I didn't want to be "that guy".

He's the reason I didn't join a fraternity, and why I am staging this warning about the perils of becoming one.

Nobody likes "that guy."

You know the one. He's the guy you and your friends talk about after your encounter with him.

The guy who exudes the T-shirt mocked phrase "My frat is cooler than your frat."

Yeah, that's him. The one who takes his greek affiliation way too seriously.

"That guy" can be found in a variety of habitats. Many times he can be seen in line at Canyon Pizza yelling at the people in front of him, saying how his fraternity could beat their fraternity at just about anything.

I've seen fights break out because two "that guys" couldn't compromise on whose fraternity parties are better, or whose could beat the other in a game of whiffle ball.

Granted, being in a fraternity has a wide array of benefits, like professional contacts after graduation, a dilapidated mansion to live in and parties straight out of Animal House.

Greek organizations are very pride related, and for some students it's a great way to meet new people and expand their horizons, but there's pride and then there's arrogance.

A fraternity should be an organization you belong to and are proud to be a part of, but not the be all, end all of your college experience.

I'm not saying that all fraternity members are "that guy." I have friends in fraternities, and they aren't any different than my non-greek friends. It's that one small group that turned me off to the greek lifestyle.

But I didn't commit social suicide by making the decision not to join a fraternity. At a school where there are 40,000 other students, there are always people out there with the same interests as you.

Some of you might be thinking "But how else will I make friends at college?" The answer is, easily.

Although there are many students involved in greek organizations, the majority of Penn State students are not.

At Penn State, there are hundreds of clubs and organizations other than greek-affiliated ones that students can be involved in, from the Accounting Society to the Yoga and Meditation Society.

Like to sing? Audition for the Glee Club.

Like to dance? Join the Dance Dance Maniacs, a group dedicated to the popular Dance Dance Revolution video game.

Love Harry Potter? Yup, there's a club for that.

There is something for everyone at Penn State to be involved in and to be proud of.

Although fraternity life wasn't something I was interested in, many people are. Rush, get informed, ask questions and pledge if you want.

But "that guys," although they are prominent in the fraternity community, can surface in any group. So be aware if someone you know is travelling down that road. Just give them a smack and say, "Dude, don't be that guy."