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Madison Schowalter

Dean Leonard

ENG 1201.509

18 July 2019

A Greek Machine

In just a few short weeks students across the country will pack up their cars and start a

new chapter of their lives. Some will move hours away from their secure home, while others will

go just around the block. College is the best four years of your life, they say. But what they don’t

say is how difficult it can be to put yourself out there, to find your group, to find your passion

and to make a difference. I found my friends and have started to make a difference on my

campus through a Greek letter organization, and so have

hundreds of thousands of students across the globe. But

recently, these Greek organization have been getting a bad

reputation. The hazing allegations have become more

prevalent and the binge drinking has reached

unprecedented rates. There are some people who believe

that abolishing these Greek organizations is the only way to

solve these tribulations on college campuses. But what

these people don’t realize is just how much these

organizations benefit the community and the campuses they

are in. Greek letter organizations need to stay prevalent on

college campuses because they provide thousands of hours

Fig. 1. Fraternity and Sorority Info-graph at Miami
in community service, millions of dollars in fundraising University for the 2017-2018 school year ("Fraternity
and Sorority Life").
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and donations, lifelong relationships, and opportunities to build character and become a leader of

the future.

Greek letter organizations have been around for hundreds of years, dating back to the

1700’s. Predecessors to Greek organizations included such secret societies as the Skull and Cross

Bone society and the Freemasons. These organizations develop leaders much in the same way

that today’s Greek organizations do. Strictly academic, these organizations were home to many

leaders of our country, ranging from secretaries of State to senators, representatives to supreme

court justices. In the beginning, fraternity and sororities weren’t the social scenes they are now,

but neither were the colleges. Universities were for the elite, and those who attended most

definitely were not there to party and make friends. With all the financial aid and loan

possibilities today, students from every economic background are now able to attend universities.

Nearly seventy percent of students who graduate from high school attend some form of higher

education. Most of these students attend college to start a new chapter of their life, to

experiment, and to get an education. There are many different ways that students can make this

experience their own. Some students choose to participate in sports or clubs, others connect in

academic dormitories, or religious groups. More than 400,000 students nationwide choose rush

into a Greek letter organization (The Riddle of Greek Life). Among the millions of students

attending universities, these thousands of students are a part of something bigger than their

campus and their organizations. Each year they are working together to make a difference in the

lives around.

A crucial part of attending a university and being successful is creating a network of

friends, faculty and staff that will allow one to connect beyond the walls of the campus. Because

there are so many people across the world attending prestigious universities, it can be hard to
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find a job directly after school, leaving some students in major debt with no real form of income

to pay it off. Lily Martis, Writer for Monster.com, speaks about the different ways that joining a

fraternity or sorority turns Potential New Members of Greek letter organizations to Potential

New Employees of the real world. She says the Greek system creates a vast networking system

beyond the chapter and university. Members of these organizations have a sense of loyalty to

brothers or sisters alike. In some cases, the mere affiliation with two or three letters from the

Greek alphabet have landed many people fine jobs because of the bond between brothers or

sisters. Not only do Greek Letter Organizations create a network, they also create a foundation

for students to become educated in the proper interview etiquette and further beyond the

interviews. “Greek life recruitment season primes you for social skills and emotional intelligence

that employers covet. Simply stated, you’ll figure out how to work a room” (Martis). From

learning to dress appropriately for different types of events and applying time management skills

needed in the work field, to allotting oneself a financial budget, Martis believes that these skills

can be acquired by rushing a fraternity or sorority.

College can be a very tough change for many students. Being far away from family and

hometown friends can really take a toll on students both physically and emotionally. Being alone

in a new place with academic challenges provides even more stress on incoming students. For

some it may be a walk in the park to socialize and find a group of quality, caring friends, while

also maintaining great grades. But for others it may be a dreadful task. Fraternity and sororities

open’s up many doorways to find your group of people. They are built on the backbone of family

and loyalty. With lifelong friendship in mind, members spend up to four years with their brothers

and sisters. Jillian Dara, author of “10 Ways Greek Life Prepares You for Real Life” speaks on

behalf of USA Today, saying that these students are exposed to different people of different
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cultures, social backgrounds, and religions in individual chapter house and their related brother

and sister chapters. Because of this exposure, Dara says, students have the opportunity to find a

home away from home, a family that is there through the highs and lows. Students need the

support of others while they navigate their college years and move into the working world. Being

part of an organization such as a fraternity or sorority help to facilitate these friendships and

create strong supports for students involved. Most fraternities and sororities have study sessions

and tutors available to help students with their academics as well. The connections do not stay

within the walls of the chapter house, many students from different organizations all come

together to help members of different fraternities and sororities, whether it be with a

philanthropy event, a chemistry test, or just a bad day. It is important that young adults have the

support and strong foundation to flourish in their years of college. And what better way to do that

than with a group so close they might as well be considered as family?

Philanthropy is a very important aspect in many people’s lives. Fraternities and sororities

have a foundation of serving. Every year each chapter house logs thousands of community

service hours. Lesley Brumfield, writer of “Do Good: Greek Letter Organizations and

Community Service” conducted a research survey on the number of hours completed by three

different Greek letter organizations on the University of Southern Mississippi’s campus:

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), North American Interfraternity Council (IFC), and

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). Brumfield found that “four percent [of NPHC members]

reported as having completed 6 to 10 hours per semester, eight percent completed 17 to 19 hours,

and eighty-eight percent reported as completing 20 hours or more.” “Twenty-six percent [of NPC

members] reported that they completed 1 to 5 hours of community service per semester. Thirty

percent reported as having completed 6 to 10 hours per semester, eight percent reported
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completing 11 to 13 hours per semester, eleven percent reported as completing 14 to 16 hours,

two percent completed 17 to 19 hours, and twenty percent reported as completing 20 hours or

more.” And “Fifteen percent [of IFC members] reported that they completed 1 to 5 hours of

community service per semester. Ten percent reported as having completed 6 to 10 hours per

semester, fifteen percent reported completing 11 to 13 hours per semester, two percent

completed 17 to 19 hours, and forty nine percent reported as completing 20 hours or more” (9-

11). These numbers only account for one university among the numerous that have Greek letter

organizations. “The Greek system is the largest network of volunteers in the US, with members

donating over 10 million hours of volunteer service each year” (Swoboda). If fraternities and

sororities were banned from universities, like many people believe should happen, what would

happen to the communities that need to be served? Would these hours still be completed?

Brumfield’s research suggests that many students plan to continue serving after they graduate,

but her research also said that many students didn’t find the passion of serving until they joined a

Greek letter organization (Brumfield).

Philanthropy has its own special meaning to each individual chapter. Most organizations

have a nationally acknowledged philanthropy, as well as a local, more personal philanthropy.

Alpha Chi Omega, for example, supports Domestic Violence Awareness both nationally and

locally. Delta Delta Delta helps raise money for St. Jude hospitals across the country. Sigma Chi

raises awareness for Huntsman Cancer. These listed here are just a few of the Greek chapters that

work beside these charity organization to make a change across the globe. Philanthropy events

include different competitions, percentage nights at local restaurants, fundraising opportunities,

and many more. Each spring at Alpha Chi Omega’s across the country (my sorority) an event

called “Walk A Mile” takes place. In the day-long event, many men from different fraternities
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compete in friendly activities, but

with a twist, every participating

man must compete in women’s

high heels. Not only does this

event raise thousands of dollars but

it also educates students about the

prevalence of sexual assault and

domestic violence that occurs far

Fig. 2 Students a UGA in high heels raising money and awareness for Domestic
Violence Awareness ("Walk A Mile"). too often. Different events are

hosted by different organizations to do just the same- have fun but make a difference.

These massive organizations do not run themselves. Countless students take part in

leadership roles in these organization. The experiences provided by these roles builds character

and develops a hard work ethic. I spoke to Kay Stoettner, former New Member Educator and

President of Alpha Chi Omega, at the University of Alabama. Coming from a small town outside

of Chicago, she had no idea what rushing a sorority meant for her. She knew she wanted to make

a change but didn’t know how to on a campus as large as University of Alabama’s. Stoettner got

her first executive leader position as a New Member Educator for Alpha Chi in 2016. “I spent the

first few months with the new members, trying to help them acclimate to the change they were

going through. I felt like a mom to 117 wonderful women. It wasn’t easy, but it challenged me. It

brought me joy to know I was making such a difference in their lives,” (Stoettner). Kay spoke

about how this leadership role got her foot in the door with many alumni who were still active in

the sorority and well as the new members who she mentored, “they had my back just as much as

I did,” she says.

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When Stoettner was elected president in 2017 she spent countless hours working with

faculty, community members and alumni to make her chapter a better place, and to help make a

difference in her community. She worked alongside other Greek affiliated students to create what

is now called the “Xanax Task Force.” In creating this, Stoettner imagined a board of students

who have been affected by the use and abuse of prescriptions drugs, specifically Xanax, to speak

out about it and try to fight this rising epidemic with knowledge and awareness, instead of blame

and bitterness. Stoettner says that without her community of sisters pushing her to make a

difference, she wouldn’t have become the leader she is today. Stoettner also spoke about how her

chapter had be awarded top grade among the sororities and fraternities for 28 semesters in a row,

maintaining a 3.68 GPA in the fall semester and a 3.69 in the spring semester of the 2018-2019

school year. She spoke on her opportunities as the president to work with different advisors with

the university and other executive leaders in the chapter to encourage members to use the

resources available in order to maintain excellent grades. Lastly, Stoettner told me about how her

involvement on campus and in the sorority house lead her to many opportunities off campus.

Because of her many leadership positions and connections, Stoettner was able to create a

network of faculty, staff, advisors, and alumni of Alpha Chi Omega. These connections landed

Stoettner many prestigious internships and job opportunities.

Greek organizations also seek to promote the well-being of its members. These programs

also impact fellow students they associate with on campus and the communities in general.

Numerous programs have been developed to address social issues and help student avoid

dangerous situations all too common on college campuses. These programs include drug and

alcohol education programs and sexual assault prevention programs. “Greek life is always

aiming to become more safe,” said Stein [president of the Interfraternity Council at IU]. “Over
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the years, we have installed multiple programming sessions for sober monitoring training,

alcohol/drug usage and sexual assault prevention that have greatly benefited the community”

(Swoboda). Many people see that fraternities and sororities are the reason for such epidemics,

but what most people don’t realize is that the students starting the prevention and awareness

campaigns are the Greek affiliated members.

Due to the tight knit nature of these organizations, sorority and fraternity members

develop a strong sense of commitment and loyalty to their chapters and to their institutions.

According to John Hechinger, Author of True Gentleman, alumni of Greek organizations “are

the most loyal donors to the universities, they made up 20% of students but account for 60% of

alumni donors” (The Riddle of Greek Life). This is very important because many universities

count on donations to keep the universities modern and running smoothly. Not only do these

donations affect the campuses but also in the lives of the people of the nearby communities.

These behaviors of generosity and loyalty are often carry forward into the personal and

professional lives of the Greek letter alumni beyond graduation and are traits employers actively

seek.

Because Greek life isn’t as interesting as the presidential debate, or who is being drafted

to the NBA, the positive influence of Greek life is often underreported. The headlines instead

focus on misleading stories that portray fraternities and sororities in a negative light. When

asking people who were not part of the Greek system in university what they think about the

Greeks, they will often talk about the binge drinking or hazing reports and allegations. They talk

about of the big parties and the ridiculously expensive houses. Zackary Swoboda, author of

“Greek Life Is Not the Typical Stereotypical Story You’ve Heard” talks about how Greek letter

organizations are only reported on when something bad happens. He says because of this, there
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is no time for the positive impacts to reach the surface of the media. Swoboda believes that,

although there are chapters that go to extremes with binge drinking and hazing, there are many

more chapters that do not fit under the umbrella of a “stereotypical fraternity/sorority.”

It is unfair to make the system as a whole pay the consequences for the actions of the

few chapters that partake in deadly hazing. Abolishing the system is not the answer. According

to Dr. Eric Brown, President of Penn State University, abolishing Greek letter organization will

lead to underground, secret organizations that the university will have no say over (The Riddle of

Greek Life). In The Riddle of Greek Life, he says if we don’t take enough precautions in

regulating the subject of matter it could lead to even bigger problems. “Underground societies,

that aren’t affiliated with the University, will make it harder to regulate and contain the problems

we are already having” says Dr. Brown (The Riddle of Greek Life). Putting an end to these

organization is not the right solution. It takes a team of educated, patient and stern leaders to

make the modifications needed to keep the Greek letter organizations in check and on the right

track to success.

There are many stories of the tragedies that have occurred. But what is often not shared

are the success stories, the hundreds of leaders around the world who once were in the same

shoes as their brothers and sisters today and have benefited greatly by being part of the Greek

system. Universities are doing their best to try and turn around the stigma of the Greek systems

in their schools. Dr. Barron believes pushing rush back to spring semester allows the students to

get a hold of their academics and find friends outside of their Greek chapter. He believes that

doing so helps students stand up for themselves and not tolerate the hazing because they no

longer rely on these organizations as much to find a place to fit in (The Riddle of Greek Life).

“Instead of trying to take down Greek life, consider the positives and focus on reforming the
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issues” (Swoboda). Dr. Barron is one of many who are taking small steps to reform, rather than

eradicate the Greek Letter Organizations.

College is a time full of experiments and experiences. Each year the rates of underage

drinking increase from years past. With fake ID’s becoming widespread, it is getting easier for

young adults to get alcohol and go to clubs and bars. Often, people talk about the fraternity

parties that go on in college campuses as wild and untamed. It is not secret that many universities

have been taken over by the party culture. Many people often look to place the blame on the

fraternity and sorority members for this increase, but it is not only them who partake in the

underage drinking. Teenagers often start experimenting with alcohol and drinking as early as

high school. College is a place where the party culture is naturally accepted by peers from every

corner of the campus.

Anna Fairle, William DeJong, John Stevenson, Andrea Lavigne, and Mark Wood

conducted an experiment to compare the drinking habits of the members within the Greek

community. They compared the leaders in the Greek community with the members not in

leadership positions. “A quantitative analysis of six fraternities at a southern U.S. university

found that (Greek) leaders consumed substantially less alcohol than other members. Focus

groups conducted to supplement the quantitative analysis suggested that leaders saw themselves

as positive role models who should behave responsibly” (Fairle et al. 1). It is clear that there is an

issue with binge drinking on college campuses, and there is no denying that most members of

Greek organizations are a part of the problem. But certain members are starting to rise together

to work towards a solution.

Greek life has been around for many years. It has changed the course of many students

lives, some for the worst, but most for the better. The impact that is has on the community, both
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locally and nationally is immeasurable. Yes, there are changes that need to be made, and they

need to be made soon, but bringing the system as a whole to an end would be disadvantageous.

Because of the Greek community, millions of dollars are donated to help fund cancer research

and support other important causes. Hundreds of students come together as one in times of need.

Students are learning leadership skills and work ethics and solving problems as a team.

Friendships are built and students get the support they need to thrive at the universities. This

system is more than the binge drinking. This system is more than the hazing. This system can be

made to change the world. Like a machine, each part of the Greek community works together to

create something exceptional. But when there is a fault in the parts, it takes a team to fix it. Yes,

this old machine needs some fixing. But this machine needs to stay active in the community so it

can continue to serve the people in their communities and around the world, create lasting

relationship, build character, and prepare our future leaders.

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Works Cited

Brumfield, Lesley. "Do Good: Greek Letter Organizations and Community Service." Honors

Thesis, University of Southern Mississippi, 11 May 2012, pp 4-24.

https://aquila.usm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=

1&article=1019&context=honors_theses. Accessed 27 June 2019.

Dara, Jillian. “10 Ways Greek Life Prepares You for Real Life.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite

Information Network, 21 Nov. 2014, www.usatoday.com/story/college/2014/11/21/10-

ways-greek-life-prepares-you-for-real-life/37398603/. Accessed 26 June 2019.

Fairlie, Anne M., DeJong, William, Stevenson, John F., Lavigne, Andrea M., Wood, Mark D.

“Fraternity and Sorority Leaders and Members: A Comparison of Alcohol Use, Attitudes,

and Policy Awareness.” American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Taylor & Francis,

1 July 2010, https://eds-a-

ebscohost.com.sinclair.ohionet.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=29&sid=9f5af51c-

3739-484b-8a34-b87c5e71fb9b%40pdc-v-sessmgr03. Accessed 19 June 2019.

“Fraternity and Sorority Life.” Miami University, https://miamioh.edu/student-life/fraternity-

sorority-life/facts-stats/index.html. Accessed 9 July 2019.

Martis, Lily. “5 Ways Rushing a Fraternity or Sorority Will Help You Land a Job.” Monster

Career Advice, www.monster.com/career-advice/article/rushing-fraternity-sorority-help-

you-land-job-0916. Accessed 22 June 2019.

“The Riddle of Greek Life.” Youtube, The New York Times Conference, 31 May 2018,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOG-exduhOw. Accessed 19 June 2019.

Stoettner, Kay. Personal Interview. 22 June 2019.

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Swoboda, Zackary. “Greek Life Is Not the Typical Stereotypical Story You’ve Heard.” Indiana

Daily Student, 31 May 2019, https://www.idsnews.com/article/2019/05/column-greek-

life-is-not-the-stereotypical-story-youve-heard. Accessed 27 June 2019.

“Walk a Mile.” University of Georgia, https://greeklife.uga.edu/content_page/ifc-philanthropy-

and-service. Accessed 12 July 2019.