Yet it is hard to overlook much of what is behind a fraternity's existence. As humorous as they may be, I have difficulty justifying hazing events such as "Food Beirut." (Especially knowing that hazing events at other schools are often far worse.) It is even more difficult to overlook the social ills and dangerous circumstances fostered by fraternities that at best result in uncomfortable social situations and, at worst, result in horrific events like the death of Scott Kruegger at MIT.

My trip to see Todd and Brian last fall epitomizes my mixed feelings about fraternities. When I was there for a football game, I was amazed by the scene. The tailgates before the event, which included a slip-n-slide powered by beer, put Harvard Springfest to shame. Every station featured a large barbecue, keg and music (one tailgate even had a live band performing on top of a van). But most importantly, almost everyone at the school actually attended the tailgates. Such school spirit would never surface at Harvard, (Don't be fooled, though--just like at Harvard, no one at their school goes to the game, but at least everyone is there beforehand, getting drunk at the tailgates.)

How was such success obtained at a school with worse athletics than any Ivy League university? Through the fraternities running the events. All of them flew their Greek letters above their post, and each tried to outdo the others so their station would be the most popular. Since the social life at my friends' school revolves around these fraternities, the event was both fun and well-attended.

Not that all their fraternities are godsends. The evening before the game, a few of us were touring the night scene, and while waiting on line for a fraternity party we saw a student thrown down a large flight of stairs onto the concrete. A brother of the house hosting the party ran to the bloody and injured student, seemingly to offer help, but instead proceeded to beat and kick the student until his friends finally intervened.

The event might have made quite a stir on the Harvard campus. It would probably have garnered a lead story in The Crimson. But at my friends' school the event seemed more commonplace. "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you about this house," said Brian after the spectacle. "They're all body builders here. They're not on any sports teams or anything--they just work out so they can kick the shit out of everyone."

The contrast was striking and made me wonder whether Harvard is better or worse for not having a fraternity system. Regardless of the answer, I wonder whether there is a way to achieve the best of both worlds--to foster campus unity, camaraderie and crazy night life created by fraternities while not jeopardizing the safety or political correctness of Harvard.

Many would argue it's not possible. Some say that it's the hazing that fosters the camaraderie within fraternities. Others say what makes fraternities so much fun is the fact that members always live dangerously and parties are out of control. Even if we had fraternities, on a campus as diverse as Harvard, could there ever be college unity?

Perhaps the good and bad are not so separable and Harvard should feel lucky that it is not dominated by the fraternity scene, as are many of our neighboring colleges are. But that doesn't stop me from thinking about the good times I've had visiting Todd and Brian, and wondering if there's something we're missing at Harvard.

Josh was the president of the 124th Guard of The Crimson.