[QUOTE]Originally posted by Arya:
[B]Carol, according to you, society are going to hell. Well, tell you what, we are not. We are not worse or better of then your generation or the previous generations. It's just a paradigm shift. The problem just shifted and we have a more open society.
In doing some research, I found this, quite interesting post to the Higher Education Chronicle, I've seen the statistics in the newspapers, before, here it is, but first let me say that I don't want my sorority banned, but from the attitudes posted here, I am afraid there isn't much hope for improvement in attitudes, because of the "influx" of a certain kind of person after the Vietnam war-and now their legacies are showing up(after the huge influx of Animal House "type" people:
---------------------------------------------
Do we need to save college fraternities? They exist on most campuses and are part of university heritages. Substance abuse and behavioral misconduct are as much a part of fraternities as fraternities are part of universities, so why should they be extended extra courtesies not witnessed by the common student?
These private organizations should be grateful that they have been allowed to participate on campus with power not afforded by every student. These organizations have abused the system and are now falling apart from the inside out. These groups have violated and abused not only their own codes and policies, but the standards set by the institutions they represent.
Now that they are in trouble, fraternities want the people that they neglect and shun helping them. Will banning fraternities stop the hazing, over consumption of alcohol, date rape, and discrimination on college campuses? While fraternities are experiencing a decline in their members, they are being challenged by national officers wanting to change their recruitment practices, and college administrators who want to ban the Greek society.
Almost everyone agrees the main problem facing fraternity is hazing and alcohol abuse.
Hazing is the power and control that the brothers use over new pledges. There have been forty-five deaths in the past ten years from hazing incidents. The hazing and alcohol problems are affecting the quality of fraternity life. Research shows that eighty-six percent of fraternity members living in chapter houses are more likely to engage in binge drinking, and that forty-one percent of fraternity house residents agreed with the statement, "drinking is important" (Harvard of Public Health, 1993).
While hazing, pledging, and rush pertains to fraternity life, it seems that the whole Greek system is negatively affecting the quality of campus life. A study of self-reported cheating found that fraternity members engage in more cheating than do nonmembers (McCabe and Bowers, 1996). The CORE data (1991) reports earlier and greater first use of alcohol and marijuana in Greek houses. Fifty-six percent of fraternity members are more likely to become involved in arguments or fights while drinking, and fifty-two percent of fraternity members are more likely to drive under the influence of alcohol (NBC Nightly News Study, December 1994).
One study found that being in a fraternity during the first year of college has a negative impact on student's cognitive development and a negative effect on individual's critical thinking ability (Pascarella, Whitt, Ternzini, Hagedorn, Edison, Nora, Cognitive Effects of Greek Affiliation During the First Year of College, 1995).
However, trying to change the practices of the Greek society could take years and the only way to get immediate results would be to ban them from campus. These Greek members have a "them" versus "us" mentality. College administrations need to make the changes and replace the Greek system with other organizations that have the same benefits or higher standards. For these Greek organizations to remain on campus, they need to direct a large scale strategy to change their ways of recruitment or be removed from campus.
[This message has been edited by Elaine_74 (edited November 06, 2000).]
|