Charlie McGee wanted the full college experience — and he didn’t let living with Down syndrome get in the way
This fall, the Clemson University junior got his bid accepted for Phi Kappa Alpha, and became one of the first students with an intellectual disability to enroll in Greek life at the school.
mcgee told cbs news That he joined “to have a good time and experience brotherhood and more joy.”
Members of Phi Kappa Alpha – aka the Pikes – were excited about the decision.
One brother told CBS, “He broke all the preconceived notions I had of what a frat guy was supposed to be.”
Another said, “It’s unreal the amount of joy and light we’ve been missing from our chapter that we didn’t know we were missing from the beginning.”
McGee came to the South Carolina school as part of the ClemsonLife program, which teaches students with intellectual disabilities the skills needed to live independently.
However, this year marked the first time that ClemsonLife students were allowed to participate in a fraternity with up to six people committing to Greek life this semester.
As CBS News reports, McGee was so thrilled to receive his bid that he kicked off his shoes and ran toward his new brothers.
Another member of McGee’s entourage at Pike said, “That was one of the best moments we had at Clemson, to see him right there.”
The fraternity’s newest MVP – the Most Valuable Pledge – said he felt more empowered by his new brotherhood, stressing that, with their help, “my disability, it doesn’t really exist.”
