IMHO: * Frat have a publicly stated organization with a written creed and legal status, gangs do not * Frats have at least some publicly held and organized me

IMHO: * Frat have a publicly stated organization with a written creed and legal status, gangs do not * Frats have at least some publicly held and organized meeting, gangs do not * Frats can be disbanded by the college or parent fraternal order, gangs do not * You can attend college with college with out belonging to a frat. If you can live in a crime ridden community without belonging to gang you don;t have to belong to a gang as well. But its easier to join a gang and get a familial support structure you wouldn't have without the gang. Frats can be a good and bad thing. But any organization can have bad actor: churches, government, Facebook, any open forums, ect.