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Greek life research paper
Greek life research paper
Greek life research paper
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Sororities and fraternities are becoming more influential on college campuses and among the professional world. Over 730 schools across the United States have the Greek life system and there are several different fraternities and sororities on each college campus. Many Americans have extremely different opinions about Greek life as a whole. Although many say it is all about partying, there are many pros and cons to joining Greek life. Greek life can be a very good experience in college, it is whatever people make it. Coming into college most students struggle to find a place where they fit in. Greek life provides individuals the opportunity to find people that are similar to them and share the same values as they do. In the article “Living in Your Letters…” is it said that the values of your organization are imposed on you even if you do not believe the same. Many organizations may not tell you their values before entering. Finding out critical information about something before joining is important. Once signing the bid card individuals are agreeing to follow all of their policies whether agreeing with them or not. Many people do not realize what they are getting into and this could cause them problems within their fraternity or sorority. Also it could cause problems with the national councils. According to the article “Living in Your Letters…” Many studies have shown that the actions of members were not consistent with the values and policies of their organization. Many see this as a negative as in people might join a group just to say they are a part of something rather than because that’s what they believe. It can also be a positive effect if when choosing their organization they choose the one that best fits them as a person... ... middle of paper ... ...orks Cited Hageman, William. "Embracing the Greek Life. Or Not." Chicago Tribune. Tribune Newspaper, 06 Aug. 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. Blake, Chris. "Positive and Negative Effects of Greek Life in College." Everyday Life. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. Matthews, Heather, Leigh Featherstone, Lisa Bluder, Allison J. Gerling, Sarah Loge, and Rachel B. Messenger. "LIVING IN YOUR LETTERS: ASSESSING CONGRUENCE BETWEEN ESPOUSED." Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity Advisors 4.1 (2009): 1-42. EBSCO. Web. 23 Mar. 2014. Kokemuller, Neil. "The Disadvantages of Sororities & Fraternities." Education. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. Danielson, Cherry, Simone H. Taylor, and Maureen Hartford. "Examining the Complex Relationship Between Greek Life and Alcohol: A Literature Review." NASPA Journal 38.4 (2001): 451-65. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.
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,
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.
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.
One of the many forms of dangerous pressures girls face from their membership in a sorority is body image. Being a member of an organization with typically 100 women opens the door for pressure to conform to a certain ideal look. Forms of hazing often would include activities that brought down the girls’ self-confidence. “During circle the fat, pledges undress and, one by one, stand in front of the entire sorority membership. The sisters (or, in some chapters, fraternity brothers) then use thick black markers to circle the fat or cellulite on a pledge’s body....For many sororities, thinness, as the pledges discover, is a priority” (Robbins 259). These types of activities are not uncommon for sororities. From day one of pledging, the idea of having a perfect body is obsessed over. Even girls with healthy, fit bodies are criticized just as much for the sake of the upper classmen to break them down, so they could build them back up they way they want. Its manipulating and confusing. The pressure to be accepted by the sorority was a common outcome from the priority of perfection, which could also lead to eating disorders. A study was done and found that “the most consistent finding was...
So what allows a campus fraternity to fall under the category of a social institution? Social institutions are commonly conceived as the necessary focuses of a social organization, which is common to most of society and usually deals with the problems and procedures of structured social life. General characteristics of a social institution involve regulated patterns of behavior that are specific, continuous, and organized. The patterns become the regulated norm, and are carried on from generation to generation, allowing the social institution to continue on through the years. Fraternities were first developed back in the late seventeen hundreds and continued to expand over the past couple of hundred years. Today there are about sixty different fraternities all over the United States, represented by different letters of the Greek Alphabet, with several chapters and various schools. Fraternities is a ‘member only’ social institution that is just for guys, (women have similar institution called sororities). Every fraternity has a board of members that they personally e...
Day in and day out we hear about high school and college students wanting to pursue a sorority and/or a fraternity based on the stereotypes these organizations uphold, well I chose to differ. I told myself if I ever decided to become a member of a sorority it would be based solely on their ethical standards, history, and values they are founded upon. Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated consists of ladies of distinction and exemplary character who excel in scholarship, leadership, and service, which are qualities I have chosen to uphold. From my perspective, I encourage myself to maintain a respectable appearance and reputation which doing so inspires me to embrace my self-concept; which helps me confidently excel academically and professionally as a “lady of distinction” and “exemplary character.” Most importantly, I continuously remain involved in community service, being involved allows me the opportunity to learn and understand the lives and circumstances of others by opening my mind, heart, and soul. Overall these qualities strengthen my passion to be a member of the prestigious Alp...
N.p. 17 Mar. 2014. The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. Web. The Web. The Web. 8 Mar. 2014.
Additionally, analyzing the overall structure of the Greek System will allow me to understand why students feel inclined to become a member of these organizations, while others don’t. In order to comprehend this student subculture, however, it is imperative to define what the Greek System really is and what core values they are based on. The Greek System, composed of different fraternity and sorority communities, are organizations that focus on academic, social, and professional support.... ... middle of paper ... ...
" The New York Times. The New York Times, 24 Dec. 1998. Web. The Web.
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.
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.
Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd., 20 Nov. 2009. Web. The Web. The Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
Robin Sowerby, The Greeks: An Introduction To Their Culture. Published in 1995 by Routledge Publishers.
O'Donnell, Ben. "What's Right With Fraternities." Chronicle Of Higher Education 56.16 (2009): A76. Academic Search Elite. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.
At Rutgers University I will be a full time student and participate in numerous clubs and groups relevant to my field of education. Over the summer, I volunteered to help out my friends fraternity (Phi Psi) with different events. The welcoming I received from my friends fraternity brothers felt like I was part of the fraternity myself. Everyone was approachable and treated me like I was family which made me feel like a Scarlet Knight. This astonished me because even though I wasn't attending Rutgers University I still felt like I was expanding and diversifying my network. The educational freedom, student body, and campus life at Rutgers University will help me to excel in my personal life as well as in my field of study. Being a transfer student from Mercer County Community College while having completed 60+ credits already puts me ahead of both of my parents academically, whom never had the freedom to go to college like I did. Being the first one in my family to attend college can definitely feel nerve wracking but it is also undoubtedly the main reason why I push myself to achieve greatness. I think that everyone living in our era in time has the contingency and convenience to go out and pursue