Fraternities and sororities -Abolished? or kept?

[Embla]

So I noticed some of you are in college, and I was curious if you could help me with my paper. I'm writing a collabrative essay with two other students on the topic "Should Fraternities and Sororites be abolished?". I am a student a community college so I know nothing about what they are actually like except for what the media and news tells me. We so far at our big local college campus in my state have had 4 deaths related to over drinking at the college. I Also drove past the campus of that college and saw a few clean cut looking sororitiy houses and one that was TP'ed. As we drove past my dad commented that if I get into a full scale college when I transfer, I should join one. I gave him this look like he was from the moon ;/ "College Sorority? dad! All they do is get drunk and have parties! I'm not into that!" But my dad said that back in the day they would have people studying in the same fields as you in the sororities and frat houses and they would help you through college. I have a hard time believing him so I come to you today looking for help. If you know anyone who is in one of these groups, or if you yourself are a part of one, could you please tell me how they are REALLY like? Even if your on campus and just witness things some of them do, I would like any feedback I can get ^^~<3

So discuss-

Fraternities and sororities
What they are like
What sort of people are a part of these groups?
Do you agree with our subject? should they be abolished?

[Transcendence]

Much like you, my college does not have them either. I think that they were originally a group made to help people regulate to the life of a college student, but now its just a little out of hand. I think that now it is more of a popularity contest where the popular just get more so and they dink and party and often times forget what they are there for. Those that are not so popular get to be in the less popular ones or they are not in ones at all. If you didnt do the ridiculous things that others have had to be allowed in then you are pretty much shunned. I dont find it fair and its pretty much ridiculous.

I do know that if I had them at my college I wouldnt join one. I would just be a loner and be happy with that.

I think they should of course be abolished.

[Embla]

Yeah ;/ I have had some people tell me on other sites that they are useful networking tools. But I don't see why they need ritual hazing, and can't just let people join and if they don't like them in a few weeks boot them. That and while I was across the street from the TP'ed Sorority/fraternity<-- unsure which. We walked past a dead squirell and some BIMBO had shoved a cigarette in its mouth. It just seemed like an upleasent area VxV


But thanks for the feedback! Duely noted ~

[YumeSupernova]

Personally, I would never join a sorority. I am part of the geek/nerd/shop-at-Hot-Topic crowd, so I would probably get shunned right away. They're all preps (yeah, I'm sure you know what I mean by that). That and I agree with the whole popularity contest thing. Oh, and did I mention all those sickeningly un-kawaii "cute" sayings they slap all over their dorm windows ("A little sassy, but oh so classy"...? *pukes*).

I tried to tell my mom that, but she was all like "Now I was in a sorority and I was never any of that." Bleh, she KNEW what I meant when I said it...

The dorm I live in right now is a series of quads with 5-person suites, and it's the main place where the sororities and fraternities are situated, so I'm surrounded by that crap all the time. Thank goodness I'm living in a different dorm this fall!

[IgyoHime]

I think those kind of college organizations should be gone. They're shitty clubs complied of cruel people who resort to immature gossip and bullshit to prove they're better than others.

There are risks for joining. Some dangers for men include hazing (from welcoming rituals or just hateful pranks) and injury from fights, while for women, they risk date rape (which would most likely to be from a fraternity member), and anorexia/bulimia from low self esteem that's a result of competition from their sorority sisters.

When I have a child, I am not letting them join a sorority/fraternity if they choose to go to college. There's plenty of other, better clubs to join than the high-school level popularity contest that is fraternities/sororities.

[lunexor]

I should start off by saying I have never been, nor will ever be, in a Sorority. Definitly not a Fraternities.
And also, I noticed a few arguments were cliché. Cm'on, hazing is a thing of the past. It happens now and then, but rarely. And have you looked at a modern Sorority? None of those girls look like they have an eating disorder. Frankily, you can't go on media and television for this one.
Yes, a lot of peer pressure may develop because of these organizations, but they do help students with common interests study. Plus, the voulenteer work that they do [which is the basis of Sororities and Fraternities] are rather respectable.
They raise money for AIDs, Cancer victims, Natural Disaster victims, and so much more, you can't ignore that.

Sadly, there are Greek Houses out there that do party a lot. Because they are rich kids who think thats what college is about. But more and more, those sort of Greek Houses are being eliminated, and respectable ones are popping up.
You've got to do your research on this subject, don't be too biased.

Personally, I would raise my child to be in a Greek House, because they would find social acceptance and not have such a hard time dealing with new people in college. I wouldn't want to be in one, because I love the idea of doing things on my own. Meeting new people, and not talking to people.
Plus, greek houses have bedrooms and bathrooms for less expense.
Most dorms have 1 bathroom for 24+ students.

[Autumn]

I am afraid I'm in the same boat as you, my college to my knowledge does not have those but my friend went to a college where I believe they had them.
I personally think that they should be abolished.. they are just another excuse for a popularity contest in my opinion. As posted in the post below me about the hazing, true, it doesn't happen as much but I am sure that they have new things they do which would be more harmful to people. I think Sororities and Fraternities are a thing of a past, bury them and let them rest.

[Carpe Diem]

I agree with lunexor. The stereotypical sorority and fraternity is just that. You rarely see the dramatized hazing and party animals you see on TV. I'm not in a sorority or fraternity but I do consider joining one.

They are not just a club for party animals and preppy girls. It's not all about popularity as well. They are great social networks. People in sororities and fraternities are required to do so many hours of community service each semester. They not only help each other but the community by raking yards, joining in Big Brothers and Big Sisters, help with the elderly, etc. You can expect all kinds of people in sororities and fraternities. There are ones just for ethnic groups, honors students, students with disabilities, etc.

Sure, there will be some party animals, but that comes with being in college.

[applejuice81]

I have actually joined a sorority when I went away to college but unfortunately I didn't stay in it long. I wish I had. Just so you know I didn't leave because of the hazing,etc, its was personal matter that I was naive about and didn't know how to handle it.

Will be honest we did drink and got to the frat parties but while I was stay a sister there were meetings to discuss out coming events, fundraisers and sorority business. We also had workshops. To be honest I don't remember much of what we discussed, its been a long time. I have actually thought about seeing if I can be reinstated as a sister but I don't know if it be worth it now too many years have gone by.

And also I believe that every sorority has charity that they raise money for.

[kerryfox]

I think it really depends on what the Greek system is like from school to school. Some schools crack down hard on their systems and make sure they are to code other don't mind as much and things slide. My school is tiny and thus we have about 5 greek houses. We have a group that is seen as the party hard ditzy socialites and then the religious one that dose good. Then some in between houses and too we currently have a house that is banned due to the fact they overstepped the universities bounds. So it ranges even with in a university of what good or bad a Greek House can be.

Your father is right on the fact the like minded people tend to flock to them. That can be good or bad... Good in that you will have people you like and enjoy being around and bad if the general mentality is to drink and party.

I personally avoid them just do to monetary up keep. I simply do not have the cash to drop on all the little bits and pieces they charge you for. That dosen't include the rehual my wardrobe would need to "fit in" and the time I would need to devote to keep up with all the activities they hold.

Yes too it is a popularity competition, but so is half of life. So well eliminating them would seem like a good idea do to the image many of them up hold. On the same grounds so long as they follow university code then they are just as legal as say the theater company or the math club. If you want to go further on that many schools also house people based on Major, my sisters school groups incoming students in housing like that so she basically lives with all her fellow major in one dorm. If you offed the greek system you would in theory not allow things like that either as it too follows the definition of a group of people with common interests living together based on a set of prerequisites.

As for your question what sort of people are in these groups, well it is based on who they want. Basically you rush at the start of the year(or mid year depending on when they do it) jump through all the hoops they want of you and they they pick who they want out of the pool make an offer and they the person accepts or declines.

An up point of the Greek system I have found was the events they hold. Having several friends in houses I have been to things like a wing feed or the ever popular Build your own (insert a food). They also co sponsor with other clubs at our school to put on big out door events or help pay for things like speakers or projects.

So in short getting rid of them isn't worth it. They have their issues but in light of what else could pop up in their place it is better to have the group that can be regulated over some thing that isn't and could get wildly out of hand.

[sychobunny]

And I agree with Kerry.
I used to be really against them, but the ones at my school really aren't hard core. There's a lot of drama in the sororities, and a lot of drinking, but there's drinking everywhere. Its college, its a right of rebellion for little kiddies when they leave mom and dad.
I have heard of some bad hazing, but my school really doesn't do that. Though it is illegal to have sorority houses because of a really decrepit brothel law, but there are about two frat houses that are known for their weekly parties.
My school's not into greek life, so there's only a few, and they're pretty stereotypical (though I completely disagree that all members are preps~ I've known a few members who weren't). But I've also heard of some that are for minority ethnic groups, as well as knowing of one that is not specifically for, but wholly welcomes GLBT people (though virgins who attend their gatherings including the annual rocky horror picture show gathering get marked with a red V on their forehead). Also there are some that are career specific, such as my school has one for poly-sci majors, nursing majors and accounting majors and possibly one for social workers.

[Ithilwen]

My college does not have any fraternities or sororities. I am glad for that. They should be abolished, in my opinion. To me, they are just like clubs, but with and advantage of maybe better parking and an on-campus dormitory. I have nothing against them. It just seems like schools pay toward this extra privilege for some students and does not pay attention to what matters as a whole for the entire school.

[kerryfox]

@Ithilwen Most Greek Houses are not university owned the Greek organization owns them. The University still has a hand in how the operate as they in the end will reflect on the University.


I forgot to mention too that there is a difference in state owned Universities and the Private ones and how they handle their Greek systems. When you are not under the states money you pretty much operate as you need to, where as with the state you answer back to the government in the end thus your policies might be different.

[Mika]

Honestly...
We don't have anything like those things here where I live... and I couldn't care less. They're unnecessary. I'd rather just join a club based on interests and do activities with people who actually just want to, no strings attached. And no living with some fake sisterhood or whatever.

I wouldn't mesh well in a situation like that. It's REALLY hard for me to develop attachments for other people. They'd likely just get offended or impatient at how long it takes me to care that they aren't around. That would cause problems.

I have my own family. x.x I built it myself. I don't need something like that. I don't really need anyone but them and friends that are already close to me.

I'm not entirely sure what those house things are, but I'm not greek so I don't really care. I still don't think they're all that necessary. Americans make a big deal over them... but I don't know why. We get along just fine without them.

[sychobunny]

XD Greek is a reference to the Greek alphabet naming system for the chapters- nothing to do with actually being Greek!

And ours only get the same funding from the school that any other club/organization thats part of our Alliance of Student Organizations get. It really is like any other club. The common interest of members is most commonly networking.