Going to college is an exciting time for students, offering them an opportunity to grow away from the confines of their school-age identity. Shy, quiet students who used to keep to themselves have the chance to make their social skills bloom without worrying what their companions think of them. Band kids can build their identity, keeping their musical passion while expanding their social circle.
Overall, college offers many social benefits for students. Among the new faces, clubs, majors, dorms, roommates, and more, there is Greek life. The choice of joining a sorority or fraternity is a looming one for many incoming freshman. Doing so will offer new students a well-formed support group, with many like-minded students also looking to build relationships.
However, while Greek life offers myriad ways to make students’ university life better, it also has some drawbacks. High drinking rates, time away from studies, harassment, and poor choices have all tarnished the image of sororities and fraternities, causing some to wonder whether it is worth joining one.
The Disadvantages of Sororities and Fraternities
Greek life is especially famous for its party culture. While most college students may attend a party during their time in school, Greek parties are often associated with more than just mingling — especially fraternities.
According to an article by the Chicago Tribune on the disadvantages of Greek life, binge drinking and immaturity in these groups surpass the gauge of a typical university student. The article states that incidents, particularly in some universities such as Penn State and Oklahoma University, “have stunned many and happened despite heavy scrutiny of misconduct at colleges.”
For example, members of the fraternity Kappa Delta Rho at Penn State shared photos of nude and partially nude women to a private Facebook page. The article reported that “a former member told police the invitation-only page was used to share photos of ‘unsuspecting victims, drug sales and hazing,’ according to court documents.”
Additionally, the article listed plenty of other examples of misbehaviors from fraternities. These included incidents ranging from the trashing of ski resorts to sexual assaults to member hazing. While not all fraternities may partake in such behaviors, there is a recurring pattern across the country’s universities.
Besides such scandals, there are other potential disadvantages of Greek life. For one, joining a sorority or fraternity can limit social reach for students. While Greek life groups are created to offer a support group, smaller or less diverse ones can limit a student’s broader social circle. This can prevent them from getting the academic or personal support they may require.
Greek life can also become a distraction to a student’s education and contribute to poor academic performance or low literacy rates (https://mastersed.uc.edu/news-resources/infographics/american-literacy-in-the-21st-century/). It can be too easy for a student to get caught up in the social and extra-curricular aspects of sororities and fraternities, letting them place their classes, studying, and homework a distant second. This may be especially true if students need to pick up a job to pay for sorority and fraternity fees, including initiation and semester/yearly fees.
The Benefits of Greek Life
While these are some real drawbacks of going Greek, there are also many benefits that should also be considered. An article on the benefits of Greek life by USA Today focuses on the other side of the scale, taking a look into the philanthropic efforts of sororities and fraternities, as well as the post-college success of many Greek graduates.
For example, the article reports the following: “85% of Fortune 500 executives were part of Greek life. The first female astronaut was Greek. So was the first female senator. And college graduation rates are 20% higher among Greeks than non-Greeks.”
Greek life can be a great place for students to connect, network, and study together. Students can find similarly-minded, motivated, smart, and ambitious connections in sororities and fraternities to help them succeed in college.
Clearly, not all members of sororities and fraternities participate in unhealthy or scandalous behaviors. In fact, philanthropic work is prioritized in many Greek groups. USA Today speculates that there is more of the latter, but the former is better for selling headlines.
The charitable aspect of Greek life is notable. For example, fraternities and sororities at Penn State team up to raise money and have made significant philanthropic contributions. This includes raising more than $9.5 million in 2011 through THON.org to benefit children battling cancer.
Not only is this a great contribution to the betterment of society, but leadership in Greek organizations also teaches students valuable job skills that they can put on their resume. Fraternities and sororities often have extensive alumni networks. As such, Greek students are often more successful in securing internships during college and jobs afterward.
Who Should Join a Sorority/Fraternity?
While Greek life offers fantastic opportunities, it is not for everyone. Students who get distracted easily should reconsider joining, and instead focus their attention on classes. Students who cannot hold themselves accountable for their actions should not sign up. Students unwilling or unable to hold up the name of the institutions they represent should not join.
On the other hand, with so many pros to Greek life, it’s hard to argue the value they offer to higher education institutions and college students. Though some blame sororities and fraternities for poor student performance, such as lower test scores in college, there are other factors to consider. For example, technology may also be to blame, as more and more people spend time on their screens rather than focusing on their studies. Libraries can be a great destination for those wanting to get away from the party lifestyle of fraternities and sororities. Contrary to some beliefs that libraries are fast-declining in popularity, an article by Rutgers Online debunks this misconception.
Students who are self-motivated, responsible, accountable, want to make the world a better place, and are looking for positive connections to make at school should strongly consider joining Greek life. After taking a look at the pros and cons of sororities and fraternities, it is ultimately a decision each student needs to make for themselves.
By Devin Morrissey: Devin is a jack of all trades from Daly City, but now roams the West Coast. He returns home to coach rugby and fix his friends’ cars, but luckily he can write from anywhere.
