Fraternity Row

Fraternity Row

Year: 1977

Runtime: 101 mins

Language: English

Director: Thomas J. Tobin

Drama

They are 1950s college men, buttoned‑down and bound by brutal hazing rituals. Idealistic freshman Zac pledges Gamma Nu Pi and, horrified by the bigotry and abuse of Hell Week, pushes to change the system despite his girlfriend Jennifer’s disapproval. He allies with his pledgemaster, but the fraternity’s rigid leader clings to the cruel traditions.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Fraternity Row (1977)

Trace every key event in Fraternity Row (1977) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Opening frame and setting

The film opens in spring 1954 at Summit College in Erie, Pennsylvania, narrated by adult Rodger Carter as he recalls his fraternity days. The focus is on the Gamma Nu Pi pledge period and the social dynamics within the fraternity.

Spring 1954 Summit College, Erie, Pennsylvania
2

Fraternity exclusion revealed

Rodger explains that Gamma Nu Pi includes the brightest scholars, athletes, and future politicians, but explicitly excludes Blacks and Jews. This backdrop sets a controversial tone for the pledge experience.

Spring 1954 Campus environment, Summit College
3

Initiation begins

Over fifteen weeks, the new pledges undergo the initiation process under pledge master Rodger Carter. The period tests loyalty and camaraderie within the group as they endure pranks and demands.

Spring 1954 (fifteen-week initiation) Gamma Nu Pi house
4

Pledges taken to KDA house

Chuck forces the pledges to wear silly costumes and escorts them to the Kappa Delta Alpha sorority house. There Zac Sterling meets Jennifer Harris and begins to form a connection, foreshadowing tensions between the groups.

Early initiation phase Kappa Delta Alpha house
5

Zac elected pledge class president

Zac is elected president of the pledge class and becomes friends with Rodger. They privately discuss The Great Gatsby, signaling the intellectual aura of the group.

Early initiation phase Gamma Nu Pi house
6

Rodger opposes hazing

Rodger tells the active members that he is against hazing, but Chuck disagrees and remains silent. The conflict foreshadows the escalating intensity of the initiation.

Mid initiation Gamma Nu Pi house
7

Newspaper photo and Jennifer's interest

The campus newspaper photographs the pledge leaders Zac and Jennifer, and Jennifer expresses interest in Zac. The moment reveals the personal stakes behind the Greek system.

Mid initiation Campus
8

Jim Jenson and factional rules

Zac and Jennifer speak with Jim Jenson in the hallway, but Chuck tells them they cannot associate with Jim because he left Gamma Nu for another fraternity. Tension between loyalties grows.

Mid initiation Campus hallway
9

Dance, Birdland line, and racial tensions

The fraternity and sorority hold a dance to raise money for more entries in the radio contest. Jennifer mentions the Birdland line date, while Betty Ann uses a racist term to criticize the dance’s African American origins.

Mid to late initiation Kappa Delta Alpha house
10

Radio contest win and praise

The pledges win the WSAS radio station contest and are commended by alumnus Brother Abernathy at a formal fraternity dinner. The success deepens the fraternity’s confidence but also tightens its insular culture.

Late initiation Gamma Nu Pi house
11

Lloyd Pope's expulsion

Lloyd Pope’s diplomat father is accused of being a communist by Senator McCarthy and resigns. Lloyd is expelled from the fraternity, and Zac unsuccessfully tries to organize a walkout with other pledges.

Late initiation Gamma Nu Pi house
12

Breakups and Lloyd’s fate

Betty Ann and Rodger break up at a lawn party, and Jennifer and Zac also break up after he refuses to leave Gamma Nu. Zac ultimately walks out when Lloyd is not restored, but Rodger convinces him to return, while Chuck accuses Rodger of siding with the pledges.

Late initiation Brother Abernathy’s lawn party
13

Chuck becomes pledge master

Chuck is elected to replace Rodger as pledge master, setting the stage for the final initiation phase known as Hell Week.

Pre-Hell Week Gamma Nu Pi house
14

Hell Week begins: Ceremony of the Griffin

Hell Week kicks off with the Ceremony of the Griffin: pledges kneel blindfolded before an altar in underwear and bow ties, while Chuck, as the Griffin, oversees humiliating rites, including being smeared with eggs and fed raw liver.

Hell Week Gamma Nu Pi house, Hell Week chamber
15

Zac’s death and aftermath

Zac dies during the initiation rituals as the ambulance arrives, and the attendants reprimand the fraternity for their dangerous hazing. Rodger is stunned and chastened, realizing that the entire pledge system is culpable, and he recalls Fitzgerald’s 'eternal dreamer' while honoring Zac’s memory.

End of Hell Week Gamma Nu Pi house / on the way to hospital

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 10:43

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Fraternity Row Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Fraternity Row

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Fraternity Row

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