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Fraternities social institution
Related literature about the fraternities and sororities
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The discourse community I have been studying is fraternities. Fraternities are more than just partying and “hangin’ with the bros.” Fraternities are over 100 years old and filled with traditions, values, and brotherhood. Fraternities have stood strong since the early 1800’s, with rich history and culture. Every fraternity has founding fathers that represent a certain value of the fraternity. I have gained access to this community through pledgeship in Sigma Chi, one the most prestigious fraternities in the nation, with the hopes of becoming a brother. Even though I have access to this community I know very little because I am so new. Through my research, I have learned and discovered the intricacies and deeper understandings of not just Sigma …show more content…
It all starts with rush week. Every fraternity will put together some open invite events for any student who wishes to join the fraternity. Every year over hundreds of students sign up for rush week. You can sign up for as many fraternities as you wish, but it is always a good idea to sign up for a maximum of 2. The open invite events are meet and greets, for potential new members to meet the brothers and get a feel if that fraternity is right for them. After the open invite events are over, it goes to invite only and that’s where the cuts are made. Every fraternity tries to choose the best people that fit the values that fraternity. Rush week is a grueling week for any fraternity because, so many kids rush and fraternities can’t accept everyone. “Because Boise State Greek life is increasing rapidly, this fall was the hardest rush week for any fraternity because of the record amount of kids that came out,” (Carter Lewis). The fraternity discourse community is …show more content…
When rushing and pledging a fraternity you meet brothers from that fraternity and maybe even brothers and pledges from other fraternities. Your social skills greatly improve by actively communicating with brothers from the fraternity and socials, which are events planned with other sororities such as ice skating, bowling, etc. A fraternity pushes you academically, for example, pledges have grade checks before they are initiated as official brothers. For Sigma Chi, a pledge needs above a 3.0 grade point average in order to be initiated. If below, the chances of being dropped from the fraternity is very high. That standard of academic excellence pushes you to become a great student, “if students want to become affiliated with academic discourse communities, or even if they want to succeed in school, they have to make considerable sacrifices,” (Johns 326). Johns’ outline of success academic discourse communities is on point. Fraternities are academic communities along with social. Much sacrificed time has to be taken to be apart and contribute to fraternity, for example a leadership role. A fraternity offers many opportunities of leadership opportunities. Once a brother, you can run for executive board which consists of president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, recruitment officer, pledge educator, and risk manager. There are other
I myself am from a very “awkward” dichotomy. The reason for that is that I grew up in Oak Cliff Texas, a low socioeconomic neighborhood with the a very criminal atmosphere. However, my father was able to obtain upward mobility through his construction business that he built, therefore I have always been financially well off. Since I grew up in Oak Cliff and attended an inner city public high school my classmates were mostly of low socioeconomic background and well, the nature of their behavior is very much like mine. Now when I attended A&M I decided to join a fraternity. There is “Latino” fraternities available for students to join on campus but I joined one that is recognized by the IFC (Intra Fraternity Council). This is one of the barriers amongst universities’ Greek life systems themselves. As described in the book, Greek life systems generate a barrier where students of low socioeconomic status find it harder to join. The fraternities and sororities that are recognized by the “IFC” are those that are categorized by the student body as “cool or better” organizations. Those that aren’t recognized by the IFC are seen as the “poor or gay” organizations. Those fraternities that are recognized by the IFC on campus as far as I know are all white. Latino or Black fraternities and sororities aren’t recognized by the IFC, at least at A&M. I am the only Minority in the fraternity that I am apart of, and I sometimes recognize that I am different in different aspects than most of the members and can feel the “isolation” that is described in the book. Once my fraternity was having an event and everyone was required to pitch in 30$ towards supplies for it, and the way that the money is gathered is through a mobile application where people can pay with their credit cards. I asked one of my fraternity brothers is I could just pay him cash and he
While reading Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities, I learned more about the inner workings of Greek Life. I learned that the odds of me finding a sorority are so slim due to my independent and different personality. While I am not good at sticking up for myself, something this book has made me feel is crucial to blend in and conform to an ideal to fit into a sorority, I am too opinionated. There are not many sororities (at least shown in Pledged) that welcome girls who are different, preferring to stay similar. For example, each pledge class would soon like identical within a few months of pledging. Another thing I learned about is the careful planning and manipulation that occurs throughout sororities,
Once I am a fully initiated member of the Fraternity I will attend chapter weekly. The entire pledge class bonds and learns about the Fraternity, ideals, and history together. Chi Omega also plans activities that helps us bond together as sisters, such a flag football against the other sororities, or even something as simple as ice cream out together. These activities bring us together as a discourse community very frequently. This year we had the largest pledge class in the history of the Sigma Zeta chapter at 24 girls. Every year there are two recruitment periods, one in the fall and the other in the spring. It is during these periods that the fraternity replenishes the members that went alumna with new
The Greek Life at Baylor University is a community of twelve fraternities and eight sororities. However, the communities within Baylor University are not treated equally. The University of Baylor favors the sororities over the fraternities at Baylor. There are multiple different things that Baylor allows the sororities to attain that the fraternities are prevented from pursuing or accomplishing. This bias between the Greek Life of Baylor and the university itself is one major reason for strain between the relationships of the groups. The sororities at Baylor are supplied a meeting place, allowed to have mixers before rushing on Baylor campus, and are allowed to return to Baylor early after breaks for events. The university must resolve these problems in order to become a more unbiased university and community.
Every year students at an accredited university have a decision to join groups/activities. In many cases a lot of students choose to join either a fraternity or a
Greek organizations, such as, fraternities and sororities have been a part of the college experience for centuries. We pride ourselves in brotherly and sisterly love, academic success, and helping others. There are countless stereotypes and myths that surround the “Greek life” name. Just some myths include: all Greeks haze their members, they only care about physical looks not personalities, and they go to college just to party and get drunk. Kappa Delta Sorority upholds none of these stereotypes. We have a strong no haze policy. Hazing is defined as an activity or situation that can cause emotional, mental, or physical discomfort. If a member is caught hazing or if a new member is caught allowing herself to be hazed, there will be major consequences, such as, national probation or deferral of initiation. Kappa Delta also does not look at physical appearance as the only quality for possible new members. We look at personality and qualifications that can benefit our sorority; instead of having a group of women that are pretty and popular, we like to have women with strong morals, work ethic, and have the willingness to love each and every member of Kappa Delta. Kappa Delta Sorority is like no other fraternity or sorority on campus; we do not waste our time with partying and drinking. We pride ourselves in our historical background, philanthropies, and our values. I know Kappa Delta is the best sorority not only on MTSU campus but in the whole country.
Upon arriving to college, many students face the challenge of finding a community to belong to. I believe the student affairs professionals on campus are the resource to building communities within the student body. Reflecting back on my first semester of college, I found my community within two organizations; Dance Marathon and UI Alumni Association Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow (S.T.A.T.). Within the organizations I met two advisers who opened my eyes to the world of student affairs.
I decided to investigate what qualities the fraternities of Oklahoma State have, so I interviewed the girlfriends of several fraternity men. This gave me the chance to view other girls’ relationships in certain fraternities and if the girls’ relationships are different in each fraternity or if there are similarities. I interviewed girlfriends and fiancées of all sorts: the ones who had been there from the very beginning, before they were in a fraternity, the girlfriends who didn’t meet their partner until after the guys were already in fraternities, and the fiancées who experienced fraternity relationships from their sophomore year until their senior year.
Kimbrough, Walter M. Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs, and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Sororities. Cranbury: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2003. Print.
Sorority Life Women in their sororities are connected by sisterhood, philanthropy, events, values and much more. Being apart of a sorority also has a mass amount of requirements such as, initiation, chapter, date dashes, formal and retreats. Many people decide to rush either to make friends, be apart of something on campus that feels like a community or for social opportunities. Before you can be apart of the sisterhood you need to be accepted into the sorority through the rush process.
Students involved in Greek life have the freedom to express their academic desires while being a part of a group of other students who share similar
Starting college without knowing anyone is difficult. Joining any type of organization is a great way of meeting new people and making new friends. By joining a fraternity or sorority you gain a whole group of friends, or as known within themselves, brothers and sisters. These groups of people form a bond so strong that it becomes a family bond, making students feel at home while going through the college transition. Members of the Greek life are mentored and taught leadership skills by their fellow brothers and sisters.
In order for the campuses to be as strong and successful as they aim to be, fraternities and sororities are better off
Fraternities and sororities are an essential part of the university experience. They provide the student with a place to call home or even help form lifelong relationships. Students find a sense of belonging in these organizations and everyone is there to support others. Sadly these organizations ruin lives with a lot of deaths occurring during unsanctioned events. If individual chapters include a minimum G.P.A to become a full member, then less deaths happen since everyone involved is focusing on their studies.
A fraternity, as defined by the The American Heritage Dictionary is "a chiefly social organization of male college students, usually designated by Greek letters. "(pg. 523) This definition, however, is very limited and leaves plenty of space for short sighted people to believe the stereotype conveyed by the popular media, where fraternity members are depicted as drunks who accomplish nothing either scholastically or socially. Unfortunately, both this definition and media portrayals fail to mention the fact that membership in a fraternity is a life-long experience that helps its members develop social, organizational, and study skills during college, and that teaches true, everlasting friendship.