<p>I've been reading a lot about hazing at Dartmouth including the infamous RS article and another by a former sorority sister who was nearly killed while being hazed. I also saw where one of the new trustees (Fick) equated hazing with "team building" so it seems the recent revelations will be white washed.</p>
<p>Is it really safe to be at Dartmouth if one wants to have a social life? Is it worse at Dartmouth than the other Ivies/top schools?</p>
<p>Thanks for honest reports!</p>
<p>Please read the many other threads on this topic. Yes, you can have a safe social life at Dartmouth. No, it’s not worse than any other college in the United States. Yes, kids drink at Dartmouth. Yes, kids drink everywhere. Your choices of what you do are up to you.</p>
<p>hey LakeClouds, I had the same concern when I was making my decisions but I figured if 60% of students are in frats or sororities, there’s still that 40% that aren’t. Keep in mind not every frat is the same, and there are some more loosely affiliated/more sensible frats and sororities. I met quite a few people in the Greek system during my visit and they were perfectly chill people - it wasn’t like they were the drinking zombies the RS article made them out to be. Personally, I’m pledging to not pledge to a frat so if you’re looking for someone to kick it with at Dartmouth just hit me up. :]</p>
<p>Also keep in mind that the experiences of the former students who wrote those articles do not reflect the realities for everyone in the Greek system. Hazing to that degree is not an inevitable part of being affiliated (I say to that degree because the legal definition of hazing is so broad that some of the silly things people do, like wearing flair, can be considered hazing. Dartmouth students are very attached to their flair). I will also tell you that, just because it isn’t getting national attention, that doesn’t mean houses haven’t been having serious conversations about their own practices.
And no, it is not worse at Dartmouth than anywhere else, based on my experiences. </p>
<p>I can honestly say that being affiliated has been the greatest part of my Dartmouth experience.</p>
<p>The 60% that are in frats include the freshmen, who are not permitted to be. Therefore, post frosh - the rate of inclusion in frats will be significantly higher.</p>
<p>No. The percentage of affiliated students is based on the number *eligible *to join fraternity/sorority and does not include first years.</p>