When a freshman hears the word “fraternity,” the first thing that goes through his head is Hollywood’s adaptation of college life and the fraternity experience, but Michael Schmitz, respiratory therapy junior and two-year member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, would disagree.

“Everyone comes in with this predetermination that the only thing fraternities like to do is drink and party,” Schmitz said. “Just because you’re in a fraternity doesn’t mean that’s the only thing you care about. You get to meet other member’s families. It’s actually a really nice family environment.”

Fraternity recruitment week started last Sunday, beginning with all six Interfraternity Council fraternities getting together and giving a 30-minute presentation about their chapter and its mottos. On Monday and Tuesday, fraternity members organized various events for potential members.

Austin Leveridge, one-year member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and business management freshman, said these events are a way for students to get to know members of the different fraternities.

“We played kickball Monday with the potential rushees and the second day we played football in the quad with them,” Leveridge said. “I know other fraternities cooked out or brought them to member’s houses to hang out. It’s just a time to interact with the new guys looking to rush.”

Then came the bids, during which fraternity members met to discuss students interested in their organization.

“An hour before they bring them in and they hand them all the envelopes of their bids from different fraternities,” Leveridge said. “They then go into a room and they get to sign their bid.”

Then on Friday at 6 p.m., all the fraternities were waiting with the organizations’ shirts on a table. The new members then got to pick up the shirt of the fraternity they are joining.

The only Multicultural Greek Council fraternity, Omega Delta Phi, will handle recruitment later in the semester.

The 56 members of the MSU chapter of SAE are required to keep a 2.8 GPA, contribute 10 community service hours,  and behave as a “true gentleman.” One of their main mottos is “friendship, scholarship and service.”

Leveridge said he is somewhat new to the fraternity experience, but he said fraternity life is really about helping people, community service and putting on events. He said members are also held to  high moral standard.

“A lot if it is actually getting out there and knowing brothers, and helping people whether they’re a brother or someone in the community,” Leveridge said. “We have to do rituals and community service and throw events. I really enjoy that.”

Along with the other fraternities at campus, Tau Kappa Epsilon also participates in community events. Schmitz said some of the community service that TKE participates in is an annual event to raise money for St. Jude’s Children Hospital. He said they also help with the Alzheimer’s walk at Sikes Lake.

“You feel like you are actually giving something to the community,” Schmitz said. “It’s really nice to get to do community service with all of the members.”

According to Schmitz, TKE has roughly 25 members, and he said his fraternity  is like having a second family. He said being in TKE gives him a sense of accomplishment, and he feels he is enjoying college a lot more because of it.

“One of our main mottos is ‘Betterment for a better world,’ ” Schmitz said. “It means that through our organization, we can take men in college and make them better. It means teaching them things so that they can go out after college and make the place a better world. I’ve also made some connections through my fraternity and actually got two jobs from just knowing people.”

Leveridge said incoming freshmen, or freshmen who choose not to rush this year, should take Greek life into consideration. He said students “should rush just to better themselves.”

“They teach you new morals and it holds you to a higher standard,” Leveridge said. “That’s why I would rush, just to get that experience and to have people hold you to a higher moral standard. Everyone who is coming into a fraternity may think that it’s all about partying. But that’s not what it’s about at all.”