Amherst College - Greek Life

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Formally speaking, Amherst abolished fraternities and sororities some two decades ago, and the College does not tolerate frats on campus. In reality, you can still find a few “underground” frats (but not sororities) that are very much alive and kicking. The general public of Amherst students doesn’t mind their existence, and in fact, these frats usually organize good parties, which are by no means exclusive to frat brothers and their entourages. Like frats at other colleges, being a member takes up considerable amounts of time and dedication, and in return will give you a social center to which other people will inevitably gravitate. Getting into one of the frats is not as grueling and humiliating as getting into a fraternity at a school where frats hold substantial social sway, like UMass, for example, although a few Amherst students have actually pledged UMass frats (ensuing with severe disciplinary repercussions from the College!).

Frat brothers at Amherst walk in the shadows in regards to publicizing their memberships and the goings on inside their frats. To illustrate how repudiating the College is toward frats, merely specifying the names of the existing frats is too perilous to do. The surest and only way to learn all the nitty-gritty details about the frats on campus is through word of mouth, and anyone who expresses interest is sure to be met with more than adequate response. The frats are always on the lookout for more members.

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Students Speak Out

AmhNF says: Amherst College 2012 Biological and Biomedical Sciences

There are a few "underground"... There are a few "underground" frats, but they don't play a major part other than throwing the occasional event. 12345 Greek Life: February 17, 2009 Report

AmhJF says: Amherst College 2012 Undecided

It's small, very self contained... It's small, very self contained and completely underground. I have a few friends pledging, but I have never once been to a frat party, and that's typical. They have their own parties, but the ones most people go to are put together by other groups. 12345 Greek Life: February 16, 2009 Report

AmhKD says: Amherst College 2011 Law and Legal Studies

There are fraternities that are... There are fraternities that are not recognized by the College, so they are all off campus. They throw a couple of big parties throughout the year but aren't a constant on the social scene. Sports teams take the place of frats as far as throwing parties and dominating the social scene. 12345 Greek Life: February 16, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

Greek life was officially ended at... Greek life was officially ended at Amherst in the ‘80s. There is always UMass within walking distance if one needs one’s fill of frat parties. And despite this deficiency at Amherst, there is never a shortage of kegs and hard liquor. 12345 Greek Life Report

Anonymous says:

There is underground Greek life... There is underground Greek life that is pretty marginal, except for a few big parties now and then. 12345 Greek Life Report

Did You Know?

Amherst College followed suit with many Ivy League and other elite schools and abolished frats and sororities. All of these schools made the point that frats and sororities are a bad and ultimately divisive social influence on students and are major contributors to the phenomenon of binge drinking among students. However, some unofficial fraternities still exist.

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