I do not have personal experience with sororities or fraternities. All I know about them is what I have seen on TV/movies and the news, along with what I have read about them here on CC, good and bad.
I can see some positives with them, and can even imagine that my D might end up joining a sorority, given the right circumstances, but, in general, I don't really understand why a college would want them. Is it just because they see them as a popular draw?
It seems that a big push right now is diversity, in various ways, on campus, but aren't the Greek organizations designed as exclusionary? From what I understand, students basically tryout to gain acceptance into a sorority or fraternity. Some are invited and others rejected. That just seems to go against the ideals that so many colleges profess to hold.
The allure of joining an exclusive club sets students up for tolerating, and engaging in, behaviors they would otherwise never do. I know that doesn't happen in all cases. I'm saying the system makes it more possible.
The idea behind the family/community of the groups seems wonderful, but is there truly no better way to encourage that?
Rather than sororities and fraternities, some schools have groups that are formed based on the dorm, or the year, etc that a student is in...including all students, could colleges that currently have sororities and fraternities not choose to go this route instead? Does this really not create the same sense of community that people seek in sororities and fraternities?
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