Brotherhood

An Essay on Lambda Chi Alpha

By Brother Mark Crow, ΙΘ212

What are some of the beliefs I hold and some of the many things fraternity means

to me as a member of Lambda Chi Alpha?

Lambda Chi Alpha means belonging. I know that when I need a shoulder to cry

on, or someone to talk to, I can always find a brother who has a genuine interest

in me and who really cares what happens to me — a brother who understands

that I am only human, and that I have soft spots in my personality to which I am

particularly sensitive. He is a brother who offers to help before I have a chance to

ask him. He is one with whom I usually disagree politically and possibly morally,

but with whom I have a common goal and objective and one whom I can accept

for what he is as a brother.

Lambda Chi Alpha means disappointment in myself and my brothers when I

learn we have failed in public relations, or scholarship, or rush, or any one of the

major goals set forth by the brotherhood of ΛΧΑ. I am disgusted with myself

when I realize I have done nothing to better my fraternity or the campus or the

Greek system, as I am about to pull the covers over my head after a day of

lounging in the coffee shop. I have to ask myself, “Did I go 100 percent today?

Why am I in college, if not to become a man with mature ideas and goals in life?”

Lambda Chi Alpha means feeling proud. I am proud to say to my friends, “I am

a member of ΛΧΑ.” This doesn’t mean that I imply with arrogance that I am

better than he because I am a ΛΧΑ. It means that I am proud of the ideals set

forth by ΛΧΑ and feel fortunate that I was lucky enough to have been chosen as

one of the 18 men in my pledge class.

I am not ashamed to say, “I love ΛΧΑ.” I feel that if I ever reach the point when I

cannot say that I love my fraternity, I don’t belong. It is my duty to make a place

in the Fraternity that will require four men to replace me when I leave. It is then

my duty to find a man to replace me.

When a job cannot be tackled with enthusiasm, it is a sign of a dying love for the

brotherhood. Should there ever be a reason or excuse for griping? Pledgeship

should have taught that there are many jobs in the Fraternity and that someone

has to do them. Why not with enthusiasm?

Brotherhood is developed and learned — by working on a homecoming display

all night, or spending long hours at song practice, or learning new football plays.

The true brotherhood is one created through and by the sacrifices of the total

membership working together through and by the sacrifices of the total

membership working together toward common goals. The brotherhood then

created is a sweeter one and more rewarding. If each man does his part, he won’t

have to ask, “Why can’t we have brotherhood any more?” If he does his part, he

will be experiencing and be a part of a true brotherhood.