A Comparative Study between Members and Non-Members of Fraternity and Sorority

A Comparative Study between Members and Non-Members of Fraternity and Sorority

 

 

            It is a natural human instinct to have the feeling of belonging to a group

 

where he is comfortable with. It could be a formal group with a set of goals or just

 

a group of friends where you get along well. Whatever it is, having an affiliation

 

develops relationship with other people and interpersonal skills.

 

            Affiliations vary in form depending on the objectives of the group. There

 

are some doing environmental work, some engaging in socio-civic activities,

 

while some just gathered because of same interests and talents. But, one of the

 

most known affiliations is the fraternity and sorority.

 

            Fraternity and sorority usually connote a secret society with a form of

 

initiation through admission, formal codes of behavior and disciplinary

 

procedures. But simply, a fraternity is a brotherhood like any other organization.

 

The only distinction between a fraternity and any other form of social group is the

 

implication that the members associate themselves as equals for a mutual

 

beneficial purpose rather than because of religious or familial bond. Fraternities

 

and sororities have been organized for many purposes such as university

 

education, ethics, work skills, ethnicity, politics, chivalry and service. No matter

 

how diverse the beliefs and goals of different fraternities and sororities, the

 

commonality among them is the explicit mutual support for every member.

 

            However, despite the traditions that fraternities and sororities were

 

founded on public service and camaraderie, these organizations are well-known

 

for partying, excessive drinking, drug use, sexual aggression, and hazing.

 

Although these perceptions and accusations are not justified according to frat

 

members, studies reveal otherwise.

 

 

            In the United States, a 2002 report “A Call to Action: Changing the Culture

 

at U.S. Colleges” by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse reveals that

 

fraternities and sororities’ members drink more often in greater quantities than

 

other college students.

 

The Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study (CAS) found

 

out that 75 percent of fraternity members engaged in heavy drinking in compared

 

to 49 percent of non-fraternity members. While 62 percent of sorority members

 

drink more often than non-member female students.

 

            CAS also found out that excessive drinking takes toll on the academic

 

performance and social engagement of fraternity and sorority members. 50

 

percent of students living in a fraternity or sorority house perform poorly on a test

 

in compared to 25 percent of all students. 59 percent of fraternity and sorority

 

members had an argument or fight in compared to 35 percent of general college

 

population. While 70 percent missed a class as opposed to 33 percent of all

 

students. Alcohol-related consequences include vandalism, injuries, and verbal

 

assaults.

 

            Moreover, drug abuse is also connected with fraternities and sororities.

 

According to a 2004 article entitled “Non-Medical Use of Prescription Stimulants

 

among US College Students: Prevalence and Correlates from a National

 

Survey”, it found out that fraternity and sorority members are more likely to abuse

 

prescription stimulants and marijuana than other college students do. Alcohol

 

abuse, drug use and dangerous behaviors are more likely to develop inside the

 

brotherhood because the fraternities and sororities itself fosters this kind of

 

culture. Also, socialization and self-selection attributes in having these sinister

 

activities in connection with their affiliations.

 

            Fraternities and sororities are deeply rooted with the ideologies and

 

philosophies that would create a better world. Public service, chivalry and

 

camaraderie are the basic foundation of any brotherhood. However, due to

 

changing generations and bad influences of today, it became a den of malign

 

activities and dangerous behaviors that will eventually destroy the society they

 

once want to change for the better.

 

            What’s necessary for the founders of fraternities and sororities is to relive

 

their objectives and goals rather than being distracted by superficial things

 

created by peer pressure. Inter-fraternal activities that would initiate programs in

 

preventing drug and alcohol abuse would deem necessary in the degrading

 

perception of fraternities and sororities. Also, greater efforts in positive

 

contributions to the community such as sponsoring social events and volunteer

 

works would uplift the morale and image of brotherhoods that is more known for

 

notorious substance abuse and hazing initiations. Re-emphasizing the goals and

 

objectives of having a better community would restructure what is being a

 

member of a fraternity and sorority.

 

 

 

 

References:

 

Larimer, Mary, Predicting Drinking Behavior and Alcohol-Related Problems Among Fraternity and Sorority Members: Examining the Role of Descriptive and Injunctive Norms, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Caron, Sandra et. al., Article: Alcohol use among fraternity and sorority members: looking at change over time, March 2004, http://www.highbeam.com

Drapeau, Robert, Attitudes of undergraduate fraternity and non-fraternity males regarding acquaintance rape and sexual aggression, http://escholarship.bc.edu

Mathiasen, Robert, Moral Development in Fraternity Members: A Case Study, http://www.questia.com

   

 

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