Fraternities: Is The End Near?Issue Brief

Benjamin France - DATE \@ "MMMM d, y" April 7, 2015

IntroductionIf you turn on the nightly news or read a newspaper what you will most likely read is an article pertaining to a Fraternity, due to them getting suspend from hazing, alcohol related incidences, or the most popular, sexual assault. It seems to be that a week cant go by without a fraternity somewhere in the United States making national headlines. In 2015, which is just 4 months old, already over three Fraternities from three different universities have made national headlines for either racism or sexual assault. Some people think fraternities should be disbanded nation wide others think there should be some type of reform of the Greek life process on universities, while some think they are just fine they way they've been. Whichever side you chose it is no surprise that the problem should be addressed before any more fraternities make national headline.

History of Fraternities

Secret societies have existed for hundreds and sometimes even thousands of years. The Freemasons are probably one of the most famously-recognized of all. In 1776, a secret society was founded at the College of William & Mary called Phi Beta Kappa.This group differed from those before it in that it had a Greek-letter name. It was the first Greek fraternity and it set the traditions for those to come: the Greek letters, a secret ritual, a secret handshake, a badge, mottoes, and a code of laws.The fraternity system grew throughout the early 1800s with the formation of Kappa Alpha Society, Sigma Phi, and Delta Phi. The three made up what is now called the Union Triad. Moving westward into Ohio's Miami University, three fraternities were founded there: Beta Theta Pi, Delta Theta, and Sigma Chi. These would form the Miami Triad. These early groupings would later give way to a large expansion of the Greek system throughout the colleges for the better part of a century. In the 1850s, Alpha Delta Pi was founded as the first sorority although Gamma Phi Beta was the first organization actually called a sorority (and is the only one to retain this in their official name). Secret societies were generally looked down upon by most people throughout this time period. The 1980s saw several major developments in the Greek system. Membership began to recover as the attitudes of the 60s and 70s faded, but the legal changes to the drinking age created a very awkward position for Greek organizations. Many Greek Organizations had become the centers of social life on many campuses. Now this was a huge liability. A great many changes came with this legislation, but much of it was probably for the better.The 1990s saw more changes for the Greek system. Many groups were able to move away from the negative stereotypes created during those rougher years and became again a home away from home for students and a way of promoting leadership, scholarship, and community spirit.If they where able to move away from these harsher stereotypes, what has changed in the past 15 years that has now led to a hugely negative stereotype, even though membership has increased, that has led some universities to completely shut greek life down.

Problems of Fraternities HazingFraternities have always had a uneasy stereotype around them since many people dont know what goes on inside of them since they are a secret organization. Though through out the years of fraternities there always have been rumors of hazing and how severe it is or isnt. There are stories of fraternities around the country of waterboarding pledges, making them drink excessive amounts of alcohol, and virtually having them be slaves of the fraternity. Hazing is defined as the imposition of strenuous, often humiliating, tasks as part of a program of rigorous physical training and initiation. Fraternities are not the only organization to do it on college campuses but are usually the main outlet for media to attack on hazing due to it being a regular offense by many fraternities across the nation. There has been a 183 deaths attributed to hazing, though there is no national agency that records these deaths, the parents of the victims attribute the death to hazing, as well the fraternity members associated with the death have been charged. Many say hazing is part of the ritual that is fraternity life, while others say it is the 21st century and hazing brings us to a moral level of barbarians. Campuses all around the United States have actively tried to end hazing by placing confidential areas where people can come report hazing, by placing strict punishments on organizations convicted of hazing, as well as the deterrent to join a society or fraternity that hazes. Fraternities themselves have pledged to end hazing some ending their pledging process or new member process all together. Sigma Alpha Epsilon, commonly known as SAE has nationally ended their pledging process. This means that potential new members are given bids to the fraternity and if they accept, they learn the fraternities secrets and members and then initiated. Though this is good public relations for SAE, this only came to be after a record 9 deaths of pledges since 2006 have stemmed from the SAE fraternity, more then any other fraternity in the nation. Hazing has caused people to gain a negative view on fraternities but it is not hazing alone that has caused this.

Racism in FraternitiesAnother problems fraternities have faced as well that have made national headlines is the apparent lack of diversity or racism in fraternities. When people think of the stereotypical frat boy it is usually an image of a wealthy white kid who is wearing expensive clothes while sipping on expensive alcohol living in a larger then life plantation style house. Many people don't imagine an Asian, Mexican, or African American joining a fraternity. Though there are fraternities that are focused just for different ethnicities, the ones in the news headlines are the typical fraternities ones think of, like the ones in the satirical comedy, Animal House. Until the late 1960s, white Greek organizations had whites-only membership clauses, according to Matthew Hughey, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut. But doing away with those clauses didn't end the de facto segregration. Black fraternities and sororities, on the other hand, have been admitting white members for decades, said Hughey, who was one of the few white collegians who defied social convention in 1996 to pledge with a historically black fraternity.Though the anecdotal evidence overwhelmingly indicates that white Greek organizations remain essentially segregated, no data about their racial composition is kept by their governing bodies. In 2010, Hughey published a study he had conducted of eight white Greek chapters on three East Coast campuses. He found that the average percentage of non-white members was 3.8%. If that's integration, it's feeble at best. There is more then just lack of diversity in fraternities but racist actions are more then present in the chapters, the Alpha Delta fraternity and Tri Delta sorority at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., hosted a Bloods and Crips-themed party in July. Both organizations issued apologies after students and others expressed outrage. More recently an act by the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, (ironically once again SAE) of Oklahoma University was taped chanting, there will never be a n***er in SAE, this gained national headlines and resulted in the closing of the OU chapter as well as the explosion of the fraternity members from the university. Racism is prominent in fraternities and this day in age where the goal in society is to end racism, fraternities are not leading the way. Along with hazing, racism is shedding more light and making it easier for the media to scapegoat fraternities for college campus problems.

Sexual AssaultSexual assault is one of the biggest problems striking college campuses today. With a culture surrounded on binge drinking and sexual encounters it is not a surprise to see why there have been so many sexual assaults on campuses around the country today. Though sexual assaults can happen at any college party and with any type of organization, the media tends to scapegoat the cause and predators to be from a fraternity. It is not hard to see why this is the case, with fraternity life based on socializing with girls, drinking large amounts of alcohol, and having a house where forty other members live with out supervision, its a recipe for large parties and trouble. Sexual assaults in fraternities have been splattered across national headlines this year causing an even uglier public relations for fraternities nationwide. In November Rolling Stones published an article A Rape on Campus which gruesomely detailed a gang rape at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house at University of Virginia. This caused UVA officials to suspend all greek life activity and the Phi Psi house to be vandalized and riots calling for expulsion of the members. Though with the article doubts where raised on the legitimacy of the facts as well as if it even happened at all, a third party investigation showed the event didn't happen at all. The Fraternity is now looking to sue Rolling Stones for defamation. Even though it didn't happen it still caused bad pr for fraternities around the country showing that they whereat leading the fight in ending sexual assault on campus. A couple months later Kappa Delta Rho or commonly known as KDR at Penn State was exposed and investigated to having a Facebook page comprising of members that had pictures of hazing, drug deals, and naked women, some conscience others inebriated. The initial headlines included the facts on drug deals and hazing but as the story went on with time those where forgotten about and eventually the headlines focused on the naked women. This highlights the need for media to write a story that will attract the most readers and it todays society it seems to be a story on sexual assault. Once again the fraternity house was vandalized and protesters called for the end of greek life at Penn State and the expulsion of the KDR members, even though no victims had come forward. With this the question begs to ask what will the fate of fraternities be and how can we change the deteriorating view of them?

Fixing the ProblemWith so many issues deteriorating the idea of fraternities, what can be done? Many people think they should all together get rid of the greek system on college campuses while others say it needs to be reformed. There are many different angles one can take but the realistic approach is a reform of fraternities on campus, in summary, not as much freedom. What does less freedom mean? Well at Penn State, where I am an active member of a fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi, there are rules and freedoms I am astonished that exist and don't exist. The IFC or the inter fraternal council at Penn State is essentially the governing body of the 51 fraternities at the university. They say what can and cannot happen in fraternities and parties. Fraternities are not allowed to have unregistered social events, cannot have shots or glass bottles on the bar, people cannot have more then one cup/beer in their hand. Fraternities are not allowed to have kegs or jungle juice at their parties. When there is a party social checkers have to come by and check if it is the registered sorority over and if there is alternative food or beverage on the bar. If fraternities don't follow these rules they are assigned a borough point, they are allowed 12 before they are kicked off, these points are retracted after 6 weeks of good behavior. The amount of freedom this creates is unbelievable. Fraternities on the regular,

ImplementationI havent gotten here yet, Issue brief might have gone in the wrong direction since my suggestion doesn't have a sound proof revision plan, class with help with my view. - PAGE 5