Why?

[Tom Earp]

This is not for the Hazing Thread.

But, my question is, why is it All We hear about Greek Organizations Hazing and things to do with Alchahol related problems.?

Are there Alums not working with Chapters?

Is it the We did it syndrome?

Are There Nationals who are strapped for Money not governing Chapters?

This is not Just a HE, SHE or Color, problem, it seems to Be All our Problems.

While maybe the tide seems to be changing, any bad press is not good news.

[Coramoor]

From my experience, when a fraternity or sorority does something good...it's basically ignored.

I can't even recall how many times my chapter or another chapter on campus did something for charity, our troops, those less fortunate-some act of benevolence-that our campus newspaper couldn't even be bothered to send a photographer or to print something that was submitted to them by a greek org.

However, let something negative happen and there are articles in the paper for a week...

[Firehouse]

The built-in liberal bias of the elite media was most evident in this last presidential election. Journalism students at most universities are not taught to be objective, but rather to challenge and confront those who are viewed as powerful, and cater to those who espouse politically-correct complaints. "Powerful" always means the Greeks, because the Greeks tend to represent traditional values and practices. Virtually every study has shown journalists to be liberal-to-left wing, and many tend toward advocacy of those beliefs. Few are Greek themselves. When you ask a student newspaper for good coverage, you fly in the face of everything they believe in. The best way is to go around them entirely; take our story direct to the student body - much like Ronald Reagan had to speak directly to the American people to be heard. Don't ask for, and dont expect anything from the leftist student journalists. Start our own newspapers. Compete for advertisers who want the Greek market. When we do make complaints, don't address them to the "student journalists" - I promise you they're laughing about it and they enjoy provoking a reaction from us - go directly to the University President or the Board of Trustees. They don't like to hear a continuing chiorus of compliants about unfair treatment. makes them look bad. It's the Greeks, not the hippie journalists, who put money into the university's bank account.

[James]

There are over 5,000 active Greek Chapters on campuses across the country,

There are over 10,000 pledge classes a year.

There are probably over probably over 150,000 directly Greek involved parties a year.

There aren't that many incidents at all, they just get a lot of coverage. In fact, they get so-much coverage because they are so rare.

You don't see single person fatalities in car accidents making the news do you?

[NebraskaDelt]

It's all well and good about all the good works that Greek Life creates, but the fact remains hazing is still a part of many chapters. Why do some try to persuade the public with community service while they haze their members? It's like you are trying to explain the hazing by saying we do something good also.

How about doing community service and NOT hazing? Sounds like a pretty good plan to me.

[adpiucf]

Agreed! The media isn't the group creating these situations. There are Greek groups hazing, people are drinking themselves to death, getting hurt, etc.

Yes, these things happen in all segments of academia, among young people, etc. But as Greeks we have been entrusted to support and help educate our younger brothers and sisters. Stop blaming the media for reporting a hazing incident or drinking death and start blaming the Greeks who made the bad decisions, and DO SOMETHING.

ETA: Yes, while it would be great to see our name in print for doing something good, why should we be rewarded for doing something that is part of our job anyway? And are we working at putting our positive PR in the news? When your chapter holds a successful service event or fundraiser, are you inviting media to the event? Sending a press release to media post-event? Following up with the media after sending the press release and hounding them to give your positive PR to you? Becuase that is what it takes to get a story that isn't drama laden and controversial-- whether you're Lambda Lambda Lambda or Walt Disney World. News writers want NEWS-- blood, gore and lawsuits sell papers... adopting kittens and baking cakes with orphans does not.

[RACooper]

Originally posted by Firehouse
The built-in liberal bias of the elite media was most evident in this last presidential election. Journalism students at most universities are not taught to be objective, but rather to challenge and confront those who are viewed as powerful, and cater to those who espouse politically-correct complaints. "Powerful" always means the Greeks, because the Greeks tend to represent traditional values and practices. Virtually every study has shown journalists to be liberal-to-left wing, and many tend toward advocacy of those beliefs. Few are Greek themselves. When you ask a student newspaper for good coverage, you fly in the face of everything they believe in. The best way is to go around them entirely; take our story direct to the student body - much like Ronald Reagan had to speak directly to the American people to be heard. Don't ask for, and dont expect anything from the leftist student journalists. Start our own newspapers. Compete for advertisers who want the Greek market. When we do make complaints, don't address them to the "student journalists" - I promise you they're laughing about it and they enjoy provoking a reaction from us - go directly to the University President or the Board of Trustees. They don't like to hear a continuing chiorus of compliants about unfair treatment. makes them look bad. It's the Greeks, not the hippie journalists, who put money into the university's bank account.

See I don't know if it's part of the "liberal media elite" crap I keep hearing people go on about... mostly because I here so-called "liberal" groups making the same complaints that their good deeds go un-noticed; but if they slip-up then the journalists are all over them. I think it has more to do with capitalism and moving copy; or perhaps the human urge to get the dirt on someone.

Big stories sell, and fluff stories are filler... so a story exposing misdeeds will always generate more journalistic interest than one that seems design to generate good press