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> This post really rubbed me the wrong way.
That's unfortunate, but I stand by every word I said.
> For a former fraternity member, you're assuming a hell of a lot of negative things about schools with high percentages of Greek life.
No, I'm being realistic. Former fraternity member does not mean "blindly enthusiastic." I've seen the Greek system up close from four different perspectives; as an undergrad, a grad student, then as an instructor at two other schools. I was Greek as an undergrad, enjoyed it, and on the whole I consider it a positive experience. But certainly not a perfect one, and I'm under no illusions. Greek societies do have a down side -- period. My personal observations and my conversations with other education professionals have convinced me that when the percentage of students who are Greek reaches that sort of level, certain negative aspects of Greek life are not only unchecked but are magnified, to the detriment of Greeks and non-Greeks.
> If you saw statistics that said 75% of students moved off campus their sophomore year, would you automatically assume "peer pressure" was making them do so?
No, but I would assume that for whatever reason, campus housing was so inadequate compared to off-campus housing that it simply wasn't a viable alternative for most students. Similarly, if I saw that 75% of students were Greek, I would assume that for whatever reason, non-Greek social life was so inadequate on that campus that for most students, it simply wasn't a viable alternative. Certain numbers naturally lead to their own inferences.
> Why would a high Greek percentage automatically mean a homogenous student body? Greeks at my alma mater were rich, poor, black, white, from the city, from the country, gorgeous, not so gorgeous. Your assuming that every Greek on a campus is from the same type of group is ludicrous.
It wouldn't automatically mean that. But I guess you didn't notice the "and/or" before "(c)." Next time, please read more carefully before you reach for the flamethrower.
> Let your child make his own decision and quit worrying about problems that may not even exist.
When did I ever say he wouldn't make his own decision? Talk about making assumptions!
DM
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