one word: media
The media has definatly helped in creating a bad name for greeks. They will show story after story about the different hazing incedents around the world. I believe that we all need to be made aware of these incedents of course, but the media is one sided. A story about a kid who is beat up and left naked on the side of the road by his fraternity brothers is pretty interesting and it boosts rating. BUT, you never see the story of the greeks who donated their time, money, and energy to build houses for the homeless. You never see the story of the greeks who give scholarships to underprivilidged studenst. You never see the stories about the greeks who help aid in national disaster relief, because that doesn't boost ratings. So the national and international attention that is given to greek systems is only for the bad things that happen, not for the good they do. I made a comment in a previous fourm, you can find 100, 200, 300 articals about hazing incedents, maybe more if you research. However, that is just 300 out of MILLIONS of greeks around the world. I'm not saying that what happened in those 300 incedents was right, I wish to God that nobody was hurt by ignorant people who happened to be greek. BUT, 300(i'm sure over history there are more) bad incedints occurred, but MILLIONS of good things have come from the greek system, but most people don't know that. The media has portrayed geeks as being drunks, whores(both male and female), violent people, selfish, cruel, dumb people. But you will never see them portray us as active in the community, selfless, nice people who give and give and give themselves to an organization.
That's just my opinion though
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Mikki Gates
Delta Zeta Alum
Kappa Mu Chapter
Sigma Alpha Iota Alum
Eta Tau Chapter
"I would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special."
--Julia Roberts
(Steel Magnolias)
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