Since the start of Greek life at Universities, about 100 years ago, they have always been single sex. The very words fraternity and sorority are derived from the Greek words meaning brother and sister. The chapters were created to help students bond with those of the same sex in ways that you cannot bond with the opposite sex. Many Universities are doing their best to turn Greek life coed, but fraternities and sororities should remain single sex because coed chapters are not wanted, will not fix the real issues, and will not create change among the student body. Although many universities are pushing for Greek life on their campus to be coed, the response has not been positive. The student body on college campuses simply does not want “Fra-rorities”, …show more content…
What most people think of when fraternities and sororities come to mind is hazing, drinking, and sexual misconduct. The Internet and news channels are full of stories of abuse and rape. Most Greek chapters have their own slang and in a book titled Confessions of an Ivy League Frat Boy: A Memior, written by a former Dartmouth College fraternity member, he discusses many of those slang terms. He refers to something called “doming” which consisted of two brothers chugging as many beers as they can until they throw up; the first brother to vomit loses and the winner can then vomit on the losers head (Lohse, 66). Another term used was “boot and rally” which meant that someone has vomited in order to clear their stomach for more alcohol (Lohse, 13). Indiana University’s Alpha Tau Omega fraternity was disbanded after video surfaced of a member performing a sex act on an exotic dancer inside the fraternity house while more then half of his brothers watched (Carlton). Fraternities are not the only ones who deal with these issues. Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities, tells the story of Alexandra Robbins going undercover in a sorority. While most fraternities deal with sexual misconduct, sororities deal with pledge hazing. “Sororities also put pledges in lineups during which the sisters scream insults at them…”(Robbins, 572). During the …show more content…
Some believe that the gender inequality problems on college campuses are only made worse by keeping Geek life single sex. “College campuses are already segregated by sex, with students often picking their field of study based on gender conformity. Single-sex Greek life exacerbates this trend”(Eliot). Also, when someone joins a Greek chapter the other members become their “siblings”. Therefore, it is believed that if Greek life becomes coed the sexual misconduct will go down because members are less likely to sleep with someone who is seen as their brother or sister. In a New York Times articles the author states that “…chances are greater you won’t objectify and molest each other than if the other sex is some distant, deeply different species to be conquered by the end of a wild evening” (Eliot). The reality is that fraternities and sororities are not the reason for gender inequality on college campuses and making them coed will not change anything. As it is, fraternities and sororities are 100 percent optional for students. People sign up of their own freewill and in doing so they understand that they are single sex organizations. If you do not agree with it, do not join. Greek chapters also have nothing to do with picking a field of study. The fact that students are basing their major choice off of their gender is a sociological issue and Greek life, or any other group on college
I myself am from a very “awkward” dichotomy. The reason for that is that I grew up in Oak Cliff Texas, a low socioeconomic neighborhood with the a very criminal atmosphere. However, my father was able to obtain upward mobility through his construction business that he built, therefore I have always been financially well off. Since I grew up in Oak Cliff and attended an inner city public high school my classmates were mostly of low socioeconomic background and well, the nature of their behavior is very much like mine. Now when I attended A&M I decided to join a fraternity. There is “Latino” fraternities available for students to join on campus but I joined one that is recognized by the IFC (Intra Fraternity Council). This is one of the barriers amongst universities’ Greek life systems themselves. As described in the book, Greek life systems generate a barrier where students of low socioeconomic status find it harder to join. The fraternities and sororities that are recognized by the “IFC” are those that are categorized by the student body as “cool or better” organizations. Those that aren’t recognized by the IFC are seen as the “poor or gay” organizations. Those fraternities that are recognized by the IFC on campus as far as I know are all white. Latino or Black fraternities and sororities aren’t recognized by the IFC, at least at A&M. I am the only Minority in the fraternity that I am apart of, and I sometimes recognize that I am different in different aspects than most of the members and can feel the “isolation” that is described in the book. Once my fraternity was having an event and everyone was required to pitch in 30$ towards supplies for it, and the way that the money is gathered is through a mobile application where people can pay with their credit cards. I asked one of my fraternity brothers is I could just pay him cash and he
While reading Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities, I learned more about the inner workings of Greek Life. I learned that the odds of me finding a sorority are so slim due to my independent and different personality. While I am not good at sticking up for myself, something this book has made me feel is crucial to blend in and conform to an ideal to fit into a sorority, I am too opinionated. There are not many sororities (at least shown in Pledged) that welcome girls who are different, preferring to stay similar. For example, each pledge class would soon like identical within a few months of pledging. Another thing I learned about is the careful planning and manipulation that occurs throughout sororities,
The Greek Life at Baylor University is a community of twelve fraternities and eight sororities. However, the communities within Baylor University are not treated equally. The University of Baylor favors the sororities over the fraternities at Baylor. There are multiple different things that Baylor allows the sororities to attain that the fraternities are prevented from pursuing or accomplishing. This bias between the Greek Life of Baylor and the university itself is one major reason for strain between the relationships of the groups. The sororities at Baylor are supplied a meeting place, allowed to have mixers before rushing on Baylor campus, and are allowed to return to Baylor early after breaks for events. The university must resolve these problems in order to become a more unbiased university and community.
Do people really understand the secrets behind the Greek community? There are many pressures girls face that the public is not familiar with that are specifically evident in sororities. Alexandra Robbins, the author of the book Pledged: The Secret Lives of Sororities, went undercover and followed four different girls during their experiences within the Greek system. Although there are many struggles girls can face in sororities, the five most prevalent type of pressures include: having a perfect body image, substance abuse, stress, silence, and hazing.
Since 1843 there has over 200 cited college hazing deaths. Fraternities are responsible for the overwhelming majority of those deaths. That is not to say that sororities
Every year students at an accredited university have a decision to join groups/activities. In many cases a lot of students choose to join either a fraternity or a
When rushing and pledging a fraternity you meet brothers from that fraternity and maybe even brothers and pledges from other fraternities. Your social skills greatly improve by actively communicating with brothers from the fraternity and socials, which are events planned with other sororities such as ice skating, bowling, etc. A fraternity pushes you academically, for example, pledges have grade checks before they are initiated as official brothers. For Sigma Chi, a pledge needs above a 3.0 grade point average in order to be initiated. If below, the chances of being dropped from the fraternity is very high.
Greek organizations, such as, fraternities and sororities have been a part of the college experience for centuries. We pride ourselves in brotherly and sisterly love, academic success, and helping others. There are countless stereotypes and myths that surround the “Greek life” name. Just some myths include: all Greeks haze their members, they only care about physical looks not personalities, and they go to college just to party and get drunk. Kappa Delta Sorority upholds none of these stereotypes. We have a strong no haze policy. Hazing is defined as an activity or situation that can cause emotional, mental, or physical discomfort. If a member is caught hazing or if a new member is caught allowing herself to be hazed, there will be major consequences, such as, national probation or deferral of initiation. Kappa Delta also does not look at physical appearance as the only quality for possible new members. We look at personality and qualifications that can benefit our sorority; instead of having a group of women that are pretty and popular, we like to have women with strong morals, work ethic, and have the willingness to love each and every member of Kappa Delta. Kappa Delta Sorority is like no other fraternity or sorority on campus; we do not waste our time with partying and drinking. We pride ourselves in our historical background, philanthropies, and our values. I know Kappa Delta is the best sorority not only on MTSU campus but in the whole country.
"Some have argued that fraternities are places where rape is likely to occur on college campuses and that the students most likely to accept rape mouths and be more sexually aggressive are more likely to live in fraternities and sororities, consume higher doses of alcohol and drugs, and place higher value on social life at college." according to the article "Fraternities and Collegiate Rape Culture: Why Are Some Fraternities More Dangerous places for Women?" written by A. Ayres Boswell and Joan Z. Spade. The article ...
Greek organizations are debatably the most undervalued and misconceived aspect of college campuses. Most people don’t see the benefits that fraternities and sororities bring to college campuses and their communities. Some see these organizations as large beneficial clubs and others see them as potential problems. Many of the allegations put forth by individuals that discredit the benefits and good deeds done by Greek organizations are weak justifications for their removal from college campuses. Greek organizations provide campus communities with academically responsible students, philanthropic activities and increase community involvement.
There are many different preconceived ideas about what it means to be in a sorority, and many of them are not good things. When I was in high school, if I heard the words “sorority sister” I would immediately think of drunk party girls who was most likely failing all their classes. That was my preconceived idea of what it meant to be a member of these groups, but after I have encountered various members of sororities, I know now that I was wrong. A sorority is defined as a social group for females that are in college. There are very many different sororities all over the United States, and they can be distinguished by the Greek letters that make up their name. Most people think that sororities are just for popular
Everywhere in the south a distinct separation between the black and white fraternities and sororities exists. Taking a look, even within the system ?the white fraternities belong to the InterFraternity Council, the white sororities to Panhellenic and the black Greeks to the National Panhellenic Council? (McCarthy). This separation only adds to the issue of racism and discrimination that continues to this day. Many of us think that it is not our problem or choose to ignore the issue. Many think that it is just the way it is; they are right, that is the way it is, but it does not have to be segregated. By sitting back and watching, we are agreeing with segregation and saying that it is okay. Efforts to conduct more interactions within the system and among chapters should be made. A director of Greek Life, Ron Binder, pointed out that ?we wanted to be the office of Greek Life, not the white office of Greek Life? (McCarthy).
Day in and day out we hear about high school and college students wanting to pursue a sorority and/or a fraternity based on the stereotypes these organizations uphold, well I chose to differ. I told myself if I ever decided to become a member of a sorority it would be based solely on their ethical standards, history, and values they are founded upon. Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated consists of ladies of distinction and exemplary character who excel in scholarship, leadership, and service, which are qualities I have chosen to uphold. From my perspective, I encourage myself to maintain a respectable appearance and reputation which doing so inspires me to embrace my self-concept; which helps me confidently excel academically and professionally as a “lady of distinction” and “exemplary character.” Most importantly, I continuously remain involved in community service, being involved allows me the opportunity to learn and understand the lives and circumstances of others by opening my mind, heart, and soul. Overall these qualities strengthen my passion to be a member of the prestigious Alp...
In "Fraternities and Collegiate Rape Culture" Ayres Boswell and Joan Z. Spade analyze the social perspective of the gendered relations in male fraternities that add to the high rate of violence against women on many college campuses. They list a host of factors that distinguish higher-risk from lower-risk atmospheres discussing the rates of rape in colleges and state how "1 out of 4 college women say they were raped or experienced an attempted rape" (217). Additionally, "1 out of 12 college men say they forced a woman to have sexual intercourse against her will" (Boswell, Spade 217). In other words Boswell and Spade indicated that the rates were high when it came down to women getting raped in colleges by men who also attended those colleges. In addition, Boswell and Spade specify in how most people are aware of rape but know very little about rape culture (Boswell, Spade 217).
importance to all who are apart of it. This is all important to the personoining