There are men who I call "friend," or "enemy," "acquaintance," or "stranger." There was only one I called "brother." An unconditional love and respect will hold us in the bonds of brotherhood for an eternity. All others come and go, but my brother is a part of me forever. I am pledging Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity. I knew only one member as an acquaintance, but now I feel a companionship with all. I may not fully realize my feelings for Pi Lambda Phi because I have not been initiated. I do know, however, that there are some men this semester with whom I have worked and played, cheered and cursed, struggled and soared. There are others who have helped me on my way. They tore me down, built me up and watched me grow. For any of them I would die. I may not truly know what it means to be a Pi Lam, but I do know that if I were to lose this chance, a part of me would die. I have built bonds with these men. These men are a part of me forever and I am a part of them. These men I call "brother."
"Joining a Fraternity means nothing, but when you have really worked for it, sweated for it, cursed it, and loved it, as well as the men in it, you have something."
Brother Alfred Kovner, 1942
*From a letter addressed to his Brothers days before his death in World War II.