The common stereotype of fraternities and sororities is that they are organizations based purely one common goal, drinking as much as you can. Over years and years of this stereotype being glorified by movies like "Legally Blonde" it has become harder and harder to squash this image. A link on the Greek Life homepage of the Ohio Northern University website has finally started clearing the air and labeling the benefits of Greek life.
The site lists 7 advantages to being in a Fraternity or Sorority. Advantage number one is the benefit of a brotherhood/sisterhood while away from home. It is difficult for students to be thrown into a new environment all alone. With the bond of a brother or sister the culture shock can ease the pain. It gives members reason to get to know each other and fulfills a need to belong. Advantage number two is the academic benefit a student can receive. The website states that on average 50% of college freshman will go on to graduate. 70% of college freshman that join a fraternity or sorority will go on to graduate. As well as the scholarship benefits a greek organization can offer. Advantage number three is the leadership experience a student will gain. The website states that 85% of the fortune 500 companies have executives that were involved in greek life. The skills a student will obtain, among many others, are speaking in public, time management, running effective meetings, motivating others, and budget management. Advantage number four is the social activities, NOT all of which are alcoholic events. The events offer a student a break from being stressed out from school and time to clear their mind with their friends. Advantage five is the community service a student will offer. On the campus of UNI greek life has at least 12 philanthropic organizations that benefit from greek students service. Advantage six is athletics. Many philanthropic events are events that will get a person moving and working out (like kickball, volleyball, dodgeball, ect.) as well as numerous intramural events that a chapter may join. Advantage number seven is the career networking a student will gain. Through their four years at a chapter a student will meet hundreds of members (past, present, and future) that may be able to tie them to a person willing to help their career.
There are so many more advantages to greek life, and its too bad that the only things that are ever glorified are the negative things. However, in the end, every college student makes mistakes and does stupid things...including greeks. I personally don't think its fair to assume that all greek members fit into the negative stereotype, and I think changing it would be a lot of work... but time well spent.
What do you guys think? How to do view greek life at UNI, or in general?
http://www.onu.edu/org/ifc/advantages.htm
I believe that the Greek system is one of the problems with American society and one of the worst things to happen to college campuses across the nation. Born and raised in inner city Toledo, Ohio I was in the city school system and had friends from origins all around the world. My two best friends in elementary school were from the middle east. In middle school and highschool I had friends that ONLY had ME as a friend. I tried to be cool with everyone and include everyone so that we could experience things together instead of individually.
In this article they don't mention the salaries of the parents of students in frats and sororities. The majority of kids in Frats and Sororities come from money. You have to pay upwards of 1000 dollars just to join! The whole system is designed to keep the rich ahead of everyone else. You wonder why presidents astronauts ceos actors musicians etc all came from greek life? THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED FOR THE RICH TO STAY ON TOP!!
When I go into a situation, like college, where there are a lot of people in the same situation, I want everyone to hang out, be cool, and do things together! Frats and Sororities encourage the thinking that some people are better than others. Even if you want to join, if you aren't cool enough or liked by the people in the Frat, you get excluded! Why would we encourage the separation of the student body? Why do these select individuals get to have all of these opportunities that others don't?
The notion that joining one of these organizations doesn't make you a conformer is laughable. Girls in a sorority are like prototypes. Each one is a slightly different version of the next. I have hung around frat boys in my classes and outside of class and they are the biggest followers I've ever met! We were talking about groups the other day and the dude from the frat chimes in "You know you act differently when you'
re in a group. If the group does something you know you're going to do it." That is a mentality that Greek individuals have. They also have a belief that they are better than everyone else.
Each organization is shrouded in secrecy, conducting secret initiations and ceremonies. They have quotes and sayings that they repeat and internalize. Most emphasize sex and alcohol. Some go as far as to have pig parties where the guys go find the ugliest girls they can for dates and the best "pig" wins. Why is everything so secret? Why do they have demonic symbols in their logos and conduct initiations similar to ones conducted by organizations like the Free Masons?
While frats and sororities might be cool for the people involved, why not provide the same opportunities and experiences for everyone? Why promote the separation of the student body? Why do the rich popular kids get to do all the cool stuff? I just want to see the student body come together as a unit and have a fun college experience together instead of having a few separated organizations run shit.Greek systems only show why America suffers all of the problems that it does. It promotes separation and separation NEVER works. The rich keep getting richer and poor keep getting poorer. The gap between the rich and poor is getting bigger and bigger which only leads to more problems! But that's a different issue...check this out if you want to learn why that's such a problem.
http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_wilkinson.html
As far as the demon symbology goes, check this out.
http://www.kappasigmafsu.com/Ksstarandcrescent.gif
http://th08.deviantart.net/fs8/PRE/i/2005/282/1/3/Sigil_Of_Baphomet___Blood_by_SomeRandomUser.jpg
Any similarities you see...?
All the secrecy, sex, alcohol, separation, initiation, hazing, etc....seems a little evil and immoral...just sayin...
I posted on this blog last night but apparently it didn't go through because of my internet connection so here we go ALL OVER AGAIN.
I am not a fan of Greek life. It's not because I got rejected by any of them or because I'm not cool enough to join I just think that the Greek system is designed to separate not unite.
Starting at 5 years old, I was and still am a very accepting individual. I had friends of different ethnicities, gender, race, religion, body type (fat skinny) attractiveness levels, etc! I did not discriminate at all based on appearance or characteristics. I believe strongly that this is how everyone should treat other people and the Greek system is a strong force against this belief.
If you are fat, unattractive, and socially inept, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN A GREEK HOUSE! PERIOD! If you aren't cool enough or well liked enough by the house members, you don't get all of the advantages and opportunities that the Greek individuals get. Isn't that a little unfair? Why do only the beautiful popular people get to experience all of the awesome benefits of Greek life?
Most Greek houses expect that you pay per month or upon entering a house. Sometimes upwards of $1000! Some kids can barely afford college with scholarships and if they want to join a Greek house, TOO BAD! I would venture to say that the majority of kids in the Greek system come from wealth.
The statistic about ceos, presidents and astronauts? No surprise! The system is designed to keep the wealth more wealthy and keep the rich on top! Of course all of the rich kids get to do all of the cool stuff and get to reap the benefits of connections and social networking. This is the basis for America in general not just on college campuses. Is keeping the rich kids separated from the rest of the campus really what we want? Is allowing an elite group of people to do all the fun stuff and get all of the best advantages what we want?
The creepiest thing about Greek life is all of the ceremonies, chants, dances, and initiation rites performed by the Greek houses. Why is everything done in secret? Why can't they tell anybody besides other "brothers"? Secret cermonies and initiaions? These practices are similar to those practiced by the Occult!! They are similar to those practiced by the free masons and other questionable secret societies. Do you want your kid to be drinking weird things out of goblets and chanting strange sayings just to live in a Greek house? The symbology of the Greek system is creepy in itself I mean just look at this.
http://www.kappasigmafsu.com/Ksstarandcrescent.gif
http://www.churchofsatan.com/Graphics/Baphohist/LgBvariant.gif
See any similarities? The skull and bones is a known symbol of free masonry as well. Don't believe me? Look it up.
I am not in favor of these seemingly evil cult-ish houses that promote sex, alcohol, and separation of the student body. I realize that a select few might not participate in these practices but I have seen and heard of far more that do. All I'm promoting is peace and love brother. Unite as a student body! Don't separate the rich, attractive, popular kids from the rest so that they think they are better for their whole lives! Unification!