The Greek system – commonly seen as dangerous by many not within it – has become the college version of the chicken or the egg riddle: Is it the system that causes its problems, or those within it?
Those who view the system as dangerous draw on statistics that say that fraternity members are three times more likely to commit rape than other students, among others. Opponents of Greek life – such as my colleague Aram Ghoogasian – use stats like these to call for the abolition of Greek life altogether.
Ghoogasian is right that this is a big issue, and as a member of Greek life, it’s one I take seriously.
However, because of these alarming statistics, many misinterpret the root of the sexual assault problem. In reality, the issue starts before …show more content…
Sororities have a house mother who lives in the house with them all year, while fraternities generally have no such full-time monitors. Sororities are also not allowed to ever have alcohol in the house, whereas fraternities generally are allowed.
This means that fraternities end up hosting sororities a majority of the time, creating a power imbalance because sororities are tasked with earning the favorability of fraternities, and earning invitations to parties and social events. Even events not hosted at fraternity houses are usually paid for by fraternities, again making them the hosts. Among many sororities there are explicit or implied pressures to make friends with “top” houses and make them like you. This may cause some sorority members to not speak up when they have been violated.
Changing this would primarily involve modifying the role of a house mother or establish some other kind of regulator. Instead of a full-time house mother at sororities, each sorority or fraternity would have someone who is there two to three days a week checking in on …show more content…
Rather, maintaining most of the current structures of Greek life – with some additional supervision – could curb the nastiest impulses of these few bad members while maintaining the system for good participants who make up the overwhelming majority.
Last week, Ghoogasian wrote that he advocated for no single-gender organizations on campuses. But I believe that there is a value to having both women’s-only and men’s-only spaces. Friendships between men and women are very rewarding, but having a space for single-gender relationships is important in the chaotic time of being a young adult. Same-gender peers and mentors are invaluable to a college student as they lend unique insight and can create a community that creates comfort and encourages growth. I know I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to create bonds with supportive older mentors without my house.
I felt welcomed to UCLA immediately and felt like I belonged, something I don’t think I would have found as quickly or as solidly without my house, Chi Omega, or Greek life in general.
Greek life isn’t the dangerous monster that people make it out to be. Instead, with a few tweaks, it could take large steps toward remedying its most glaring
Those who view the system as dangerous draw on statistics that say that fraternity members are three times more likely to commit rape than other students, among others. Opponents of Greek life – such as my colleague Aram Ghoogasian – use stats like these to call for the abolition of Greek life altogether.
Ghoogasian is right that this is a big issue, and as a member of Greek life, it’s one I take seriously.
However, because of these alarming statistics, many misinterpret the root of the sexual assault problem. In reality, the issue starts before …show more content…
Sororities have a house mother who lives in the house with them all year, while fraternities generally have no such full-time monitors. Sororities are also not allowed to ever have alcohol in the house, whereas fraternities generally are allowed.
This means that fraternities end up hosting sororities a majority of the time, creating a power imbalance because sororities are tasked with earning the favorability of fraternities, and earning invitations to parties and social events. Even events not hosted at fraternity houses are usually paid for by fraternities, again making them the hosts. Among many sororities there are explicit or implied pressures to make friends with “top” houses and make them like you. This may cause some sorority members to not speak up when they have been violated.
Changing this would primarily involve modifying the role of a house mother or establish some other kind of regulator. Instead of a full-time house mother at sororities, each sorority or fraternity would have someone who is there two to three days a week checking in on …show more content…
Rather, maintaining most of the current structures of Greek life – with some additional supervision – could curb the nastiest impulses of these few bad members while maintaining the system for good participants who make up the overwhelming majority.
Last week, Ghoogasian wrote that he advocated for no single-gender organizations on campuses. But I believe that there is a value to having both women’s-only and men’s-only spaces. Friendships between men and women are very rewarding, but having a space for single-gender relationships is important in the chaotic time of being a young adult. Same-gender peers and mentors are invaluable to a college student as they lend unique insight and can create a community that creates comfort and encourages growth. I know I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to create bonds with supportive older mentors without my house.
I felt welcomed to UCLA immediately and felt like I belonged, something I don’t think I would have found as quickly or as solidly without my house, Chi Omega, or Greek life in general.
Greek life isn’t the dangerous monster that people make it out to be. Instead, with a few tweaks, it could take large steps toward remedying its most glaring