Heroic Fraternities

An original vision for redefining American manhood in an age of anxiety and an era of socioeconomic change, Heroic Fraternities examines the impact of the “frat film” genre (invented by Animal House) on ideas about “real” men and “real” fraternities that permeate the culture, and led the news media to increasingly equate the supermajority of fraternity men with the outrages of a few. The ugliest cases have sparked a drive to Abolish Greek Life, even though studies show rates of misconduct don’t change when fraternities disappear. Common sense suggests that young men are struggling to build balanced adult male identities in a world where campus leaders call for them to be “less bad” and activists acknowledge male allies with #notallmen. The irony of the abolition movement is what they seek to destroy is also one of the more certain routes to save America’s men from the alienation of a society in crisis. Fraternities are uniquely positioned to address soaring rates of substance abuse, anger, and despair by providing men with the support, friendship, and multiple role models they need. Examining fraternity life in the SEC, ACC, and Big Ten conferences, this book presents reasons for hope—and heroism—at all colleges.