Hello everyone,
If we have never met, my name is Colin Tetkoski and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Ohio. As our chapter and fraternity as a whole move forward into the future while striving to be better men, it is key to keep in mind the importance of a balanced mind and being aware of the pitfalls of toxic masculinity.
When people hear the words “Greek life” and “fraternity”, there are tons of different reactions but a lot of reactions tend to be negative. The negative reactions may stem from the pop culture stereotype (a lá Animal House, Old School, American Pie Presents: Beta House, or Blue Mountain State) or from real life experiences such as the allegations made against various Greek chapters for inappropriate conduct, hazing, or deaths. A negative view of Greek life, especially about fraternities, tends to view brothers as “party hard bros who only focus on drinking and being misogynistic”. I will admit that prior to joining Wisconsin Theta, I had a very negative opinion of Greek life stemming from the negative experience one of my sisters had at UW-Madison with her sorority. But, once I joined, I realized how each chapter has a different experience and attitude towards life & college. Mental Health has always been a passion of mine and I want to help change the stereotype of fraternities to show how men can be sensitive, open with their emotions, and willing to talk about their mental health.
I was given the honor of a guest speaker at the recent undergraduate chapter meeting on December 3rd, 2023, where I led an in depth discussion on mental health, emotional health, toxic masculinity, and what it means to accept one’s mental health. Although I was unable to physically be present, I was thankfully able to attend via video call.
It felt strange being projected on the Doudna Hall screen because I was unable to build an in-person rapport but was told the meeting was well attended. I began the discussion with a simple introduction of who I am, my history with the chapter, and what I do for my post-graduate life. After the initial ice-breaker, I went through a series of Question/Answer discussion topics I frequently use in sessions to foster a basic discussion on what mental health is, the views on how discussing mental stressors and vulnerabilities is perceived by each member, where a brother may go for assistance, and what a healthy support system looks like. Once the discussion was underway, I led an in depth conversation on addressing the topic at hand because, as I said previously, fostering the ideals our organization strives for takes more than weekly meetings and takes a healthy view on mental health and vulnerability to start the changes needed to thrive.
From our discussion, I personally feel it went well with breaking the ice on addressing how important one’s mental and emotional health is, especially during college. Prior to the end of the discussion, I encouraged undergraduate members to reach out to me if they have any additional questions.