<p>Several times over the past several years I've run into references in various college review sites to "underground frats" being present on a particular campus where fraternities have been outlawed for years. I asked about that on the college forum here on CC, but almost instantaneously the school admission rep who answers questions on the forum jumped in and gave the school policy on such matters, I realized that no one there was going to talk about it openly. I just saw another reference made elsewhere and am really curious. I don't want to slam the school so I'm hesitant to use the name, but am wondering if anyone has experienced an underground fraternity culture on a supposed Greek-free campus. And how do they work?</p>
<p>Here is a local news article on how it works at Harvard. It is probably similar at other “Greek -free” campuses, it just doesn’t make it into the mainstream news.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2012/06/park-keg-harvard-yard/”>http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2012/06/park-keg-harvard-yard/</a></p>
<p>I believe Amherst has them now…</p>
<p>There are two levels of Underground. In a few cases, the chapters are recognized by the national organization and still follow the rules of the nationals (and can still get in trouble, get shut down, etc). although they are not recognized by the university, the entire Greek system is generally ignored so that the university reduces their liability.
Now sometimes groups will be kicked off of campus, or disbanded by the national groups. They may be local fraternities with almost no oversight. That is a problem waiting to happen. Real hazing, no rules-Lord of the Flies. </p>
<p>Interesting, thanks Mastadon. I’m glad my S went to a school where the Greek life was sanctioned by the college administration and somewhat regulated, as in strict no hazing policies. Yes, the frats had wild parties but it was all out in the open, secret underground societies give me the creeps. No matter how you feel about fraternities and sororities, having them visible seems preferable to having them hidden.</p>
<p>Last year “Colby houses” made the news when a bus full of kids was pulled over…</p>
<p><a href=“http://bangordailynews.com/2013/10/08/news/mid-maine/police-cite-22-underage-colby-students-who-hired-bus-to-take-them-to-party-for-drinking/”>http://bangordailynews.com/2013/10/08/news/mid-maine/police-cite-22-underage-colby-students-who-hired-bus-to-take-them-to-party-for-drinking/</a></p>
<p>A quick Google search will probably reveal underground frats of some sort at all the NESCAC/Ivy schools that claim to be “Greek-free”.</p>
<p>At my LAC, fraternities/sororities are not only banned from campus since the 1870’s, but also membership in one is a violation of college rules one agrees to as a condition of matriculation with potential penalties including possible expulsion. And as a private college, your only recourse is to avoid applying/matriculating if admitted if joining a pan-hellenic organization openly is what you want out of your college experience. </p>
<p>That’s not to say there’s no underground fraternities/sororities near my school or students who joined them. Heck, I was offered the opportunity to join one, but declined due to lack of interest. </p>
<p>However, they must meet well off campus and students had to keep it secret not only to avoid potential judicial sanctions, but also negative perceptions from most classmates because most students at my LAC attended precisely because of it’s lack of pan-hellenic presence on campus. </p>
<p>That and when I attended, such organizations were regarded as one manifestation of the very “bourgeois capitalist” or “too conventional” cultures most on campus abhorred. The presence of heavy drinking in some such groups on other campuses and popular stereotypes only reinforced this as alcohol was regarded as the “bourgeois establishment” or “too conventional” vice. </p>
<p>Colby was the school that I was reticent to name, but since there are write ups in the local Maine papers I don’t really need to help them keep it underground. Obviously at all these schools there are students who opt out of the clandestine groups, as Cobrat explained, but what I keep seeing in reviews of Colby (by a small group of reviewers) is that the social scene is adversely affected for the people who are excluded from the underground secret groups; the social fabric is split. I see that this is more widespread than just one school, and what I’m wondering is how prospective students can really make an informed decision about attending these schools because there are aspects of the social scene that cannot be disclosed.</p>
<p>My sorority was actually founded at Colby College in 1874. If Greek life is driven underground, the activities are driven underground and the college has no control over it - the same thing that happened when the drinking age went up to 21 in the early 80s. And as for hazing in Greek organizations, well, maybe colleges will outlaw marching bands too and drive them underground. </p>
<p>Pulling off an underground marching band would be quite an achievement. </p>
<p>“Pulling off an underground marching band would be quite an achievement.”</p>
<p>I don’t know why, but in my brain this somehow translates to the scene in Animal House where the marching band gets led up against a wall. </p>
<p>“That and when I attended, such organizations were regarded as one manifestation of the very “bourgeois capitalist” or “too conventional” cultures most on campus abhorred. The presence of heavy drinking in some such groups on other campuses and popular stereotypes only reinforced this as alcohol was regarded as the “bourgeois establishment” or “too conventional” vice.”</p>
<p>Yes, we know, cobrat. You have told us numerous times about how important it is not to be seen as “bourgeois” or “conventional.” Those things are the kiss of death. </p>
<p>Well, OK. I was just trying to point out that Greek organziations are not the only ones who haze or otherwise behave badly. </p>
<p>Bestfriendsgirl…you and I are sorority sisters ;)</p>
<p>Wow! What chapter? Mine was Delta Beta. </p>
<p>Theta Delta chapter…as per my user name</p>
<p>I should have figured that out. </p>
<p>Any first hand experience with underground frats to relate, besides cobrat who wasn’t tempted, it would be interesting to know how they have effected your college experience. And, were you aware that they existed at your school before you enrolled? </p>
<p>Hazing exits no matter how much the college says they have strict no hazing policy. It is done in secrecy. </p>
<p>I’m less interested in the hazing part, although that’s a concern. I’m interested in the social part and how it adds or subtracts from life on a supposed greek free campus.</p>