So what bad stuff does happen at frat and sorority events?

[Anonymous]

Beta Theta Pi closed its alpha chapter (the founding chapter) earlier this year: http://miamioh.edu/news/campus-news/2014/02/Beta-chaptercloses.html

Miami Ohio has a huge Greek population, and yet, here they are, actually bringing the hammer down on bad behavior and acting like responsible adults. Closing the alpha chapter is a huge deal and hopefully it will send a message.

[Anonymous]

I was assaulted in my dorm room by my college's version of an RA as a freshman. I later learned he had been rejected as "creepy" by multiple frats, even the one where he had legacy status.

I joined a sorority when I was a sophomore and felt my support system was so much better than as a stupid individual freshman with no one watching my back and no one to warn me about the creepy guys.

The worst things I saw were people get black out drunk who needed to go to the hospital. But that was by no means limited to the Greek system. My sisters and I always made sure that everyone we went out with came home with us unless they had personally told us they wanted to stay and hook up with some guy. And even then, we'd try to talk them out of it if we knew it was bad idea pants for whatever reason.

[Anonymous]

I went to a great college that didn't allow any frat houses or sorority houses, and there was almost no greek life at all. It was great. If I were the president of a college or university, I would absolutely ban frats/sororities. They serve no educational purpose. Adios.

[Anonymous]

I was in a sorority at a big southern school and the worst I saw was people drinking too much. We had no hazing in my chapter. I saw no drugs other than pot. I never experienced any sexual assault and none of my close friends did. I know those things happen, of course, I'm talking only about my immediate experience.

My sorority was one of the hardest to get into at our university and there was an emphasis on grades, service, and personality. There was also, unfortunately but undeniably, an emphasis on looks and charisma during the rush process. It wasn't stated out loud but it was there. Still, I had a good experience and I was always proud of our chapter's reputation.

With all that said, I can't think of a compelling reason for the Greek system that can't be achieved through other more inclusive means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a great college that didn't allow any frat houses or sorority houses, and there was almost no greek life at all. It was great. If I were the president of a college or university, I would absolutely ban frats/sororities. They serve no educational purpose. Adios.

Except as president of the university, your primary job would actually be fundraising, and you wouldn't do anything to piss off the alums.

As always, this comes down to $$$.

[Anonymous]

When I saw the news coverage of the student protests the blonde beautiful people of Rugby Road did not seem to be present.... This bow-tie/pearl wearing subculture of the University will not go down without kicking and screaming. Though unspoken, they are one of the Universities proudest assets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know about 2 gang rapes at frats at Hampton Sydney in the 1980s; went to college with both girls. Doesn't include all the date rapes I heard about, with some guys adulterating drinks and weed.

I knew frat guys at other colleges who called the "regular" girls who would come to their parties "coke whores and shroom sluts"--again in 80s Virginia -- basically girls came in and did drugs, and it was perceived they were there to do whatever the guys wanted.

After my freshman year I stayed away from all frats, especially the ones with the richer guys. When I did go to a party I got my own drink and did not let it out of my sight. My friends and I made agreements to stick together and I'm so glad we did.

Did you go to Sweet Briar, RMWC, Hollins or Mary Baldwin? I went to one of the women's colleges in the late 80s and I could see it have easily happening but never heard of it from someone I knew. I hung out at different times at W&L, H-S and UVA but I pretty much always had a boyfriend. Still, bad stuff certainly went on and everyone was always drunk as hell.

Yep, went to one of the VA women's colleges. And, these incidents were ones with people I knew. My observation: if you had a steady boyfriend who "protected" you, you were ok. Otherwise, you really had to watch alcohol consumption or make sure your friends looked out for each other. Yep, everyone was always drunk at social events and this was few years after the drinking age had changed to 21. I think the colleges have tried to make social events less about alcohol now, but afraid they might have just driven it behind closed doors even more than it was in the 80s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Nobody called it rape . The frat referred to it as a train coming through the house - it had a sort of legendary status. My boyfriend was disgusted too but didn't want to get involved. My sorority president was most concerned about its reputation. This same fraternity had a pledge award for who had sex with the ugliest, fattest chick. I'm embarrassed to write this but it needs to be said. Is that bad enough for you?

+1 Yep. I heard about fellow female students who were raped in a frat "train." Like the PP above said, it was never called "gang rape" --but called a "train." It was disgusting behavior, no one was ever disciplined or arrested, and it was typically considered the girls "fault" because she was drunk and did not have a boyfriend in the frat. I don't recall hearing that anyone even considered pressing charges or even reporting to school authorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was super active in greek life in college. With that being said, I had two friends die, one from alcohol poisoning and another from drugs, after frat parties. Another friend of mine was raped, given a drug and passed out and when she woke up something was raping her. I was also the GF of a frat guy and had guys expect that I would be passed around to them as a "present" (their words) when my BF (their frat bro) was done with me. Seen people go into shock from drugs, had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance, from drugs. All of that stuff with the exception of the two deaths, got brushed under the rug and never touched by any media. But I saw much of it with my own eyes and talked to my friend about her rape and saw the pain in her eyes. The older I get the more I realize how dangerous that scene is, even though it can be a lot of fun.

WTF? Did you go to University of Compton?

How is that we are talking about abuses perpetrated by white affluent kids and you somehow manage to take a swipe at a black city? WTF? The black commnity has enough of its own issues without being associated with degraded white culture.

Seriously-and in addition to the fact that if 7 black men raped a white woman they would be considered animals who should be put down, but if it's "nice" white college boys they must've just gotten too drunk and made some bad choices.

TRUTH! Another case of "white privilege". Same for if they caught a high-achieving white or Asian kid taking illegally Rx vs. a black kid with pot. Former would get a slap on the hand; latter would get jail time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a great college that didn't allow any frat houses or sorority houses, and there was almost no greek life at all. It was great. If I were the president of a college or university, I would absolutely ban frats/sororities. They serve no educational purpose. Adios.

Agree. They should all be closed. They are filled with mindless alcoholic zombies that get so drunk they see no lines between right and wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to a great college that didn't allow any frat houses or sorority houses, and there was almost no greek life at all. It was great. If I were the president of a college or university, I would absolutely ban frats/sororities. They serve no educational purpose. Adios.

Except as president of the university, your primary job would actually be fundraising, and you wouldn't do anything to piss off the alums.

As always, this comes down to $$$.

And yet, my college did it and has a very healthy endowment.

[Anonymous]

I honestly don't get why parents pay $50k+ a year for kids to party. Send them to state schools and if they want to blow their money and go to sorority/fraternity parties -- all the better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back in the 80s at my Southern U I dated a guy from one of the 'bad' frats. They were considered fun but some of the guys were total pigs. A sorority sister of mine was kicked out for having sex with multiple men during a one wild party. . She was drunk out of her mind and a second semester freshman. I was so disgusted By the way she was treated I quit the sorority. Nobody called it rape . The frat referred to it as a train coming through the house - it had a sort of legendary status. My boyfriend was disgusted too but didn't want to get involved. My sorority president was most concerned about its reputation. This same fraternity had a pledge award for who had sex with the ugliest, fattest chick. I'm embarrassed to write this but it needs to be said. Is that bad enough for you?

These frat bros are no better then men in the Middle East or India that stone women. We in America are blind that women here are treated like animals also. You think just because a guy is dressed like a prep and goes to a fancy school that he is not a violent person who wants to put women in their place. Or people think this is just a stage they will grow out of. Who would ever marry these rapists. Good for you for quiting your sorority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't get why parents pay $50k+ a year for kids to party. Send them to state schools and if they want to blow their money and go to sorority/fraternity parties -- all the better.

UVA is a state school!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't get why parents pay $50k+ a year for kids to party. Send them to state schools and if they want to blow their money and go to sorority/fraternity parties -- all the better.

The sad things is that it happens at frats at state schools and private schools without them. Plenty of men on college campus who think the "play hard" part of college means get drunk whenever possible, plow women with alcohol so they can hookup and use women, makeup names and chants about women to put them down, and yes some rape them. Parents pay a lot of money for college but turn a blind eye to the horrible social scene they are paying for their kids to be a part of.