Over reaction? We’ve known about the dangers of hazing and excessive alcohol consumption for decades. I believe most of the fraternity national organizations officially ban hazing and overdrinking. And yet someone’s son died.
I’m an FSU alum. The Greek system wasn’t crucial to your social life when I was there, off the top of my head, I’d say less than 20% of the student body was involved. I went to a few parties, they don’t really stand out from other parties I went to while at school.
It is kinda odd coming from Thrasher, when he became university president, he was seen as a Koch brothers puppet.
Again. Someone’s son died again. This kind of stuff isn’t common, the problem is that it isn’t non-existent. IIRC this is the third or fourth this year.
I think colleges should think twice about banning them since often they are why someone goes to a particular college and stays all 4 years at 1 campus. Nowadays with jr. colleges and the ability to take classes online that is important.
As for the members, it is a great way for students to make friends and often those friendships lead to careers since they often have good networks. When a greek graduates he can open his alumni book and start making calls.
Also for the members they can do a good job in policing the behavior and study habits of their younger members.
So to me, if they can prove they keep good grades and do community service, the colleges should keep them.
Assuming facts most definitely not in evidence. The exact opposite, in fact.
Greek Life should be banned everywhere. Nuke them from orbit.
I don’t give a shit. never was in a frat when I was in college. near as I can tell, they’re all just a way for a bunch of young douchebag guys to get together, get wasted, and treat each other like shit. fuck 'em, ban the whole thing.
Banning fraternities and sororities is going too far. Better they should be placed on double secret probation.
Toga Party!
I have heard this benefit of the Greek system, but is this a reality? I am not questioning you, specifically, but has anyone here on the dope who was in a fraternity or sorority used that relationship to either get a job, or hire someone? Or, has anyone here ever heard of such a thing happening IRL?
I have a hard time accepting that graduates with Greek experience are going to have a leg-up in today’s job market. “Oh, look, a fellow Tri-Lamb, let’s get him in here for an interview.” Dubious.
Absolutely. I got my first job out of business school with one of the Big-4 accounting/consulting firms through an undergrad fraternity brother.
But let’s not make it out like it’s some secret society thing where the ancient alumni place you in key positions to set you up for life. It is absolutely no different from any other employee referral. You have to have the qualifications as well.
Social Animal House: The Economic and Academic Consequences of Fraternity Membership
(bolding mine)
I was a member of a fraternity at a university where approximately 1/3 of the student body was in a fraternity or sorority. It was great. Ten years after graduating, I still stay in touch with many people I met through the Greek system. My experience didn’t match the stereotypes being shouted about in this thread.
Why is it necessary to kill off all the fraternities?
Why not just actually enforce the law?
Station a uniformed cop outside each and every frat party for the next two years. Anybody stumbling around drunk or making loud noise should get arrested for disorderly conduct.
Then a few id checks would prove underage drinking, which can get the owners of the property arrested, too.
A couple years of tight enforcement would change the culture, and still leave the greeks free to do all their valuable charity work and social networking. (Of course, a lot of the douchebag frats would probably collapse without their keg culture…but the ones that survive would be better off , both for themselves and the wider community.)
We had them at my undergrad school (U of Toronto), but as they were not an official part of the school, they could not be banned by the U. They were private houses on private land.
I was invited to join one, but I declined. Mainly because I could see no benefit. Yes, the members were sure they’d be the movers and shakers on Toronto’s Bay Street (cf. New York’s Wall Street), but I didn’t lean that way. I did go to a few of their parties, and they were fun, but while I could drink their beer and dance with their sorority sisters, it remained something I wasn’t interested in.
In other words, joining a frat or a sorority was just another extracurricular activity. You could join the Art Club, the University Choir, or Phi Delta Theta; it made no difference.
If FSU bans frats and sororities, well, big deal. They certainly were no big deal when I went to school.
I’m going to take a “wild guess” and say that fear of lawsuits resulting in $$$ in damages is behind this. But that’s just a “wild guess”.
Former frat rat here, married a gal from the sorority house across the street (from my chapter). I have to answer no to snowthx’s question. I don’t believe either of us have had any contact with our old greek friends in our careers. Frat life was fun, but we’ve had zero contact with brothers/sisters since leaving college.
It seems like most of the people on this post think that the benefit of a fraternity or sorority is while you’re at school. IMHO, the real benefit is when you’re out there looking for a job; and you potentially have a shared bonding experience with someone who is in a position to hire you. It a lot of ways it’s elitism. I don’t quite agree with Urbanredneck, that they’re useful to just start calling them from the alumni book; but it’s definitely more than snowthx wants to believe too. I’ve seen it happen on multiple occasions. The scenario plays out more like this: A person graduates college and passes the first round of resume inspection and actually gets an interview. The interviewer reads the resume and realizes he has some common ground of which to talk about. “Hey we both went to Ga Tech!” or “Hey, we were both in the same fraternity!” etc. etc. etc. (BTW, I have seen both of those play out in a person getting a job) Now you have something you’re remembered by; you’re more well liked, you’ve shared a struggle (and even with today’s ‘safe’ hazing, part of getting into a fraternity can really suck your freshman year). All of those things move you up on the list. Snowthx, I think you’re right. If you don’t like someone, you’re not going to hire them just based on the common affiliation; but all other things being equal; it could definitely work out in your favor.
I can live with the ban or just ignore their existence as I always have; either is fine with me. I will say that I saw (ages ago) and have read of more abuses then benefits from the whole “Greek System” but I can think of a few schools where a ban like this would be fought tooth and nail. Penn State and Pitt both spring to mind. I will disagree with those who see frats and the like slowly fading away - I think it would take a lot of bans like this to even make a dent. A lot of college life are traditions that have outlived their time but just refuse to die.
The value of an elite self-selecting networking club is obvious. To the members.
The value to the university population as a whole is not. More accurately, it’s clearly net negative to everyone else. So shut it down.
Meritocracy is a higher ideal and a better tool for ensuring the good people get the good outcomes for the betterment of all.
Not much of this rings true currently, according to both of my sons who recently attended a large university. Neither joined frats (nor did I), but both attended a few parties at frat houses. From what I’m told, the frats generally let girls in for free, but charge a significant amount to guys that they decide to let in. IOW, nearly all girls get in, and the girls don’t pay, but only some guys get in, and they have to pay enough to fund the party alcohol. A lot of guys get turned away. So, girls are encouraged to come and drink their fill, and the male attendance is managed to reduce competition.
As for any benefits from “greek life”, there is some in terms of charity fundraising and community do-goodery, but the negatives sure seem to outweigh the positives.
I was a member and officer in a chapter of a national fraternity* at a large public university. There’s one very good reason why universities try to skirt around outright bans on Greek life. Greeks are more engaged in their institutions, and remain so as alumni. That means they give universities much more money than anyone else. Most of the studies on this issue are funded by Greek umbrella organizations, but schools don’t care because their own foundation figures generally show the same thing.