Fraternities- Instruments of Injury, Assault, and Death In the article published in The Atlantic, “Banning Pledging Doesn’t Fix Fraternities’ Health Problem”, the author Jacoba Urist argues to college students and their parents that while a new fraternity pledging policy that reduces the time period for pledgeship may be good public relations, it does not address the health risk of the binge drinking culture that infests fraternities. The author uses primarily logic and emotional arguments to persuade the reader to her point of view, but also uses ethical arguments. Fraternities have been criticized for many years for encouraging alcohol abuse, which is then linked to injuries, sexual abuse, and even death. The article suggests that the pledging process has been a facilitator of these ills, but shortening that process may not actually address the underlying cause. The Atlantic article particularly examines the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, or as it’s better known “SAE”, because of their new national …show more content…
While publicizing the reduced pledgeship period as a solution to a real problem, she suggests SAE is not being serious about that problem and is misleading the public. The author points out that while SAE announced they are eliminating their infamous pledge process, they actually created a substantial loophole that perpetuates the culture of drinking and sexual assaults. The ethical persuasion derives from SAE saying one thing but doing something else. The author also relies on Dr. Foubert who suggests an informal agreement between the national fraternity office and local chapters where local chapters “pull the wool over national’s eyes, and national looks the other way as much as they possibly can” (Urist 5). Again, the use of ethical persuasion is effective at undermining the seriousness of SAE’s efforts to fix their cultural
In "Fraternities and Collegiate Rape Culture" Ayres Boswell and Joan Z. Spade analyze the social perspective of the gendered relations in male fraternities that add to the high rate of violence against women on many college campuses. They list a host of factors that distinguish higher-risk from lower-risk atmospheres discussing the rates of rape in colleges and state how "1 out of 4 college women say they were raped or experienced an attempted rape" (217). Additionally, "1 out of 12 college men say they forced a woman to have sexual intercourse against her will" (Boswell, Spade 217). In other words Boswell and Spade indicated that the rates were high when it came down to women getting raped in colleges by men who also attended those colleges. In addition, Boswell and Spade specify in how most people are aware of rape but know very little about rape culture (Boswell, Spade 217).
Discourse Communities are defined as “a group of individuals bound by a common goal who communicate through approved channels and whose discourse is regulated” (Couzelis et al. 12). Every person on this planet belongs to a discourse community whether they realize it or not. If you start at a larger scale, Texas A&M University-Commerce is a large discourse community, and within that larger discourse community there are hundreds, quite possibly thousands of smaller discourse communities. Many of the discourse communities overlap with members belonging to several communities at the same time.
Walking around a university’s campus any day of the week, one sees an array of Greek letters worn proudly by young men and women in the Greek system. Fraternities and sororities play a big part in a university. The Greek system can also be an easy target to direct criticism. There are those who oppose the Greek system and those who embrace it. Evan Wright opposes the Greek system in his article “Sister Act” that was featured in Rolling Stone Magazine. He uses examples from students at Ohio State University in Columbus to show his disapproval of the way sororities are now days. He portrays sorority girls as catty conformists who are obsessed with partying with fraternity guys. Evan Wright’s insubstantial claim is full of half-truths in reference to alcohol consumption, conformity, and the purpose of sororities; therefore, his critical position that sororities are corrupt is not credible.
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.
Balko, Radley. "Let My Students Drink." Reason. (Feb. 2009). Web. 19 Feb. 2016. John McCardell was a former college president who took his experience dealing with underage drinking and decided to develop an organization called Choose Responsibly. The organization supports lower the legal drinking age. He later developed the Amethyst Initiative to help campuses across the U.S. to join together. In the article, Mr. McCardell gives his reasons for starting the growing movement. The purpose of this article is to inform other college delegates and leaders about the organizations they can join they share the same beliefs. It was published in a magazine that discusses rising issues to help promote the initiative. The article is unique due to its interview arrangement which gives it a more personal feel. My thesis is supported by this article because it provides me with
When you are a senior is high school your main focuses are finishing your college applications and if your a girl of course prom, you don't realize you are a year away from entering college and the world of "rape culture". It is said that rape culture exists because we don't believe it does. Rape culture is defined as "an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture." We already have an idea that in colleges where sports is glorified that some professors will allow athletes to get away with numerous things from cheating to missing numerous classes but fraternity events can be high risk for rape. First I will summarize "Fraternities and Collegiate Rape Culture: Why Are Some Fraternities More Dangerous Places for Women?" written by A. Ayres Boswell and Joan Z. Space. Then I will use information from my criminology class to better define violent crime . Lastly, I will explain rape on campuses is not a cultural component. Colleges should hold clubs such as fraternities and sports to the same level than others and be harshly punished for crimes they commit so they don't feel more superior and think they can get away with rape.
Greek organizations are debatably the most undervalued and misconceived aspect of college campuses. Most people don’t see the benefits that fraternities and sororities bring to college campuses and their communities. Some see these organizations as large beneficial clubs and others see them as potential problems. Many of the allegations put forth by individuals that discredit the benefits and good deeds done by Greek organizations are weak justifications for their removal from college campuses. Greek organizations provide campus communities with academically responsible students, philanthropic activities and increase community involvement.
The smell of carnival foods, music blasting through the tall speakers, and the crowd going wild is the first thing one hears as one enters the stadium. Shortly, one hears the sounds of clapping, stomping, and yelling as the Greek organizations compete for the grand prize, title of recognition, and bragging rights. People are dancing and supporting their favorite groups as they perform the routines the groups have been practicing for days. The final group performs and walks off stage drained with all the energy they put into the performance. Everyone crosses their fingers hoping their Greek organization won. Different colors, like salmon pink and apple green, surrounds the stadium representing the different groups. The MC (Mic Controller) comes out and tantalized everyone with the final results. Once the results were called out, screams and bantering erupts from the crowd as the crowd is signaled to leave. Everyone leaves and hangs out with friends and their favorite Greek organization. As one sits in the stand, one thinks why they are entertained by such activities. Many overlook the important purposes of joining a sorority. History can only tell why sororities were created and where they originated.
Often, when one hears about fraternities or sororities on the news, the program has to do with hazing and a death or injury that it has caused an innoce...
Colleges and Universities play a major role in developing the behavioral patterns of young adults. In addition to developing young minds, colleges help to cultivate character, responsibility, and social acceptable behavior. Students who attend Carlford have expressed their dissent with the current environment of the university. Because of these underling issues, Carlford’s retention rates amongst minorities have suffered. If Kirsten is unable to handle the situation, there will be a trickledown effect to all areas of the university. Being a new professional in the field of Higher Education can be challenge. There are times where an incident directly affects your position and there are other times where there issues that affect the entire institution. Because the issue directly pertains to Greek Life, the Coordinator of Fraternities and Sororities has the responsibility of identifying the concerns and implementing initiatives that will allow the college to be proactive in future situations of this nature.
Not only in the US, Many countries around the world have the same problem in college campuses. Like many European countries, college drinking has been developed into kind of traditional culture in the US and she has been facing the change of the culture of drinking at colleges. However, other than the damage and injuries that happen during semester break each year, the only consequences of college drinking that usually come to the public's attention are occasional student deaths from alcohol overuse, such as alcohol poisoning or other alcohol-related tragedies. (Ramaley) In fact, the consequences of college drinking are much more than occasional and normal. According to the studies, 1,825 college students who aged from 18 to24 died from alcohol-related inadvertent injuries, including car crashes, while 599,000 students are unintentionally hurt over the influence of alcohol (Hingson et al., 2009). College drinking also results in serious injuries, assaults, sexual abuse and other health and academic problems. The impacts of excessive college drinking are more widespread and destructive than most people realize. Therefore, this essay will first consider the pr...
In recent studies by U.S News and World Report, college campuses are turning off the tap. In other words banning alcohol entirely. One of the reasons for the banning of alcohol on campus is due to the outstanding reports of alcohol related incidents that have taken the lives of students. September of 97’, Scott Krueger, and eighteen-year-old freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, died from alcohol poisoning while at a Phi Gamma Delta initiation event.(Reisberg, 1) The lack of action taken by MIT caused the students’ parents to sue them for their irresponsibility.(Reisberg, 2) Another accident that occurred due to alcohol was to a twenty-year-old Louisiana State University student named Benjamin Wynne. Wynne had apparen...
Many pledges join sororities and fraternities in search of friendships that will last throughout life. However, quite a few young people get caught in life-threatening situations because they are not aware of the commitments to which they are swearing themselves. The idea behind joining a house is to form a relationship in which the members are one big family at heart, yet many sorority and fraternity members – while advocating status, popularity, and togetherness -- have betrayed the ideals of Greek life. Sororities and fraternities should stress bonding relationships among brothers and sisters, and not allow this idea to be neglected and abused by hazing. Plain and simple, hazing is an intentional action taken by active members to inflict physical and mental discomfort, harassment, and embarrassment upon future members of a house.
that are still active to this day, even with their lists of allegations and crimes caused by brutal initiation tactics. Many fraternities have been accused of causing death and injury to their members and they are charged for it, but they don’t stop and that is why we still have one hazing-related college death every year. Of course fraternities are meant for good purposes, but ever since their founding they have done more harm than good, causing lots of deaths. This process can’t continue as law and order is doing nothing to change it.
College, a place once populated by contemplative students, has experienced an unexpected twist over the past few years: 1,825 deaths, 599,000 injuries, 696,000 assaults, and 97,000 cases of sexual abuse (College Drinking ). These are such drastic numbers, but there is only one reason for all these corrupted acts of society: alcohol. Abusing the privileges of alcohol corrupts students’ mind, intellectually and socially.