TO THE EDITOR:
I live off campus in Carrboro. The majority of my friends are “GDIs” and “hipsters,” the antithesis of “frat boys.” Throughout my nearly two years at UNC, I have witnessed tension and mutual disdain between said groups. I usually only hear one side of the story — that fraternity members are privileged elitists. While I try to keep an open mind and not brand entire groups of people, the opinions of my friends definitely weigh on me.
However last Friday my outlook changed after I attended my first frat party in the house behind Beta Theta Pi. I was shocked at the hodgepodge of different people and the acceptance of the fraternity members. Instead of the homogenous crowd I anticipated, people of various races and sexual orientations mingled as if they had all pledged and received bids in the fall.
While one of my inebriated friends left the party yelling profanities disparaging Greek life, I departed thinking that the intrinsic differences between frat boys and GDIs are not that profound. Sure the former prefers a BMW while the latter has bussing, metro and walking, but regardless, both groups experience a relatively similar college lifestyle. And even if there’s not that much in common, why not find someone everybody can agree to direct their contempt toward (Larry Drew II, anyone?).
Alexander Chechik
Sophomore
Chemistry and Russian