WORKING in Charlottesville this summer has been incredibly enjoyable and memorable for me, not simply because of the beautiful weather and relaxed social scene, but also the influx of incoming students. As I watch the young men and women touring Grounds, perusing the bookstore and walking the Corner, I become nostalgic and remember three years ago, in the summer of 2001, when I was among their ranks.
I grew up in the Northeast, and following graduation from a mid-size high school, I was unsure of what to expect at a large, Southern school such as the University. I had heard the stories about football games filled to capacity, enormous lecture halls and ACC basketball games. The actual spectacle of any of these, however, was foreign to me. That summer, I traveled to Charlottesville for orientation. The climate was tropical compared to home, and the possibilities for personal growth seemed endless. Strolling around Newcomb Hall, I gathered information on every organization and opportunity imaginable, from Honor and UJC to the Spanish Department and the Corner Meal Plan. Finally in a new place and away from the monotony of high school, I was prepared for anything novel and exciting.
However, as I passed the Greek Governing Council offices, I glanced at their signs and pamphlets, stuck my head in for a moment and continued on my way. Their information was uninteresting to me, because before I came to the University, I swore to myself that I would never become involved in a fraternity. From the information I had gathered, the culture surrounding fraternities was completely backward -- it centered on careless behavior, arrogance and detrimental drinking. When my high school teachers, family friends and peers asked me whether or not I had considered joining a Greek organization, I told them assuredly that there was no way I would ever step foot in a fraternity house. And nothing, I thought, could convince me otherwise.
That fall, after unpacking my belongings, settling into New Dorms and acclimating to my classes, I tired of the days and nights spent watching TV and frequenting the Treehouse during my free time. I sought out ways to experience the University and weave myself into its traditions. I jumped around to countless meetings for several weeks, and then joined a handful of organizations. Getting involved achieved exactly what I had hoped -- it introduced me to people with similar interests, and I developed tremendous respect for the individuals with whom I worked, many upperclassmen.
What was surprising to me, however, was that so many of my new friends and acquaintances were members of fraternities and sororities. As the fall semester continued, I soon realized that a large number of the most respected students at the University were Greek: the Honor Chair, UJC Chair and PK German Chair, in addition to scores of U-Guides, political leaders and intellectuals. Everything that I knew about fraternities was questioned. Because of my own respect for these students, and through a few long conversations with some of them, I decided that I would rush and prove to myself once and for all that the Greek system was not for me.
What I discovered instead during rush was that the Greek system was made exactly for me. Upon visiting a number of houses, I found a fraternity where I truly connected. The brothers and I shared the same values, goals and hopes for our experience at the University. They challenged me not only to question my beliefs about fraternities, but also my beliefs about how I wanted to live my life as a college student. Whereas I thought fraternity men were devoid of character, I realized that they were exactly the opposite -- a community of men brought together by common ideals. They believed in scholarship, leadership, service and lifelong brotherhood. They believed in developing the whole person for life after college. At the end of rush, I, who was convinced never to step foot in a fraternity house, decided to pledge. Now, two and a half years later, involvement in my chapter as well as the Inter-Fraternity Council has been my proudest and most rewarding accomplishment at the University of Virginia.
Most likely, many of you will have a similar experience as you walk around Grounds this summer and enroll as students in the fall. You will be faced with new decisions and new challenges, and throughout, you will be filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. I urge you to embrace this time in your tenure at the University and to take advantage of all the opportunities available to you. Go out and do something different. Make your mark. Get involved in what you are passionate about. But, while you are doing this, do not allow what you know to get in the way of what you can learn -- you just might be surprised.
David P. Bowman is president of the Inter-Fraternity Council.
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