Greeks: Good or Bad?

Phi Beta Kappa (ΦΒΚ) expanded over the next three years to Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth and many other campuses.  In 1826 the fraternity had become a scholarship society, and it still is today.2  The first social fraternity created was Kappa Alpha Society (KA) in 1825 at Union College, New York.  Union College is known as the Mother of Fraternities because it founded six different fraternities.  

During the Civil War, Southern Universities practically ceased to function with virtually all-young men in the service.  As a result, most fraternities suspended activities.  In a few cases fraternity brothers attempted to remain organized within their military units.  Theta Xi (ΘΞ) was the only fraternity organized during the Civil War and was also the first professional fraternity, centered on the engineering principles.2

Fraternities were established to prepare young men for the clergy or other professional careers, especially Greek and Latin.2  They were also used to help study many courses within the schools.  As the colleges expanded, due to the increased attendance of women, many became universities, and lost the relationship with the church.  The first sorority, The Adelphean Society, began at Wesleyan Female College, Macon, Georgia is 1851. A year later the Philomathean Society was established.  For more than 50 years both sororities remained local sororities until they adopted Greek names and expanded as Alpha Delta Pi (ΑΔΠ) and Phi Mu (ΦΜ), respectively. In the 1960’s and 1970’s the fraternities realigned priorities and programs, aiding for personal development and achievement.  Fraternities and Sororities expanded throughout the United States and Canada as enrollment in colleges continued to grow. During the 1970’s fraternities turned into drinking clubs, a place where underage students could go and drink.  Today the Greek system “is looked upon” as drinking establishments and party houses where binge drinking can take place.

        Binge drinking is a trend that you see happening at every college campus today. Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks in a row for men and four or more in a row for girls. 3  Fraternity and sorority members have a higher drinking average than non-fraternity members.  Fraternity members average 14 drinks a week while non-fraternity members average 6 drinks a week. 4  In January 2002, 19-year-old Jessica Janos was killed while driving drunk with a blood alcohol content of 0.29. Two other people also died during this accident.  Jessica was a member of Chi Omega at Valparaisa University.5  This is a familiar story among college campuses.  

        Colleges are institutes of higher learning, but how much learning is going on today?  It seems like society has taken a hold of what colleges stand for: drinking, partying, and causal sexual relations.  The media has taken a hold of these ideas and brought them into our homes.  The recent explosion of reality T.V. brought us two seasons of Fraternity Life on MTV, and three seasons of Sorority Life also on MTV.  Sorority Life was the first to air out of the two and it was a big hit.  A quote from MTV.com shows why they would think about making this a show, “Drinking, and puking, and cat fights, oh my!”6  The basis of the show is that MTV provides the sister house with a pledge house in which the girls pledging the sorority move in with each other and the cameras tape every move they all make.  It captures all of the fights and bonding moments but it also captures all of the drinking and parties that take place.  The show airs at 10pm, which is still early enough for 16-year-olds to see.  Drinking is something that most 16-year-olds are fascinated with and when they see all of these “cool” people doing it and “having a blast” while they drink it makes them want to drink.  There have been three seasons of sorority life; the first was Sigma from UC Davis, California.  The second season was Delta Xi Omega otherwise known as DZO at the University of Buffalo, New York.  The third season was at Zeta Sigma Phi, in Los Angels California.  Fraternity Life is just a spin off of Sorority Life.  It is based on the same premise and has the same effects.  The first season was held at Sigma Chi Omega at the University of Buffalo, New York, while the second season was held in Santa Cruz at the Delta Omega Chi house.  

                Although the Greek houses are known as party some fraternities are taking measures to curb binge drinking. Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Nu, both national fraternities are now alcohol-free.  Being substance free means that the houses can not have parties with alcohol nor can they drink in any of the rooms of the house.7 “At RPI [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute] and Union College, all frat parties have to be sanctioned by the Inter-Fraternity Council. IFC members drop in on parties to make sure people are following the rules.  Parties must have guest lists and people who aren’t old enough to drink must have their hands marked.”8  

        Some universities have taken actions into their own hands.  At the University of Maryland fraternities can only have parties if they follow the rules set by the school.  “The rules include checking Ids, party monitoring by sober fraternity members, no hard liquor and the posting of date-rape information and emergency hotline numbers.”9 They have also released a new program that “…includes a freshman orientation program that deals with alcohol issues…”9 They also sponsor alcohol free activities and residence halls. In Nov of 2003, The University of Maryland proposed to ban the sale of kegs in the town where the school is based.  To purchase a keg there would have to be proof that the person is 21-years old, and would have to possess a special keg license.  This proposal is feasible even though many doubt that it will pass.10

        The University of Albany has developed a new way to hopefully curb binge drinking on campuses.  By working with the students and admitting that alcohol abuse is out there the campus hopes to help out.  They also are stopping alcohol marketing and promotions on campus, and are including alcohol free options on campus.  Educating the students and early intervention is also another plan they hope to employ, and if necessary parental involvement.  They also plan on being stricter on their rules.  

        Admitting there is a problem is always the first step to recovery.  Colleges do not like to be looked upon as a part school, so they tell parents that and prospective students that there is little alcohol on campus or that the campus is dry.  Although this sounds food it is not always the truth and it lets the college be in denial.  Now that college campuses recognize that there is a problem they can begin to come up with ways to fix it.  Although the schools have implemented new rules many colleges have just begun to form plans to reduce alcoholic problems on campus.  This is just the start of a long road to recovery.