Last Monday morning, I sat down to eat breakfast in the Union facing one of those banks of tables the frat guys pull together. Just as I was finishing, a group of seven students came to sit down at the unoccupied end of the table. The three frat guys snickered and scoffed amongst themselves until one of them walked over to the seven and said,

“You can’t sit here. It’s reserved for my brothers.”

His brothers—the other members of his fraternity. If we look back to the etymology of the word fraternity, we will find that one meaning is, “persons of the same class, profession, or tastes.” The original fraternities were founded on the basis of providing community service and honing the leadership qualities of its members. Although this is still alive in some fraternities, many have turned into purely social organizations. Either way, I have never read anything about fraternities having something to do with hoarding tables and being blatantly mean to their peers.

So, I propose we start thinking about this fraternity thing in another way. Everyone at this university is a member of a larger, greater fraternity.

But why? you might ask. We’ve never pledged or gone through any hazing.

Let’s break down the definition.

Everyone on this campus is in the same class one way or another. I’m not talking about class in the sense of social classes or working classes. Whether your dad is able to buy you Chanel or he has to work an extra job to put you through college, we all go to class together. We all can be classified as university students; we are therefore persons of the same class.

Every student here is doing their work, studying, going to class—it’s our profession. Sure, we’ll be doing different things when we graduate. Some of us will become lawyers; some of us will become teachers. Hell, one of you might even find a cure for cancer. But right now, we’re all in the same boat.

So, maybe right now you’re eating a tuna sandwich with tomato, and the girl next to you decided on turkey with lettuce and onion. We may have different tastes in some respects, but regardless, we all had reasons to study here at the University at Buffalo. We all wanted to further our learning and we all chose to do it in a place where it snows in October.

For one reason or another, we are all here. This is our fraternity.

Brotherhood and sisterhood isn’t limited to members of fraternity or sorority organizations recognized (or not recognized) by the university. It applies to all of us—not only in the confines of the university, but in the world.

That guy sitting alone in Putnam’s with his pizza and chemistry textbook? Invite him to sit with you—he’s your brother.

Those sorority girls holding a bake sale in the Union? Go see what they’re up to—they’re your sisters.

We’re all here sharing this university experience together. We should never deny others access to our friendship and kindness. Those things are not limited to specific groups whether it’s a fraternity, an SA group, or magazine staff. If we stay conscious of these things, work together, and see ourselves as brothers and sisters, citizens of the same world, maybe we could make this place a little better for everyone. At least you could make someone’s day a little brighter.

Peace and Love,

Ann Marie Olivo

Senior Editor