As a varsity student i stayed in the mens residence for a semester long ago which was basically a fraternity, which had a leadership hierarchy and rules, it was much like a gang, there were alot of fights with rival houses/fraternity's

The main thing about a fraternity is that you are basically forced to suuport your house like it or not, so you typically have to go watch your brothers' sports games, get your body painted up in your house colours, make banners and build floats for varsity rally's etc it was like 'highschool spirit' type stuff but on steroids.

The most memorable 'missions' i can remember were when our leader said we needed more pot plants in our residence, we were in block A, and the group came up with the idea to go into the neighbourhood and steal pot plants from peoples gardens, likewise another time we we were on a mission to serenade one of the female sorority's with flowers and songs, and we went out at midnight to one of the embassy's to steal all the roses from their garden for our serenade mission.

I never was. However, a friend of mine got a job as the caretaker at a frat at a small college over the summer when everyone was away. I visited it with him once.

Dear dog, I thought a bomb had gone off. The place was a wreck. I mean, not just trash everywhere, but things like big gaping holes in the walls and some of the doors. And it smelled like death warmed over.

yeah, some of the best times of my life.

Back in college I was, it was a different time.

I pledged an academic sorority in college (primarily for musicians). Because it was overseen by faculty, there was a minimum of hazing and the atmosphere of craziness that defines many of the social Greek organizations. Most of the women I meet nowadays who are members are also working musicians, but that wasn’t what I ended up doing for a living.

Yes, in college. It was the only way to have a social life at our university. Things are a lot different now, 50 years later.

no but i have heard horror stories about them

The Pikes at the University of Cincinnati, it was disbanded by the Nationals for being too wild.

People don't realize how much they can cost. My daughter's bestie was in one and between dues & various other fees, it was hundreds of dollars a semester. Not to mention all the mandatory events they had work.

Fraternity for a year or so. No more ridiculous than any other social grouping.

No thank goodness

Only their party’s
Crazy times!

Those things don't really exist as part of Australian tertiary education culture, same as debutant balls, prom nights, etc.