Student with special needs finds acceptance, brotherhood in Clemson fraternity

Clemson, South Carolina — At Clemson University successful South Carolina, nan ClemsonLIFE programme gives students pinch intelligence disabilities a chance to study life skills for independent living.

But arsenic overmuch arsenic nan programme offers, inferior Charlie McGee wanted nan full assemblage experience, from alpha to omega. McGee told CBS News he wanted to subordinate a fraternity successful bid "to person a awesome clip and acquisition nan brotherhood and much joy."

Unfortunately, rushing a fraternity is simply a process. There are interviews and mixers, and moreover then, there's nary guarantee of acceptance. In fact, nary Clemson fraternity had ever taken a student from nan ClemsonLIFE program. This marked nan first twelvemonth that members of nan programme could unreserved fraternities.

Last month, erstwhile McGee recovered retired he had received a bid from Phi Kappa Alpha, he was truthful excited he ran retired of his near footwear and into nan loving arms of his caller fraternity brothers.

"That was 1 of nan coolest moments astatine Clemson that we had, was seeing that correct there," 1 of nan members of Phi Kappa Alpha told CBS News.

Several fraternity brothers told CBS News that, astatine first, immoderate members doubted a personification pinch Down Syndrome could fresh successful pinch nan group. But they were consenting to thief McGee, only to study later that McGee was nan 1 really helping them.

"The joyousness and ray that we were missing successful our chapter, that we didn't cognize we were missing from nan beginning, is unreal," said 1 fraternity member.

"He benignant of collapsed each nan preconceived notions that I thought of that a fraternity man should beryllium like," said another. 

Other Greek life groups person travel to nan aforesaid conclusion. This year, a full of six fraternities and 5 sororities astatine Clemson welcomed students from ClemsonLIFE.

According to McGee, this will beryllium a game-changer. He believes thing magical happens whenever you're accepted this afloat by others. And past he adds that erstwhile he's pinch his fraternity brothers, "My disability, it doesn't really exist." 

In:
• South Carolina
• Down Syndrome