...In 2004, Union College introduced the Minerva System in an attempt to decrease Greek life’s influence on social life on campus. Furthermore, Union wished to “enrich intellectual life outside the classroom,” in turn hoping to improve the college experience at large (Union). Every year, Union comes a step closer to accomplishing this goal of creating a more multifaceted social life. The Minerva System has been in place for over a decade, but opposition still exists on campus. The immediate reaction to the overhauling of the Greek system was extremely negative among students and alumni alike. However, as time continues to pass, students are becoming increasingly accepting of – and interested in – the Minerva System. As resistance continues to...
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...The Greek Life Community on College Campuses Parker Thomas Community Paper Examining the details and different aspects of a certain community can give you a real insight on the different cultures and backgrounds of its inhabitants. Doing this can reveal information you may not have known before, or truths about the community that you thought you knew before. Many people base their opinions of a community on the general information that is known about them. However, you cannot truly understand these people unless you dig down and really investigate how they live and interact with the world. By studying, researching, and observing the community, you can unveil how the group is perceived and how those perceptions actually fit the society. While using several forms of, both primary and secondary, research I was able to discover many common themes and stereotypes that are incorporated with members of the Greek Life on college campuses. These themes consist of good and bad labels that have been put upon this community. While some hold true, I was able to disprove several others with my research. These themes have, both positively and negatively, effected the reputation and name of the Greek world and its members. They cause many people to be afraid or not want to become apart of this community, while they don’t realize the full truth. These members stand for much more than they are perceived to, and they have many durable and ageless principles that still exist today. However...
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...To the Greek Award Selection Committee, I am writing this letter to recognize and nominate Jahicol Baralt for the Greek Embodiment Award. Jahicol has made a significant impact within Greek Life in his tenure at Union. Besides being a member of the Greek Community at Union College, Jahicol Baralt is also double major in Neuroscience and Classics. As a Posse Scholar, Jahicol has also flourished with his extracurriculars, being an RA in West College, a STEM mentor for two years, and has been a Big brother within the Big Brother Big Sisters club on campus. Through his academic and extracurricular endeavors Jahicol has been a positive role model for the Greek Community, an ambassador for what a Greek member should be: a brother and a scholar. All while achieving both academically and in his extracurriculars, Jahicol has also been extensively involved in Greek Life at Union, becoming president of the eta chapter of Phi Iota Alpha within his first year of membership eventually relinquishing his thrown in order to make a larger impact in the Multicultural Greek Council as its president this past year. Jahicol Berault’s scholarship, citizenship, and leadership also privileged him to be accepted in Order of Omega, the Greek Leadership Honorary Society here and campus and his continued commitment to Greek Life here on Union’s Campus led him to run and become the president of the eta tau chapter of Order of...
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...consisting of multiple perspectives. However, when the topic of greek life is searched the perspective seems to be very one sided. Negative results consume the screen and continues when scrolling, “There pledges die. So should fraternities., “Is it time to ban fraternities on campus?”, Hazing should be outlawed.”, “colleges need to take on greek life-before more people die.” These headlines are just a few examples of what is represented through the reliable source of the internet. The examples illustrate singling out not only greek life, but fraternities. These incidents involved around greek life is associating one chapter, at one school in the nation and criticizing the organization as a whole. Being a member of a sorority,...
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...Greek life is the fraternity and sorority community on campus. The terms "fraternity" and "sorority" describe groups of men and women who join together to offer fellowship, academic support, leadership training, participation in campus activities, service to the community and University, and preparation for future careers. They are referred to as Greek chapters because they are named according to the ancient Greek alphabet. Most chapters at Millersville are also affiliated with a national and international organization. Greek life has a strong and rich tradition at hundreds of colleges and universities across the United States and Canada, as well as here at Fullerton. It offers many opportunities to meet people, promote academic achievement, contribute to the community through service and philanthropy projects, and develop leadership skills. Most Fraternity and sorority members are involved in other organizations on campus and participate in leadership and developmental seminars on a local and national level. There are numerous leadership opportunities available within individual chapters and the many affiliated organizations. Greek life also serves as a springboard to campus-wide involvement. Sororities and fraternities recognize the need and concern throughout the year to raise money and donate time for their special philanthropies and service projects. Often the Greek community comes together to benefit worthwhile programs such as Camp Titan, as well as sponsoring...
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...Greek Members Dating Non-Greek Members Morgan Pistole The University of Oklahoma Abstract This paper explores the college dating relationships between Greek (Fraternity or Sorority members) and Non-Greeks (Non Fraternity or Non Sorority members). There are many differences between students in college that are associated with the Greek system and those students who are not associated with the Greek system. The college experience for these two groups is extremely different and the core values of the two groups in relation to the college experience are extremely different as well. Dating a peer that is not associated with the Greek system can pose devastating problems for a student associated with the Greek system as well as the other way around. This paper examines Markstrom-Adams (1991) research in relations to the attitudes on dating, courtship, and marriage on in-group versus out-group relationships. Keywords: college, dating relationships, Greek system Greek Members Dating Non-Greek Members Theory/Hypothesis The theory that I have constructed pertains to the subject of dating in college and more specifically a couple dating where one member of the couple has membership in a fraternities and sorority while the other member does not. My theory, The Greek Dating Theory, states that it is illogical for one to date outside of their circle or associated group either greek or non-greek. The problems that arise from a greek dating a non-greek (GDNG) are many and comparable...
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...become seeds of corruption. Hazing is hazing whether it results in death, mutilation or years of pain or whether it is done inside or outside the school or institution. In the article “Fraternal Fury” written by Argee Guevara, he stated that there is something intriguing and frightening about the culture of college fraternities. The more we try to understand it, the more we end up abhorring it. As a result of two rival fraternities rumble, one was reported by TV Patrol to have been severely injured after getting a pretty nasty whack on the head when rival frat men pounce on him with lead pipes, clubs and baseball bats. The cause of rumble is un-important since rumbles erupt for a variety of reason, none of which is intimately related to the pursuit of academic excellence, the repudiation of our foreign debt or the liberation of our impoverished people. This is what makes their way of life difficult to comprehend. It is said that these frat wars are part and parcel of their reality. But the sense of belonging and security is non-existent when they are perennially gripped by paranoia every time a rumble occurs. Based on Rafael Jude Tomeldan’s article entitled “Campus Black Sheep”, fraternities are as American...
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...universities revealed that Greek affiliation had a weak positive relationship with engagement and gains in learning. The effects for Greek affiliation were stronger for seniors than first-year students. During the past 4 decades, the role of fraternities and sororities on college campuses has come under increasing scrutiny (see Clark, 1962; Jakobsen, 1986; Kuh, Pascarella, & Wechsler, 1996; Maisel, 1990; Winston & Saunders, 1987). Critics of the Greek system have pointed to research showing that membership in a fraternity or sorority is associated with higher levels of alcohol use (Wechsler, Kuh, & Davenport, 1996), lower levels of personal development (Wilder, Hoyt, Doren, Hauck, & Zettle, 1978; Wilder, Hoyt, Surbeck, Wilder, & Carney, 1986), and lower levels of academic achievement (Blimling, 1993; Pike & Askew, 1990). Recently, criticisms of the Greek system have intensified and focused on research results showing that Greek affiliation can have negative effects on students’ learning and intellectual development (Pascarella et al., 1996). Based on results of the National Study of Student Learning (NSSL), Kuh et al. (1996, p. A68) concluded: “Fraternities are indifferent to academic values and seem to short-change [sic] the education of many members.” NSSL researchers recommended that “rush and new-member activities, especially for White men, might be deferred to the second semester—or even the second year—of college” (Pascarella et al., p. 189). Evidence that Greek affiliation is associated...
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...Greek Life groups can be found across university campuses ranging from private colleges to state universities. Everyone has their own different reasons for joining Greek Life. The first known collegiate secret society, F.H.C., was established on the campus of the College of William and Mary on November 11, 1750 (“The Flat Hat Club,” 1917). F.H.C. stood for the secret phrase “fraternitas, humanitas et cognito,” (Bonzo, 2014). Every university has their own rules and policies that they require their members to follow. Throughout these different groups, you can find students with many different majors that still come together to be involved in Greek Life. Throughout our study of these many different groups, we interviewed students from Central College, University of Iowa, and Iowa State. We made sure to include several students from the four different groups we have on campus and of both genders. As for the two other colleges, we asked a female from University of Northern Iowa and then a male from Iowa State about their experiences....
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...organizations that play vital roles in one’s college life, the educative community of colleges and universities, and the society that these organizations are in. These organizations are present in about eighty-five percent of all the colleges and universities around the world. Commonly referred to as Greek societies these organizations provide great opportunities for college students to develop their skills and appreciate their interests with peers whom they call and consider brothers or sisters. Being part of a Greek society poses a number of advantages to individuals that are in their college years. Membership in a fraternity or sorority gives students the opportunity to meet new people and enjoy college life while still excelling academically. These organizations provide greater fields for their members to excel in what they do best and discover more things and gain more knowledge about themselves. These Greek organizations present wider social and career networking thus making school and employment easier for their members. But while Greek societies present such number of advantages, the brotherhood or sisterhood also has its own set of disadvantages especially for new recruits, pledges and neophytes. Cases of abusive initiation rites, criminal behaviors and sexual assaults are frequently acquainted to the concept of Greek societies most especially fraternities. Due to these Greek societies are also frequently condemned but in truth Greek societies are also human where in some...
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...vast range of people. Being a Spartan is a privilege for me. I know San Jose State or any college in that case does not guarantee happiness and success but when I made the decision to attend a four-year college, I knew it was an opportunity to test myself and see what I can achieve. It opens the eyes of every inspiring student and allows us to see the numerous possibilities. Being a Spartan excited me to keep moving forward, and makes my ambitions and visions to get even more powerful. San Jose State gave me an opportunity to achieve my dreams and gives me the desire to make this world a better place by providing my knowledge in my career. I know that what I gain from my education at San Jose State will be my tool. The biggest asset gained from a college degree is sheer knowledge. Academically San Jose State is a well-established school that allows students to explore their freedom as they please by offering vast majority of options according to their needs. San Jose State University offers the most established engineering programs by providing plethora of opportunities in Silicon Valley. Also it has the best business program as well as great programs in health science, science, animation, and more. It is ranked ninth in the west, top public universities offering bachelors and masters degrees. At San Jose State, life is basically split into two categories; life in the books, and life outside the books. As we know, the more time you spend...
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...Pfeiffer Extension FAQs 1. Is Greek life only part of the collegiate experience? Membership in a Greek-letter organization is for a lifetime. The experience provides opportunities for friendship and connections as well as personal and professional growth. Even after graduation, many alumni continue to be involved by joining local alumni associations and/or volunteering for their inter/national organizations. 2. What are the benefits of joining a Greek-letter organization? Membership in a Greek-letter organization provides a number of different opportunities, including the ability to connect and share common interests, develop leadership skills, gain academic support, and serve others and the community. First and foremost, organizations...
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...over what I could possibly write about in my paper. Honestly, at first there weren’t many topics that stood out to me that I could expand on in a paper. As I thought more about it I decided to write about a topic I could relate to and was a large part of my college education, Greek Life: A Culture onto Itself. Starting college is a very big transition for most teenage students. They just became adults, have to be responsible for themselves, leaving home for the first time, on top of all this they are also trying to find a place or group to fit in with to make their college life more enjoyable and successful. Some students find cultural organizations to join, for example whether it be a religious organization, ethnic based club, or athletic teams on their college campus. Then there are those other students who neither identify with religion, cultural ethnicity, or athletic clubs, so these students find acceptance elsewhere in an organization that has its own cultural identity, practices, and even their own language or phrases: the fraternity or sorority. When I started college I was one of these lost students who couldn’t find a place to fit in. Hunter College was a large commuter school where everyone seemed to come and go, and I couldn’t find a group I fit in with. I wasn’t athletic, so joining a sports team wasn’t an option. I wasn’t overly religious at that time, nor did I relate to my Italian or Irish heritage to seek out...
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...who share similar interests and values and who will become your friends for life. Fraternity and sororities (from the latten words frater and soror, meaning “brother” and “sister” respectively) are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate student. Similar, but less common, organizations also exist for secondary school student. These organizations bring out the best in their members through strong friendships and common goals. Most importantly, fraternities, sororities and social fellowships have an impact on their members’ lives in many ways, offering learning and life experiences through their core values of community service, friendship, leadership and scholarship. The formal installation of a social network is certainly a core and often-noted benefit of being in a fraternity or sorority. In joining a fraternity, one must undergo the initiation rites better known as hazing. Hazing particularly the violent kind has invaded most of our institutions. It is now prevalent in schools even in police and military academies. Hazing, as we all know, systematically develops a culture of violence among the youth. Hazing is hazing whether it results in death, mutilation or years of pain or whether it is done inside or outside the school or institution. LOCAL In the article “Fraternal Fury” written by Argee Guevara, he stated that there is something intriguing and frightening about the culture of college fraternities. The more we try to understand it, the more we end up abhorring...
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...It has been stated in each research source that hazing and particularly binge drinking is the most serious problem affecting social life, academic life, and health on college campuses today. The journal article pertaining to this issue, How Harvard’s College Alcohol Study Can Help Your Campus Design a Campaign Against Student Alcohol Abuse (CAS: Campus Alcohol Study for short), focuses more heavily on binge drinking and prevention than it does on the Greek system itself. The authors, Wechsler, Nelson, and Weitzman, contend that binge drinking is a nationally recognized problem but has not been studied efficiently enough to warrant effective prevention plans. The purpose of this article is to share with the public the results of a survey representing 50,000 students in 140 colleges, in 39 states. This is the first nationally representative survey of its kind and the analysis of its outcome by the authors of this article has resulted in seemingly sound prevention ideas. To begin interpreting the binge drinking phenomenon, a solid understanding of the term must be presented. Binge drinking is defined by all the articles as consuming five or more drinks in rapid succession (four or more for women) at least once in a two week period. Shockingly, the College Alcohol Study (CAS) found that two out of every five college students binge drink. The authors of this article argue that binge drinking has negative effects not only on the drinkers, but also on the entire student body. The binge...
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