Why do you hate Greek Life?

[Anonymous]

I thought I'd love it. But it was cliques, binge drinking and a holes everywhere.

Like being in middle school at lunch looking for the right table. It's awful.

[Anonymous]

Because I think it's a hinderance to transitioning to adult life. It's not representative of life out-of-college. It's an immature mindset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because I think it's a hinderance to transitioning to adult life. It's not representative of life out-of-college. It's an immature mindset.

Were you part of Greek life? If not, what is the basis for your "insight?" The list of CEO's and other high achievers that belonged to Greek organizations seems to contradict your conclusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a college instructor, I just see more negatives than positives associated with Greek Life. I have students who tell me that they couldn't complete the readings or do assignments because it's rush (parents, please tell you kids that rush is never a good excuse!) I see drunk crowds of students staggering between frats, young men sitting outside frats making lewd comments about the young women walking by, and the students who are really vocal about being in a frat or a sorority are inevitably my worst students. In my experience, Greek Life just institutionalizes bad behavior and college administrators are scared to crack down.

(I don't think I've complained about this topic before on DCUM.)

All of this, except that I am a former national officer of a national sorority. I spent two years as a "paid" (in quotes because I barely scraped by) staff member. I've cut all ties to my sorority.

A traveling consultant doesn't really qualify as "a former national officer." However, it probably did expose you to both the good and the bad in a whole bunch of different chapters.

I loved my experience in a sorority at a Midwestern school. We did some good charity work, went to some fun parties, and made some good friends.

That said, GLO chapters in Texas and many SEC schools are sort of terrifying to me. They can be classist and elitist and sexist.

For me, it all depends on the campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a college instructor, I just see more negatives than positives associated with Greek Life. I have students who tell me that they couldn't complete the readings or do assignments because it's rush (parents, please tell you kids that rush is never a good excuse!) I see drunk crowds of students staggering between frats, young men sitting outside frats making lewd comments about the young women walking by, and the students who are really vocal about being in a frat or a sorority are inevitably my worst students. In my experience, Greek Life just institutionalizes bad behavior and college administrators are scared to crack down.

(I don't think I've complained about this topic before on DCUM.)

All of this, except that I am a former national officer of a national sorority. I spent two years as a "paid" (in quotes because I barely scraped by) staff member. I've cut all ties to my sorority.

A traveling consultant doesn't really qualify as "a former national officer." However, it probably did expose you to both the good and the bad in a whole bunch of different chapters.

I loved my experience in a sorority at a Midwestern school. We did some good charity work, went to some fun parties, and made some good friends.

That said, GLO chapters in Texas and many SEC schools are sort of terrifying to me. They can be classist and elitist and sexist.

For me, it all depends on the campus.

You are incorrect. I was a voting member of my National Council and attended council board meetings and was indeed considered a national officer. Not all NPC sororities are identical in structure and hierarchy to one another.

[Anonymous]

Here's one reason why people might not love fraternities:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/12/nyregion/baruch-college-student-dies-in-fraternity-pledge-ritual-in-poconos.html?ref=nyregion&_r=0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a college instructor, I just see more negatives than positives associated with Greek Life. I have students who tell me that they couldn't complete the readings or do assignments because it's rush (parents, please tell you kids that rush is never a good excuse!) I see drunk crowds of students staggering between frats, young men sitting outside frats making lewd comments about the young women walking by, and the students who are really vocal about being in a frat or a sorority are inevitably my worst students. In my experience, Greek Life just institutionalizes bad behavior and college administrators are scared to crack down.

(I don't think I've complained about this topic before on DCUM.)

All of this, except that I am a former national officer of a national sorority. I spent two years as a "paid" (in quotes because I barely scraped by) staff member. I've cut all ties to my sorority.

A traveling consultant doesn't really qualify as "a former national officer." However, it probably did expose you to both the good and the bad in a whole bunch of different chapters.

I loved my experience in a sorority at a Midwestern school. We did some good charity work, went to some fun parties, and made some good friends.

That said, GLO chapters in Texas and many SEC schools are sort of terrifying to me. They can be classist and elitist and sexist.

For me, it all depends on the campus.

You are incorrect. I was a voting member of my National Council and attended council board meetings and was indeed considered a national officer. Not all NPC sororities are identical in structure and hierarchy to one another.

Were you a chapter consultant or not? If so, that's a world of difference from being an alumna with 20 years of experience, who is running the organization from year to year.

I love our chapter consultants, but it's their first real job out of college. I don't feel sorry for them because they "barely scraped along." Did you expect that you should be paid a lot of money to do what is counted as a glam job? Really?

I also suspect your disillusion with your GLO is the product of your lack of maturity and would have occurred no matter what job you had. Most college students and new grads don't really understand the nitty gritty of running a big organization.

[Anonymous]

"Hate" is inflammatory, like greek life

[Anonymous]

Apparently membership in a fraternity is consistent with lower grades and diminished intellectual capacity.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-19/join-a-fraternity-get-stupid-if-you-live.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently membership in a fraternity is consistent with lower grades and diminished intellectual capacity.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-19/join-a-fraternity-get-stupid-if-you-live.html

The world is run by B students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently membership in a fraternity is consistent with lower grades and diminished intellectual capacity.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-19/join-a-fraternity-get-stupid-if-you-live.html

The world is run by B students

And aren't they doing a swell job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently membership in a fraternity is consistent with lower grades and diminished intellectual capacity.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-19/join-a-fraternity-get-stupid-if-you-live.html

The world is run by B students

And aren't they doing a swell job?

Well, actually, yeah . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a college instructor, I just see more negatives than positives associated with Greek Life. I have students who tell me that they couldn't complete the readings or do assignments because it's rush (parents, please tell you kids that rush is never a good excuse!) I see drunk crowds of students staggering between frats, young men sitting outside frats making lewd comments about the young women walking by, and the students who are really vocal about being in a frat or a sorority are inevitably my worst students. In my experience, Greek Life just institutionalizes bad behavior and college administrators are scared to crack down.

(I don't think I've complained about this topic before on DCUM.)

All of this, except that I am a former national officer of a national sorority. I spent two years as a "paid" (in quotes because I barely scraped by) staff member. I've cut all ties to my sorority.

A traveling consultant doesn't really qualify as "a former national officer." However, it probably did expose you to both the good and the bad in a whole bunch of different chapters.

I loved my experience in a sorority at a Midwestern school. We did some good charity work, went to some fun parties, and made some good friends.

That said, GLO chapters in Texas and many SEC schools are sort of terrifying to me. They can be classist and elitist and sexist.

For me, it all depends on the campus.

You are incorrect. I was a voting member of my National Council and attended council board meetings and was indeed considered a national officer. Not all NPC sororities are identical in structure and hierarchy to one another.

Were you a chapter consultant or not? If so, that's a world of difference from being an alumna with 20 years of experience, who is running the organization from year to year.

I love our chapter consultants, but it's their first real job out of college. I don't feel sorry for them because they "barely scraped along." Did you expect that you should be paid a lot of money to do what is counted as a glam job? Really?

I also suspect your disillusion with your GLO is the product of your lack of maturity and would have occurred no matter what job you had. Most college students and new grads don't really understand the nitty gritty of running a big organization.

Not the PP, but this sort of dismissive attitude from a higher up to the real life feedback from the folks on the ground does not bode well for the future of your organization. Low level employees are the canaries in the coal mine.

[Anonymous]

Very few of those who experienced Greek life hate it, many of those who observed it from the outside hate it. Sound familiar? Ignorance breeds hate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very few of those who experienced Greek life hate it, many of those who observed it from the outside hate it. Sound familiar? Ignorance breeds hate.

Funny, that sounds like what cult members say when challenged about their cult.