The Pros And Cons Of Fraternity

Here are some statistics. Overall, there are over 9 million Greek members nationally. Out of the nation’s 50 largest corporations, 43 of them are headed by fraternity men. 76 percent of all Congressmen and Senators belong to a fraternity, less than 2 percent of an average college student’s expenses go toward fraternity dues. (U.S. Office of Education). Over seven million dollars is raised each year by Greek organizations nationally. The Greek systems are the largest network of volunteers in the Unites States, with members and alumni donating over 10 million hours of volunteer services each year. There are 123 fraternities and sororities nationwide. About 750,000 undergraduate students in 12,000 chapters, make up more than 800 campuses in the United States and Canada (U.S. Office of

By participating in Greek life, the students’ social circles are expanded. Because sororities and fraternities are specific to gender, religions, races, and even majors, those who participate in Greek life create lifelong relationships with people they choose to associate with by

In conclusion there has been evidence to show that groups have both a negative and also a positive effect on its members. It has been demonstrated that some people will cope with the negative effects in an unproductive way by changing their behaviour in way that was detrimental to the well being of themselves and its other members. However the positives can have a very powerful effect on a person in that it can promote a sense of identity, loyalty and

The first Greek organization to assemble was in 1776 at the College of William and Mary. Fraternities were built to provide friendship and recreation. It has been 239 years since the first fraternity was established and now in 2015, there are 123 fraternities and sororities. There are nine million college students involved in Greek organizations (Glass, Nicole). These members are looking to make friends, to build their resumes, to go to social events, or to learn leadership skills. Each member when joining has the incentive to change some aspect of his or her life (Glass, Nicole). If one has the opportunity to join a Greek life organization he or she should for the reasons of giving back to the community, the higher academic standards, the

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.

Fraternities and sororities have created a very “strenuous and selective screening processes utilizing rush events and other tools to determine who they want to become a new member.” Many people are not chosen for the organization they want. He also says that spending a lot of time with a certain group of people could make it harder for someone to branch out and meet people outside of that organization. People get so used to just being with their organization that they often forget there are other people to become friends with. In Kokemuller’s article he also says that being in “tightly knit houses” can limit the ability to branch out. If someone is in an organization that is not very diverse it can affect the ability to interact with different types of people making it less likely. Most college students do not like to break away from their group because they are just simply afraid of rejection. This may be seen as a negative because college is about branching out, but it can also be a positive because you will always have those people to back you up.

The Greek communities that have risen across the country have created huge impacts on every university that they have established themselves on. Historically, fraternities were designed for students to discreetly meet to discuss issues and host debates that their members believed would be deemed inappropriate by their collegiate faculties. Since their founding, fraternities and sororities have completely revamped their focuses. They are used as social, professional, and honorary organizations that promote many different combinations of community service, leadership, and academic success. The ideas of brotherhood and sisterhood have also transcended the college experience,

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

By establishing a set core of values, they were able to further in developing a closer hypothesis on why fraternities are more likely to view women as a commodity. By that Martin and Hummer (1989: 463) mean that "fraternities use women for their benefit, as bait for new members, servers of brother's needs, and as sexual prey." This is a pattern they saw in fraternities that added to their idea that fraternities are more likely to commit acts that could lead to gang rape. They also noticed a pattern of cohesiveness among fraternities.

While not trying to lose focus on the research at hand, as a graduate of a PWI and a current employee of an HBCU, it is evident that stipulations are more lenient at the HBCU institution. This study attempts to answer the question, “What impact and influences does fraternities and sororities have on individuals’ attitudes and behaviors, both undergraduate and post graduate. The research questions were given to members of a BGLO from a PWI or HBCU that were currently an undergraduate or post graduate. Members of Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho were given research questions to answer to conduct this

According to Lecture No. 016, there is a pivotal point on fraternity within a democratic community. Having a sense of fraternity means maintaining social order and believing in fellow citizens. This concept of fraternity is built on mutual respect for one another (Lecture No. 016, p.10). An appreciation of this notion would enable citizens to empathize on the issues affecting their neighbors. A reality in the United States is the widening gap between the rich and the poor. A sense of fraternity within the government and with the people would push lawmakers to develop policies that would mutually benefit all citizens.

Almost all college student have a choice to make early on in their college careers, the choice to participate in rush for a fraternity or sorority. During rush week fraternities and sororities are recruiting and trying to find people that they think will be a good fit to their fraternity or sorority. Choosing to rush and trying to join a fraternity or sorority will have a lasting impact on the rest of your college career.

Can Greek Life Organizations, on college campuses, have a positive impact on the young students? If so, how? I plan on focusing on the positive outcomes of being in a Greek Letter Organization. Greek life is always blown up in the media as being an awful influence on college students. This paper will bring together all the positive sides of being in a fraternity or sorority instead of the negative ones. Some of the positive outcomes of being in a greek organization are the networking opportunities, job possibilities, and the personality you build while being in a fraternity or sorority. My sources will be coming from the internet, magazines, and interviews. I am interested in this topic because I am in a sorority on campus at George Mason University.

According to Florida Atlantic University, “…fraternities and sororities constitute one

Nathan DeWall, a Psychologist at the University of Kentucky says that “Humans have a fundamental need to belong. Just as we have needs for food and water, we also have needs for positive and lasting relationships.” The need to belong can be so strong that we are willing to change who we are just to belong to a group. Most times it is small changes. For people who are people pleasers, we will go out of our way to help others, even if that means we are neglecting ourselves, just to get their approval.