How the Greek Community Can Improve its Relationship with the Public The Greek community is a longstanding tradition found at most colleges and universities across the country. Greek Letter fraternities and sororities were designed to instill principles of friendship, loyalty, service, and academic success into their members (Alford, Joe). Over time, many of these values have become more difficult to recognize in chapters across the nation because of multiple incidents involving partying, binge drinking, and especially hazing. These are the issues that have come to define Greek life on campuses in the United States today, and because of that Greek life as a whole has developed a nasty reputation in the eyes of the public. Although these are what most people think about when they imagine a typical fraternity or sorority, it is not the way these once great institutions were designed to be. The Greek community needs to do a better job of working together to prove to their campuses, and to the nation, that they are about much more than the issues that surround them. A major reform is in order to help the Greek system return to the values that they were founded upon, so that they can continue to be an important part of millions of young adult’s college experiences. What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word fraternity? For many people, the first word to come to mind is hazing. Hazing in fraternities has led to the deaths of over 50 students across the nation
Teddy Bommarito comments on the top four reasons why he believes Greek organizations are beneficial to universities and colleges around the nation (n.pag.). His rationale is that fraternities, along with sororities, offer participants with the following benefits: lasting bonds of friendship and networking among members, pleasure and enjoyment, help from older members in the organization, and improving their safety awareness in reference to the dangers of alcohol consumption and driving while under the influence (Bommarito n.pag.). Bommarito also shows how each detail of Greek societies can ultimately help an incoming college freshman in the long run (n.pag.). While fraternities and sororities are frequently affiliated with hazing, binge drinking,
Walking around a university’s campus any day of the week, one sees an array of Greek letters worn proudly by young men and women in the Greek system. Fraternities and sororities play a big part in a university. The Greek system can also be an easy target to direct criticism. There are those who oppose the Greek system and those who embrace it. Evan Wright opposes the Greek system in his article “Sister Act” that was featured in Rolling Stone Magazine. He uses examples from students at Ohio State University in Columbus to show his disapproval of the way sororities are now days. He portrays sorority girls as catty conformists who are obsessed with partying with fraternity
While Ithaca College’s Greek life scene was vibrant in the seventies and eighties, a number of hazing scandals occurred in the 80s. These scandals were brought to national attention following the hazing related death of one student. Because of this, Ithaca College no longer recognizes any social or service fraternities and sororities. Students who are interested in joining a social fraternity or sorority are able to rush at neighboring Cornell
A common myth is that hazing is a “reality” in Frats and sororities. We've all seen it in movies and we've all heard stories from our friends. Hazing can be defined as people or individuals who are forced to do something that is psychologically, physically, or emotionally harmful or damaging (Merriam Webster). Greek organizations all over the world have taken steps in developing human rights policies and strict “anti-hazing” policies to get rid of hazing in all forms from all campuses and fraternities. In the 1980s the movie “Animal House”, became a hit. The movie’s “mocking” of the wild side of fraternity life: binge drinking, hazing, sexual harassment, wild parties, drug use, and poor living conditions, became the American public’s view of Greek life. Many television movies and shows depict the ‘crazy side,’ of Greek life and choose to show its negative side. In doing so, many movies and shows do forget to showcase the beneficial side of joining a Sorority or fraternity and show its positive
Greek life can be looked upon with a closed mindset by many college students and graduates that decided to not join the social movement that is brought upon by fraternities and sororities on college campuses. An article written by Caitlin Flanagan for The Atlantic Daily takes a negative turn toward Beta Theta Pi at Penn State University for many valid reasons such as: the reoccurring destruction of their 8.5 million dollar renovated home, their degrading hazing acts which involve a pledge catching bodily waste from a fraternity brother, the lack of compassion they have toward their fellow fraternity brothers, and the lack of authoritative action taken to prevent this from happening again. The Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Penn State
Originally, I had the common misconception that fraternities solely focused on parties, drinking and their social status. As I further researched the founding principles of Alpha Phi Alpha I became aware they collectively prioritize scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity. Alpha Phi Alpha is
When one first thinks of Greek life or a sorority the only thing that comes to mind is the social aspect. Most people don’t think of sororities as social institutions that envelop their own culture, with mannerisms, languages and customs that are unique to each individual organization. However, these institutions promote a common set of values that enable members to become connected in a way that has a more profound meaning than just social interaction. Greek organizations are good examples of how institutions can affect and be affected by social status and roles within the collegiate community. They are also a prime example of how race, class and gender can affect a social setting in both positive and negative manners.
Seeing all but two U.S. presidents have been fraternity members, 63% of all U.S. cabinet members since 1900 have been greek, and 47 of North America's largest corporations are led by greeks, it might seem obvious that joining Greek life has its benefits. However, in light of many national scandals, some people tend to disagree. Therefore, I have focused on how being highly involved in the Greek system, more specifically, being a member of the executive board, can help you develop skills helpful to being a leader in real life.
In today’s society, going to college has become the norm. Freshly graduated students escape high school to become a freshman again. By August students start filing into packed cars to leave for college and try to find their place in this world. Out of the millions of students that attend each year, a percentage of them will rush a fraternity or sorority for the chance of sister or brotherhood. To some it is a sign of superior status, and others it not the right fit. Greek life is known from everything to volunteering for the community to the wild parties that somehow do not get busted by the cops every weekend. In the nation, Kimberly Brandy on Marie Claire states there are 5,975 fraternities governed by the North American Interfraternity Conference and 3,127 sororities governed by the National Panhellenic Conference. At Kansas State alone, about one in five students are a part of the greek community. K-State is also known for its diversity. We take pride in this fact here at Kansas State, but as a whole, the nation is having troubles combining these prides. It is in the combination of
College; some look for the experience to open their minds in extending their educations; as others look at it as the first step towards adulthood and running away from home as fast as possible. Sororities and fraternities have been around for decades with America’s blind eye turned towards the injustices that encompass the stigma. Student hazing deaths are climbing and something has to change to prevent these actions. What will it take to change fraternity culture?
Greek life plays a major role in colleges and universities all across the United States. Greek life allows men and women to join an organization and create a long lasting bond, as brothers or sisters, which they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. College campuses explore and boast about the positive impacts that Greek life has on students as well as the community around them. However, even with fraternities and sororities being on college campuses for decades, few people outside the Greek life community have discovered the real, enduring process that it takes to become a "brother" or "sister". Throughout my research, I will be focusing on the negative effects that fraternities and sororities pose upon pledges. This includes hazing
When undergraduates become interested in Greek life, they have to decide if the advantages outweigh the risks. In the news, the public hears the negative side of Greek life such as the students in sororities and fraternities passing away from alcohol abuse, or colleges such as Indiana University suspending fraternities on campus for hazing and alcohol violations until March 2018. While many negative topics about Greek life are prominent in the news, not all sororities and fraternities experience hazing and illegal problems. Although both advantages and disadvantages arise on college campuses within Greek life, undergraduate students usually benefit from being a part of a sorority or fraternity and are able to create a healthy environment and community to learn, work, and live in.
Attending college is often times the next and most exciting step for new high school graduates. As a college student, you get to live on campus, meet other students, and have your own responsibilities; it can be a great feeling. For students who enjoy leadership and the company of others, there are clubs, sports, and many other ways to put your skills to use. However, the exploitation of hazing can not only interrupt and damage your image as a student, but also the morals you have for yourself. Hazing is a recurring problem in fraternities/sororities and other social associations across the nation that needs to stop because it is life- threatening and out of control.On February 3rd, Tim Piazza arrived at Hershey Medical Center with injuries such as, “a lacerated spleen, an abdomen full of blood, and multiple traumatic brain injuries,” after falling down a flight of stairs while intoxicated at his fraternity hazing event (Flanagan).
In his work “Fraternities in Decline”, Reisberg mentions hazing as a reason for the drop in memberships. While hazing is a serious concern, there has been a rise in awareness amongst communities as well as policing the initiation processes of fraternities. In fact, most states have enacted anti-hazing laws (Beitman). Fraternities and sororities are known to have a bad reputation due to media. However, not all members participate in reckless, dangerous, or violent behavior. It is simply that out of such a large group there must exist some criminals or people who exhibit unseemly behaviors, but that does not represent the entire
Recently, the idea of partaking in a fraternity has become more prevalent. Young adults are captivated with wanting to live the Greek life. The clothes and parties seem to drawn in teens like a magnet. However what these teens do not realize is the terrible things associated with fraternities. Many fraternities have a reputation for turning college students into drunks, treating women vulgarly, enacting violent hazing against other fraternity members and disrupting the true reason why students go to college. For these reasons fraternities should be banned altogether on college campuses.