Greek life is a unique part of American college culture, so when European photographer Philip Holt saw his son off to school at Clarkson University, he had little idea of what his son's new brotherhood within the Delta Upsilon fraternity would be like.
"My reference [to frat houses] was the film 'Animal House' with John Belushi, and yes, I was surprised to see how accurate the frat lifestyle was depicted," Holt, who is currently based in New York but has lived in various European countries, told Business Insider. But "I can honestly say they were some of the finest young men I have met. They were so cordial, helpful, and smart."
Upon his first visit, Holt knew he needed to document the house and the young men who lived there. The project inspired him to visit other Greek-life establishments, including some sororities.
Here's a selection of Holt's best frat-house coverage:
SEE ALSO: 17 photos of the most bizarre conventions in America
Holt's knowledge of American and fraternity culture stemmed mostly from movies. "Once you land, it just feels like being part of a big American movie set," Holt said.
He arrived early in the morning after a big house party the frat had hosted. "Everyone was still sleeping, so my son gave me the grand tour," he said.
The scene was classic: There were "interesting odors going from room to room. The basement, where they had held their party, was damp with a sticky carpet of beer, overfull ashtrays, and empty beer cans scattered around the room," he said.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider