Shedding Some Light on Modern Sororities Modern day movies and media have portrayed Greek life organizations, fraternities and sororities, as being immature young adults who abuse alcohol and party way too much. There have been cases of hazing new members ever since they began, but according to many, hazing has been eliminated from sororities. Although there have been cases of sororities hazing and abusing alcohol, sororities are actually beneficial to a women’s college experience by building more confident and well-rounded women who become leaders in our society. A sorority can be defined as “A group of sisters that come together to make themselves a better person than how they were when they entered the sorority…basically everyone has the
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“Wrongs of Passage” by Hank Nuwer explores the binge drinking and hazing done by fraternities and sororities. One story told is Amanda Smith’s, a young girl who pledged the wrong sorority. She gets her bid and is excited to go to her first meeting; “sisters server pledges small amounts of alcohol” (141) she is surprised of the drinking, but takes sips anyways. “[S]mith’s second meeting with the Widener Phi Mus mirrored the first. She drank more champagne…” (141) As time passes after these meetings Amanda Smith becomes more and more unhappy, “she resented having to put in three hours at a mandatory study hall at the library” (142) Now while Amanda is unhappy, having required study hours can benefit college students, especially balancing fun and work. As Amanda Smith spends more time in the sorority she got more uncomfortable, by the third week the sorority members wanted the girls to all be the same. They wanted them dress and even speak alike. “Members criticized pledge’s clothes, shoes and jewelry.” (142) Amanda Smith was mentally hazed and forced to switch colleges. She eventually saw a psychologist, when reoccurring nightmares would not go away, who diagnosed her with Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder. Hazing can have traumatic effects on people, weather physical or mental hazing hurts. As more and more hazing cases came about the National PanHellenic Conference realized it needed to be …show more content…
Sororities can give you a sense of belonging and the events done by sororities can give you something to do in college providing great memories. Sororities also help you to stay focused on school. As said in Amanda Smith’s story there were required study hall times. (Nuwer, 141) Also when talking to sorority members at local colleges they said they had required study hours as well. Sarah Belle, in her question and answer video on sororities, was asked “Is it difficult to keep your grades up while participating in sorority events?” Her answer was no. She said that as long as you can balance time you would not have a problem. There are mandatory events like weekly meetings and philanthropy events but the parties, mixers, and formals are all optional. (Belle) Having the option to go to events can help, sorority members are not forced to go party or dance every night. They can choose how they spend their
“Wrongs of Passage” by Hank Nuwer explores the binge drinking and hazing done by fraternities and sororities. One story told is Amanda Smith’s, a young girl who pledged the wrong sorority. She gets her bid and is excited to go to her first meeting; “sisters server pledges small amounts of alcohol” (141) she is surprised of the drinking, but takes sips anyways. “[S]mith’s second meeting with the Widener Phi Mus mirrored the first. She drank more champagne…” (141) As time passes after these meetings Amanda Smith becomes more and more unhappy, “she resented having to put in three hours at a mandatory study hall at the library” (142) Now while Amanda is unhappy, having required study hours can benefit college students, especially balancing fun and work. As Amanda Smith spends more time in the sorority she got more uncomfortable, by the third week the sorority members wanted the girls to all be the same. They wanted them dress and even speak alike. “Members criticized pledge’s clothes, shoes and jewelry.” (142) Amanda Smith was mentally hazed and forced to switch colleges. She eventually saw a psychologist, when reoccurring nightmares would not go away, who diagnosed her with Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder. Hazing can have traumatic effects on people, weather physical or mental hazing hurts. As more and more hazing cases came about the National PanHellenic Conference realized it needed to be …show more content…
Sororities can give you a sense of belonging and the events done by sororities can give you something to do in college providing great memories. Sororities also help you to stay focused on school. As said in Amanda Smith’s story there were required study hall times. (Nuwer, 141) Also when talking to sorority members at local colleges they said they had required study hours as well. Sarah Belle, in her question and answer video on sororities, was asked “Is it difficult to keep your grades up while participating in sorority events?” Her answer was no. She said that as long as you can balance time you would not have a problem. There are mandatory events like weekly meetings and philanthropy events but the parties, mixers, and formals are all optional. (Belle) Having the option to go to events can help, sorority members are not forced to go party or dance every night. They can choose how they spend their