Since sixth grade, football has been a huge part of my life. I always knew the kid next to me would back me up. If I lost a block he would pick it up, and if he lost the block then it was my responsibility. There were no individuals - we were a team. Whether we were good friends off the field or not, I knew that these kids would protect me in the game. We were more than friends. We were family.

By the end of my freshman year of college, however, I didn’t feel like I had this family. If you go to Syracuse, you can most likely be described as an athlete, a Greek, or a G.D.I. (God- Damned Independent). Out of almost 12,000 undergrads, 20 percent, or 2,400 students, are involved in one of the 47 social, ethnic, or multicultural fraternities and sororities. In fact, knowing someone’s name often takes a back seat to the obligatory question of “Are you in a house?”

For better or for worse, Greek life here will take over your world. All of us had friends freshman year who lived on our floors, pledged houses and were never seen again. For most Greeks, pledging was the best decision they’ve made in college, but the biggest fear for most potential new members is losing their current friendships and acquaintances.

As I entered my sophomore year as an independent, I realized I wanted that feeling of having a second family back. I saw a sign for fraternity rush and decided to give it a shot. I walked into rush with absolutely no idea about what fraternities were, but as soon as the process began, I was hit with a feeling that it was exactly where I should be; this was the fit for me.

I made my first visit to AEPi on the second night of rush. One of my friends had pledged there the semester before, and two of my other friends had already been assured bids. They encouraged me to visit, even though I am Irish Catholic and this fraternity is predominantly Jewish. I was not immediately hooked by any means. It took some serious convincing, mostly by a particular non-Jew in the house. In the end, though, I accepted my bid there because this house seemed to have the tightest brotherhood.

Four years ago if someone had told me I’d find myself spending time at Hillel, I would have asked them what Hillel was. Suddenly I found the majority of my college friends were Jewish-something I had never had before. And I love it. I’m not just another kid in the house. I’m that 6-foot-2-inch Irish Catholic with the red beard who happens to be the president. In a system built to allow each person to be represented by letters, I feel my letters are represented by me. That is something that I know I would never feel in any other house on this campus.

Yes, AEPi is a nationally Jewish organization, but I’ve found that our chapter puts less emphasis on religion, and more on brotherhood. Despite our national status, just over 15 percent of my brothers who are not Jewish. For us, brotherhood is not dependent on your Jewish-ness, but on your character. While outsiders may see me differently, my Catholicism doesn’t affect my status in the house.

Except for a few miscommunications. How was I supposed to know that “break fast” is not the same thing as breakfast? Or that “goy” is not a Long Islander’s pronunciation of “guy”? Being in AEPi made my college experience more fun than I could have ever imagined. Unlike all of my other possible fraternity choices, my house gave me much more than many great nights. I now have some intense leadership experience, community service opportunities in New Orleans and some best friends who I know I will be close to for the rest of my life.

james SIMMONS