CLEMSON, S.C. — At Clemson University in South Carolina, the ClemsonLIFE program provides students with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to learn life skills for independent living.
But as much as the program offered, junior Charlie McGee wanted the entire college experience from alpha to omega. McGee told CBS News that he wanted to join the fraternity to “have fun and experience brotherhood and more joy.”
Unfortunately, rushing the establishment of a fraternity is a process. There are interviews and joint parties, but there is no guarantee that you will pass. In fact, no Clemson fraternity has ever accepted a student from the Clemson LIFE program. This was the first year that members of the program were able to rush into fraternities.
Last month, when Maggie learned she had received a bid from Phi Kappa Alpha, she jumped out of her left shoe and into the loving arms of her new brothers.
“One of the greatest moments at Clemson was being able to see it in person,” one Phi Kappa Alpha member told CBS News.
Several fraternity brothers told CBS News that some members initially doubted that a person with Down syndrome would be able to integrate into the group. However, while they were trying to help Maggie, we later find out that it was actually Maggie who was helping them.
“The joy and light that we were missing in our chapter, and that we didn’t realize was missing in the first place, is unreal,” said one fraternity member.
“He shattered all my preconceived notions of what a fraternity man should be like,” said another.
Other Greek life groups have come to the same conclusion. This year, a total of six Clemson fraternities and five sororities welcomed students from ClemsonLIFE.
McGee says this will be a game-changer. He believes that something magical happens when you are fully accepted by another person. And when he’s with his fraternity brothers, he added, “my disability doesn’t really exist.”
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steve hartman
