(side note)

True brotherhood.

When it comes to fraternity house cleanings, & losing some of one's best friends, the word "brotherhood" takes a hard hit indeed. In fact, some would rather walk out/disaffiliate from the fraternity in situations of this magnitude.

But why is that? you might ask. First off, seeing their very own HQ altering the house culture is a bit much to take; not only that, but they feel all the traditions, antics & practices which defined their house's existence are going to be thrown out the window in the process. This is to say that the nationals are cramping their style & they don't want to see any progress or changes of any kind being made to their respective chapters.

Secondly, in the case of house cleanings, the duders who are fortunate enough to stay on as fraternity members are in a state of shock as they're trying to cope with losing not just their roomies but also their closest friends in the house. Sensing that life at the house won't be quite the same without them, they'd rather bail than watch the slow-but-sure transformation of their house into one of the best flipping chapters on campus, period.

Finally, they don't know what the word "brotherhood" truly means unless they're willing to stay the course & see the positive alterations taking place...For such folks who won't take the initiative to give the house the 360 degree improvement which it needs, their loss if they walk away when they're needed most to steer their chapter in the right direction.

True brotherhood should transcend the cliques, the silly spiel of "follow the leader" (that is, when some of one's own get kicked out of the fraternity, the natural thing to do at this point is to leave as well). For those who are proud to survive & overcome the house cleanings, there are definitely going to be better & brighter days ahead.