Question about fraternities and senior citizens....

[SeaSpray]

My FIL went back to college last year, for culinary/cooking. This is his second year, at a 2-year community college. A little background: He's in his early 60's, and previous to this he worked for his sister's (DH's aunt's) bake shop which closed down last year.

Yesterday his wife (not DH's mother, this is his stepmother) called to tell us that FIL is being inducted into a fraternity next week. She was very excited about this and told me what an honor it was, etc. She knows that I have religious meetings on that night, so asked me to please let DH know about this (DH is not the same religion as me, so he'd be home on that night). I thanked her for calling and told her that I would definitely pass this info on to DH.

I did. Last night, I told DH exactly what MIL said. I asked him if he was interested in going, and he immediately said "no". I was a little surprised at this, but I am not going to get involved and try to tell him to go or not go. He obviously made a decision quickly, because he didn't even hesitate when I asked him.

So.....my question for all of you is: How big of a deal is it for a person to get inducted (is this the correct term?? lol) into a fraternity, while going to a 2-year community college, when you're in your 60s?? Am I missing something here? Is he going through a second childhood, or is it a big honor, and I just don't realize it? I am genuinely wondering these things. In all honesty, if it were me, I would probably not be interested in a fraternity at that age. DH even made a crack last night, saying "Well I guess they needed someone over age 21 to buy the booze". LOL I know he was being facetious, but it got me wondering why an older person would bother with a fraternity.

Any and all comments and insights appreciated


Edited to add: FIL has no intentions of getting a job in this field after college. He went back to school last year to have "something to do", and he's always had an interest in cooking/baking, and also because since he's a senior citizen, he's had most of his fees and tuitions paid for him.

 

[amid chaos]

Chances are it is an academic fraternity and not an 'Animal house" social fraternity. it's a pretty big deal...it means that he was invited to join due to his academic standing.

 

[SoonerKate]

Could it be an honor fraternity of some sort? IFC Fraternities (what you probably think of when the word "fraternity" comes to mind) generally do not operate chapters at 2-year colleges. Additionally, most social fraternities don't have open initiation ceremonies (Delta Upsilon being a notable exception).

Phi Theta Kappa is the international two-year college honor fraternity; it's considered a pretty big deal, from what I can tell.

 

[decker96]

Is it a social fraternity? Or one related to his classes? At the college I went to, we had the regular social fraternities and sororities, like what you're thinking of and then there were also honor fraternities which were related to your major. At my school, I know the biology, psychology, music and philosophy departments had one. I'm sure there were others too.
My DH is a chiroprator and they had an honor fraternity at the chiropractic school he went to that he got chosen for because of his class rank, grades, etc.
Maybe this is what your FIL is going to be in and that's why his wife said it was an honor to be inducted. I don't know of any 2 year community colleges that have social fraternites. There may be some and maybe because such a wide age range of people go to community colleges, social fraternities are different there. I'd definitely want more info though!

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by SoonerKate
Could it be an honor fraternity of some sort? IFC Fraternities (what you probably think of when the word "fraternity" comes to mind) generally do not operate chapters at 2-year colleges. Additionally, most social fraternities don't have open initiation ceremonies (Delta Upsilon being a notable exception).

Phi Theta Kappa is the international two-year college honor fraternity; it's considered a pretty big deal, from what I can tell.

Thanks for the replies. You know, Phi Theta Kappa sounds familiar. I *thought* MIL had said "Phi Beta Kappa" but that's a pretty large fraternity, isn't it? Do they operate chapters at 2 year colleges?? The 2 names sound a lot alike, so maybe she did say the one that you mentioned.

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by decker96
Is it a social fraternity? Or one related to his classes? At the college I went to, we had the regular social fraternities and sororities, like what you're thinking of and then there were also honor fraternities which were related to your major. At my school, I know the biology, psychology, music and philosophy departments had one. I'm sure there were others too.
My DH is a chiroprator and they had an honor fraternity at the chiropractic school he went to that he got chosen for because of his class rank, grades, etc.
Maybe this is what your FIL is going to be in and that's why his wife said it was an honor to be inducted. I don't know of any 2 year community colleges that have social fraternites. There may be some and maybe because such a wide age range of people go to community colleges, social fraternities are different there. I'd definitely want more info though!

I don't have any other info than what I've already mentioned. I would think that FIL is NOT joining a social fraternity. lol As for academic fraternities, I guess if they invited him to join, that's why he's joining. I just don't know. That's why I figured I'd ask here, where all of the DIS members are a wealth of info

 

[tar heel]

Phi Beta Kappa, the most prestigious national honor association, does not have chapters at two-year colleges. A lot of four-year colleges don't get to get to have a chapter either.

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by tar heel
Phi Beta Kappa, the most prestigious national honor association, does not have chapters at two-year colleges. A lot of four-year colleges don't get to get to have a chapter either.

Thanks, that's what I thought. I looked up the web site for the other fraternity that SoonerKate mentioned, and they do have a chapter at FIL's college, so I think that's the one.

I don't know if I should encourage DH to go to the induction ceremony, or just forget about it since he seems to have made his mind up. I just don't want him to reget not going, later. Then again, he and FIL have an odd relationship. I'm probably better off not even mentioning it again. lol