The American college fraternity system is as old as the United States itself, for it was in 1776 that the first secret Greek-letter society came into existence. It was the custom then for students at William and Mary, the second oldest college in America, to gather in the Apollo Room of the Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg, Virginia, to discuss the affairs of the day. On the night of December 5, 1776, five close companions stayed after the others had left and... (Click here to continue) The Origin of Fraternities
I didn't join a fraternity when I was in college, but knew many who did. Some were organized around academic interests (the "engineering" faternity, the "agriculture" fraternity). Some were organized more along social lines: the "jock" fraternity (athletes and their groupies), the "Jewish" fraternity, the "Black" fraternity, etc. etc. Many fraternities, however, didn't seem to have any such evident organizing theme, other than being an alternative to living in the school dorms without actually being in your own apartment.