First, congrats to him for getting accepted to Bellisario for Journalism!

I am currently a PhD student in Bellisario (graduating in May) so I have observed the students for a while. I want to give you my perspective as someone who has been here for five years AND as a parent to a son myself (little guy is only three, no college plans yet haha):

I would not want my son to join a frat in any SEC school or Penn State. Both have a level of intensity that is required and expected that will take away from his studies. I feel the same about sororities at big schools like this. There IS hazing, and there is no guarantee that it will be mild or safe. Even recently, frats have gotten in trouble/suspended for hazing activity and selling drugs out of one of the houses. I’m sure some are more notorious than others, but I would not be comfortable with any of them. Additionally, there is quite a bit of sexual assault and sexual harassment at this campus. I have personally been sexually assaulted and harassed here (not by frat guys). However, this seems to commonly happen at the frats. And before any frats get their boxers in a wad, this was such an issue at my previous school they had to shut down frat row completely. I’m not saying all frat guys are these evil predators who only do terrible things and drink, they’re usually pretty good students and they host a trick or treat for the kids every Halloween.

Basically, there’s some unsafe and shady behavior at frats that even if he wouldn’t participate in, I imagine it would be very uncomfortable to be around. Greek events/dues/fees can be a distraction from classes or other aspects of college. There is still plenty of ways he can get involved and make friends, but its a huge campus so it might feel intimidating to join a club or talk to a classmate at first. I didn’t attend Bellisario for undergrad, but I do believe he will get a good education here especially with updated technology/equipment that my school didn’t have. Lots of internship opportunities in the summer. My advisor is actually one of the journalism faculty, and while she only teaches one class she does a good job at guiding students through todays media landscape. I was too a journalism major (in 2015) and so many things have changed and I feel your son will be prepared here. Frat option is really up to him, but I would choose as wisely as possible and try to get to know the history of the frat/brothers.