"But here’s the truth. Fraternities and sororities are self-selecting, self-segregating institutions that usually require a little (or a lot of) money, and they are a way to perpetuate America’s increasingly two-tiered society.
Frats have even more downsides. They come with hazing deaths, binge drinking, relentless sexism and myriad rapes. Lives, bodies and minds forever ruined — and nearly all excused by the brotherhood of silence and privilege." …
Thanks for posting this. Interesting that no one else has commented.
Thanks for posting.
The Washington Post editorial was an interesting read. I don’t think that it was very well written, to be totally honest. I totally disagree with the author’s statement that “Women are just finally speaking out about it now.” I was in college in the early 90’s and safety on & off campus for female students was a constant focus at the university I attended. There was an annual “Take Back The Night” event and it was full of female empowerment and all that good stuff. We spent PLENTY of time talking about it back then and that was 25 YEARS AGO.
If students don’t want to participate in the college fraternity/sorority system, then they don’t have to. College students are not FORCED to attend frat parties.
Lol this op-ed is ridiculously petty. If you don’t want to participate, you don’t have to. Saying Greek Life should be abolished is just silly and idiotic, in my opinion.
I’m so happy that DS’ school doesn’t have Greek life. Anybody who doesn’t think frats/sororities affect the culture of the schools they’re in – regardless of whether a student participates – is kidding him/herself. Are there good chapters of frats/sororities? Absolutely. Do frats/sororities volunteer and contribute to the communities they’re in? Sure.
That said, I do think there are behaviors that reinforce biases (race, gender, SES), encourage risky behavior, and desensitize kids to sexual misconduct that come out of many Greek organizations. I so wish it weren’t true, but it is.
I think awareness of what constitutes rape and how poorly universities handle claims of sexual assault, has grown quie a lot in the past 5 years or so. I don’t know if “rape culture” existed in fraternities, and binge drinking sure did, but for sure everything that exploded with social networks and smartphones is new.
Making sexually crude comments and publishing them through emails or banners is not rape. It just isn’t. As for the University of Richmond student who says she was raped off campus, I find it interesting that she wants the university to administer justice. Why didn’t she call the police? Universities should not be in the business of administering justice for events which take place off campus.
When something bad happens involving a fraternity, it’s big news. When it merely involves a non-affiliated student we hear only crickets.
There is both good and bad about the Greek system. Most campuses have very weak Greek systems or none at all. Those who don’t like Greek-letter societies can choose one of these schools instead of demanding that all schools shutter their fraternities.
p.s. Making beer drinking legal for 18-year-olds would do more to end binge drinking than banning fraternities.
One can support someone’s First Amendment right to say something without celebrating what is actually said.
However, that only applies to governmental censorship of independent people or organizations. Where there is some sort of relationship between a school and organization, the school may choose to downgrade or end such relationship in response to boorish behavior. If the school is private, it has additional leeway in being able to prohibit students from joining such an organization.
Absolutely spot on. I have no idea why the government refuses to try and change that law.
While I agree that some frat activities are dangerous, I refuse to agree that all Greek life should be ended. It establishes a sense of camaraderie and belonging, which is very important for young adults’ mental health. It can also encourage positive study behaviors and success in college, career, and beyond. I know that you all might ignore this post simply because I’m only in the 8th grade, but that is a chance I am willing to take.
Or if the laws were upheld doubt many students would join a fraternity to not be allowed to drink.
https://www.phideltatheta.org/about/policies/ describes ΦΔΘ’s alcohol free housing policy, which is unusual among fraternities. It may have helped its recruitment of those who want fraternity life without the alcohol.
I highly doubt that the Phi Delt experience is all that different than any other fraternity. Please. Dont be naive. Don’t all the national fraternities say things to the same effect - that their spaces are to be alcohol-free and that underage members shouldn’t drink and we will slap your hand if you do?
Huh, kind of like selective colleges.
@Pizzagirl Many actual frat houses are alcohol free and this is strictly followed. However, they often have separate places where the brothers go to drink and party. In fact, I went to a PDT tailgate yesterday at one of the off campus houses and there was obviously underaged drinking occurring.
Many of them are just good at hiding the alcohol from inspection. Don’t ask me how I know 
"I have no idea why the government refuses to try and change that law. " Because it was proven to save lives?
It’s the 21st century… Show me a US college admissions committee that bars students on the basis of race. Even HBCUs admit non-black students.
A refresher: last year’s ugly bus ride sing-a-long at Oklahoma
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/03/09/oklahoma-frats-racist-chant-highlights-the-exclusionary-roots-of-greek-life/
Then there was last years’s sorority recruitment video at Bama. The only non-white girl was a guy in an elephant mascot costume.
http://jezebel.com/university-of-alabama-sorority-deletes-viral-recruitmen-1724521877
@PrimeMeridian and most OU students were horrified by the incident. It’s also worth noting that the person who took that video and sent it to a social justice group was a member of another OU Greek chapter who was shocked and appalled by that behaviour. As it stands, my sorority at the University of Oklahoma welcomes all races who want to join. The reality is, most potentials who come out happen to be white. We have non white members and obviously treat them the same as our white sisters, but you can’t get people who don’t rush in the first place.
@PrimeMeridian I’m sure there are sports teams and organizations in colleges that have few white members. If few colored students want to join a group, you can’t force them to for the sake of “diversity.”