Snips and snails and puppy-dogs’ tails

That’s what little boys are made of.

So what are fraternities made of?

Nicholas Syrett, author of The Company He Keeps: A History of White College Fraternities, will be talking about the long and secretive history of male fraternities  on WUNC’s The State of Things at noon (and 9pm) today. You can listen live online or catch the podcast later (it will be archived here by the end of the day).

The Washington Post’s book blog, Short Stack, recently featured one of the most sordid tales of deadly shenanigans and protective social networks that Syrett discusses in his book. See: The Dartmouth Letter Sweater Case.