<p>I wasn't getting attacked enough on other threads, so I thought I'd start this one. Seriously, apart from the alum. flap, wouldn't it be a better world?</p>
<p>Here's what I think...I think college administrators should do their god damn jobs. AKA - work on IMPROVING their school, reduce class sizes, get better professors, increase endowment and MAKE SURE THEIR STUDENTS ARE HAPPY rather than waste time and money combating frats because they think it gives them good p.r.</p>
<p>S is in a Frat and loves it. The Frat GPA is higher than the student average for the College, with the brothers typically in very difficult majors, they do a great deal of philanthropy work, and oh yes, they have an occasional party. They are known on campus for the security and lack of harassment at their parties and provide an escort service to walk intoxicated women (or anyone who requests it) to their dorms or apartments. They also hire local off-duty police offers to work the door for each party and provide another layer of security. I asked S about this, he said once they began this they discovered an unexpected benefit, the ratio of girls to boys at the parties is about 5:3! Yes, he is happy.</p>
<p>Isn't it true that fraternities limit membership to students in good standing? If so it would be shocking if their GPA's were not higher than the avg. since the average includes students who are not in good standing.</p>
<p>So do most football teams.</p>
<p>I agree with you but not sure why it matters for the question posed?</p>
<p>My son's frat just finished up a huge philanthropy project. It seems they're always doing some community thing or fundraising. They also have to work to maintain their house, and do have occasional parties/mixers. Frats are only as good as the folks that are in them. Sometimes all it takes is one or two bad apples in a frat to give the whole organization a bad name. For the most part, though, I would say that they add to, not subtract from, a thriving campus culture.<br>
As far as drinking, it goes on in the dorms, at apartments/houses, in the bars...as well as at frat houses. Greeks just get "caught" more often. Case in point- girl shows up at football game drunk, gets caught by security. They take her aside and question her as to where she got the alcohol before the game. She points to the frat house across the street. They get put on probation for a year. What would have happened if she had pointed to the private house party down the block? Nothing, unless the police get involved and presses charges (which they don't).</p>
<p>Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe most sororities and fraternities are NOT located on campus property.</p>
<p>The are privately-owned, off-campus living accomodations, similar to a group house or apartment building. And as such, they self select whom they would like to live with, during the period known as "Rush."</p>
<p>Bay,</p>
<p>I think it varys. Sometimes on campus, sometimes off as you describe. If it's off campus, I don't think (just quessing) the university has any real jursidiction.</p>
<p>So curious14 -- you pulled the pin on the grenade and have just stepped back to see what people will say. Why don't you stick your neck on the line and tell us what YOU think?</p>
<p>The common denominators at schools that have done away with a Greek system seem to be: frats and sororitities are conistent sources of drinking violations; account for a disproportionate numbers of disicplinary cases; have an exclusionary culture and are a divisive force on campus; tend to foster an anti-intellectual climate and perform below the college average academically; have a history of hazing, etc. </p>
<p>When a fair number of those sorts of things are the norm, I think an administration is doing its job by stepping in. At some colleges, the above problems don't seem to be particularly serious, so why would an administration want to take on all reistance that goes along with trying to abolish or even reign in frat and sororities. Bottom line: Greek cultures differ a lot from campus to campus.</p>
<p>Considering that only days have passed since the deaths of member of fraternities were reported, this discussion is closed. Please do not attempt to reopen this thread or start similar threads. Thank you. </p>
<p>Trinity </p>