a baseball player to join a fraternity. If the pros win out, then I think it is time to get out another sheet of steno paper and make a list of expectations ... positive and negative ... from the player if he joins a fraternity AND the consequences for any behavior identified as unacceptable. If he starts 'slipping' in any of the areas of concern ... I would just make sure that the consequences were enforced (e.g., resign from fraternity).

Now, I realize that these players are considered 'young adults' and many have full responsibility for their educational costs. In those cases, I would not interfere. But being a long time believer that 'them that pays the bills makes the rules', if I were contributing ANY $$ towards the education, I would have a real meeting of the minds with my son as regards what is and what is not acceptable. Altho our son was never interested in joining a fraternity (and none of his teammates were in a fraternity), we did have some serious conversations about consequences for unacceptable behavior ... and fortunately we never had to deal with some of the serious issues that arise for some players.

JMH(old school)O FWIW

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by FBM: I believe that it is time to get out the old steno pad and start a list of the cons and the pros for a baseball player to join a fraternity.

yaaaawn ..... when you were 20 did you sit with Mom & her steno pad??

if so, were you actually listening to pros & cons???

(might be rhetorical)

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by FBM: we did have some serious conversations about consequences for unacceptable behavior ...

there have been waaaay more athletes in the news for bad behavior in the last 5 yrs than frats

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Originally posted by FutureBack.Mom:
steno pad

Steno pad, what's that????

Yeah! playbaseball is here.
I do know what a steno pad is,(I am so old!) these days I think they use a blackberry, I know it's not a dingleberry, gw taught me about that.

Had the same conversation with son concerning joining a frat. Other baseball players are members of the frat he is considering. One of the postives that was mentioned was other frat members are able to help with note taking and keeping up with day to day class activities during long grueling road schedule. I will be attending parents weekend and the topic will be up for discussion. Should be quite interesting listening to his side. I will report the details.

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by c21: One of the positives that was mentioned was other frat members are able to help with note taking and keeping up with day to day class activities during long grueling road schedule.

not to mention the file cabinet containing copies of every test/quiz each prof has ever given for use as a "study guide"

play baseball ...

Look familiar?


Bee> ...

Yes I did sit with my mom and yes I did listen to her ... obviously you have never met my mom

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Originally posted by FutureBack.Mom:
..we did have some serious conversations about consequences for unacceptable behavior ...

Would you make him quit the baseball team if he did something inapproporiate with his teammates?

Beezer ...

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Would you make him quit the baseball team if he did something inapproporiate with his teammates?

We weren't so much worried about his teammates as we were about his relationship with his girlfriend (now wife) of 4+ years

Animal house was a fairly accurate depiction of the fraternity I was in. Add together a kid who was suddenly away from home (and never learned good study habits because high school was a breeze), parties to attend, girls to chase, more parties, and then a few more parties for good luck..... I'd have to say that belonging to a fraternity cost me at least a year if not more towards graduation.

Now not all freshman handle distractions as poorly as I did, but I'd strongly suggest to a student (especially one with the added obligation of playing sports) to at least hold off a year and see how things shake out. (And if my money were going into this deal in any way, shape, or form it would be more than a suggestion).

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I'd have to say that belonging to a fraternity cost me at least a year if not more towards graduation.

"Seven years of college...down the drain"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Vernon Wormer: Mr. Kroger: two C's, two D's and an F. That's a 1.2 grade average. Congratulations, Kroger. You're at the top of the Delta pledge class. Mr. Dorfman?
Flounder: Hello!
Dean Vernon Wormer: Zero point two... Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son. Mr. Hoover, president of Delta house? One point six; four C's and an F. A fine example you set! Daniel Simpson Day... HAS no grade point average. All courses incomplete. Mr. Blu - MR. BLUTARSKY... ZERO POINT ZERO.

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Seven years of college...down the drain

Robert Hoover - public defender, Baltimore

Larry Kroger - editor, National Lampoon

Kent Dorfman - sensitivity therapist, Cleveland

Daniel Dimpson Day - whereabouts unknown

Senator Blutarsky - Wachington DC

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Originally posted by FutureBack.Mom:
Beezer ...

We weren't so much worried about his teammates as we were about his relationship with his girlfriend (now wife) of 4+ years

Sounds like it worked out well...right???