Student with Down Syndrome becomes first to join fraternity: ‘The joy and light that we were missing’

Charlie McGee wanted nan afloat assemblage acquisition — and he wasn’t going to fto surviving pinch Down Syndrome get successful his way

This fall, nan Clemson University inferior accepted his bid to Phi Kappa Alpha, becoming 1 of nan first students pinch intelligence disabilities to enlist successful Greek life astatine nan school.

McGee told CBS News that he joined “to person a awesome clip and acquisition nan brotherhood and much joy.”

Members of Phi Kappa Alpha — aka Pikes — were effusive astir nan decision.

“He benignant of collapsed each nan preconceived notions that I thought of that a fraternity man should beryllium like,” 1 frat relative told CBS.

“The joyousness and ray that we were missing successful our chapter, that we didn’t cognize we were missing from nan beginning, is unreal,” said another.

McGee came to nan South Carolina schoolhouse arsenic portion of nan ClemsonLIFE program, which teaches students pinch intelligence disabilities nan skills they request to unrecorded independently.

However, this twelvemonth marked nan first that ClemsonLIFE students were allowed to unreserved a fraternity pinch six committing to Greek life this semester.

McGee was truthful thrilled to person his bid that he lept retired of his footwear arsenic he ran toward his caller brothers, per nan CBS News report.

“That was 1 of nan coolest moments astatine Clemson that we had, was seeing that correct there,” said different personnel of McGee’s admittance to Pike.

The frat’s newest MVP — astir valuable promise — said he is emotion much empowered by his newfound brotherhood, insisting that, pinch their help, “My disability, it doesn’t really exist.”