My child is interested in a fraternity/sorority. What should I do?
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 8:01AM
Gary L Kelley in Fatherhood, alcohol, fraternity, hazing, sorority

As your college children return for break, you may be seeing them with clothing embroidered with Greek symbols.

The chances are excellent they have chosen to participate in a fraternity (typically single sex male, often called frats) or sorority (typically single sex female), or a so called Greek Letter organization.

If you were never in one of these organizations, the closest analogy is a club….a club where all the members share similar values and establish lifelong friendships.

Most Greek Letter organizations have a selection process.  Organizations governed by the National Panhellenic Conference or the North-American Interfraternity Conference typically have a “rush week”, consisting of events intended to let the members meet others with interest.   At the end of “Rush” organizations give “bids”, or invitations to membership. This can be a stressful time for someone desiring to participate in a Greek Letter organization; not receiving a bid at all, or only receiving bids from less desirable organizations, can create personal conflict.

One a bid is accepted, there is typically a pledge period, culminating in an initiation.  Being in a Greek Letter organization exposes the new member to the “secrets” and “rituals” of the organization, and for a long time initiation was a thinly veiled hazing event like Kevin Bacon experienced in the 1978 movie, Animal House:

Greek Letter initiations have been toned down dramatically by all National/International organizations due to strict anti-hazing directives/laws.

Here is how one Greek Letter organization, Zeta Psi, captures it on their home web page:

Policy on Hazing

Zeta Psi Fraternity prohibits hazing in any form.  Hazing is an action taken or situation created, whether on or off University or Chapter premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.  Hazing is also considered to be the creation of a situation, which results in or might result in mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule, including involuntary servitude, often called “personal favors.”  Both individuals and organizations may be held accountable for such activity.

Report suspected hazing to: 1-888-NOT-HAZE.

Alcohol abuse is another concern.  Here’s a video from the North-American Interfraternity Conference reinforcing positive actions around hazing and alcohol:

While there are studies on the impact of Greek Letter organizations on academics, my personal experience and of children I’ve observed suggests the benefits of Greek Letter organizations are in non-academic areas:

What should a parent do?

If your child doesn’t enter Greek life, it’s OK too.  College is about academics and life, and this is a decision point.

What’s your view and experience?

Article originally appeared on Gary L Kelley (http://garylkelley.com/).
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