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Four Corners: Sept 26

BBC cameras follows weeks of ‘pledging’ where a group of US college kids undergo initiation rituals,

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Monday’s Four Corners presents “Frat Boys: Inside America’s fraternities”, a story from the BBC.

This follows weeks of ‘pledging’ where a group of college kids undergo initiation rituals in the hope of making it as a ‘brother’.

“We are by far the most fun people you will ever meet…We have more connections, we have more friends, we have more fun than anyone else.” – Ben

They’re the elite clubs inside America’s universities.

“It’s an investment in yourself, to get an experience you really can’t get anywhere else in the world.” – Ben

They describe themselves as the breeding ground for leadership, with many corporate titans and former US presidents held up as fraternity men. They’re also where testosterone, alcohol and campus life come together in a potent mix.

“Getting girls .It’s probably like the number one thing on their priority list. Sometimes it’s numbers with guys for sure. They go ‘oh how many girls have you had sex with?’” – Jen

And their exploits have become the stuff of movie legend.

“It’s just like an attraction, people come and be like ‘oh my god it’s a stripper pole’ and then come in and have fun.” – Nick

Normally notoriously media shy and protective of their secret rituals, one fraternity agreed to let the cameras in.

“What our goals this week is to really you know, break these guys down… This is something that is strictly within our brotherhood.” – Tim

This film, from the BBC, follows weeks of ‘pledging’ where a group of college kids undergo initiation rituals in the hope of making it as a ‘brother’.

“Pledging is a period before you’re a brother, it’s a kind of a test run to see if the organisation’s actually right for you, you follow the process and then you earn your place in the organisation.” – Jordan

But for all the talk of brotherhoods and loyalty, this culture of secrecy and initiation can be dangerous.

“I want justice because you know, what they did to me was awful.” – Terence

“I woke up in this bed with no clothes on and I had no idea where I was and I was so scared.” – Marissa

And with investigations and lawsuits underway across America over allegations of rape, assault and even death, there are calls for more to be done to reign in frat boy culture.

“For years in this country Americans have been denied the truth about how dangerous fraternities are to young people and families. Most everything in here is filled with files of fraternity death.” – Lawyer

Monday 26th September at 8.30pm on ABC.

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