Are fraternities good or bad? Many arguments have been brought out against them, but there are just as many arguments favoring them.

A fraternity can help a student scholastically. For example if he joins a fraternity and has trouble with mathematics, a math major in the fraternity may coach him. On the other hand, having such a large number in one house (anywhere from 50 to 70 or more, depending on the fraternity) might make it more difficult for a student to keep his mind on his work.

The time a fraternity might affect a student's grades is the pledging period, lasting from 10 to 12 weeks. During this time the pledge has to devote a great deal of time to the fraternity in the form of housework: this is the pledges' job.

Joining a fraternity can also be expensive. Initiation fees usually total approximately $45; dues must also be paid. One benefit of this, however, is that if a student were to travel to another campus, he could stay at the chapter there without paying, since a fraternity is a national organization and has nationwide chapter houses.

To start a fraternity house on a campus, a group gets together and writes to one of the national fraternities. For a period of about one year the group is local. After approval, it becomes part of the national organization.

Many people disapprove of fraternities because of their initiations. For the most part, initiations are well‑controlled, but sometimes they may get out of control.

For example ‑ a few pledges might get together, pick out an active member, throw a sack over his head, and steal him from the other actives. In retaliation the actives might steal a few pledges who would be punished with something like eating dog food.

On the positive side fraternities do much good in charitable work. When the national headquarters collect dues, they many times send a part of them to charity. Not long ago a fraternity held a clothes drive for Korean children; it collected two tons of clothing.

Certainly there is much to be gained socially through a fraternity. It depends on the individual as to whether the fraternity will monopolize his time or detract his attention from the more serious side of college life.