When my boys were growing up, I had two very clear rules for when they went to college: No Penn State. No fraternity.
It became almost a running joke in our house—one I repeated so often it began to sound like my favorite childhood book, But No Elephants by Jerry Smath. Only in my case, it was But No Fraternity! My husband and I were adamant. We had fallen into the same pattern of beliefs that thousands—if not millions—of parents have been fed by the media: that fraternities are nothing but drinking and partying, places where bad things happen. We were convinced nothing good could come from Greek Life.
And yet… just like in the book, my boys didn’t listen.
And, just like in the book, it turned out to be the very best thing they didn’t listen to.
Before my sons’ involvement, we were skeptical at best. But those views changed completely after witnessing the positive, lasting impact that Lambda Chi Alpha at Penn State has had on each of our boys.
Most profoundly, our third son—Aiden, who is autistic and the twin of one of the current Members—was welcomed by this Brotherhood with warmth, respect, and genuine inclusion, despite never formally joining the Fraternity. He was embraced not as an outsider, but as one of their own. The kindness and humanity these young men showed him transformed his college experience and, we believe, his life. That is not something we say lightly.
