Brotherhood, friendship, and camaraderie: these were the core principles of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s first fraternity. Founded in 1776, the distinguished members of Phi Beta Kappa discussed controversial issues such as freedom and taxation.
Today, fraternities have been stained by a new stigma, one of obnoxious, immature partying, dangerously heavy drinking, and malevolent, seemingly sadistic bullying.
Every year, tens of thousands of 18 and 19 year old boys, known as pledges, rush fraternities across the nation.
These boys, eager to join these prestigious brotherhoods, are given ridiculous tasks to perform in order to gain acceptance from their “older brothers,” namely drinking.
While some college freshman choose not to rush, many are attracted to the concept of the fraternity system.
They become blinded by the pedestal and glory of Greek Life, drinking and pledging until they get in or pass out.
That being said, many schools have recently banned hazing in fraternities. With punishments and lawsuits over hazing at an all-time high, the dangers of rushing have become much less severe as they were in the past.
While people shouldn’t have to risk their lives to join these societies, initiation and sacrifice to join are important aspects of fraternity life. If anyone could just walk in and join, the prestige would plummet.
Innocent duties such as pledges cleaning the fraternity house or serving as the house butler are perfectly fine and necessary measures taken to keep these societies sacred.
If people have to work hard to get into the frat, it retains a certain luster among the students.
Stereotypes and criticisms aside, fraternities are one of the best ways for guys to meet and make friends on a chaotic college campus.
Lifetime friendships and unbreakable bonds are made between brothers.
They share all the ups and downs of college’s tempestuous twists and turns, and help each other through the journey.
All in all, fraternities provide lost young boys with brothers both older and younger to guide them through college and prepare them for their future.
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Sororities are a great way to meet new people and make new friends almost immediately when somebody is new on a college campus.
The first sorority, called the Adelphean Society (later renamed Alpha Delat Pi), was founded in 1851 at the all-girls school in Georgia that would later become Wesleyan College.
The emphasis on sisterhood and having fun has always been a part of sorority life.
However, with what seems like is such a great time also comes with some dangers.
When rushing for sororities, hazing does occur, sometimes making the incoming girls drink absurd amounts of alcohol and partaking in harmful traditions to initiate newcomers that sometimes result in death in the worst of situations.
Luckily, sorority hazing has toned down a lot in the past couple of years and many colleges are now implicating “zero tolerance for hazing” policies.
Even with the “zero tolerance” policies, hazing still does occur but usually in ways that are not as life threatening or dangerous compared to what hazing used to be.
But still, according to the University of Maine’s research, more than half of college students involved in clubs, teams, and organizations experience hazing.
Sororities at these colleges do take account for the implications if they were to break the campus no hazing rules, which have made hazing less intense and sorority rush experience more positive.
Girls who plan to rush should still think ahead of what they’re getting themselves into if there is a chance they might get hazed, and take responsibility for their actions when putting themselves into positions where they know they might be harmed.
There are other ways for sororities to bond outside of hazing which are fun activities that don’t include risky behavior in order to have a good time.
Hopefully, no girl ever has to be in a hazing position in their sorority experience, but instead has a great time spending their four-year college career having a great time with their sorority sisters.