Greeks in for a major wake-up call
Many of the fraternities are getting the attention they deserve with recent hazing incidents. Every now and then these incidents are going to surface, but will a REAL change ever be made? Or does there even need to be a change?
My answer is yes.
Before I came to LSU, I saw a clearly defined line between blacks a whites (for the most part). In my home town, as in many others in Louisiana, it was generally accepted that blacks and whites were different.
However, at LSU it’s a different case. It’s either Greek or non-Greek. Without further explanation that statement is clearly supported by your own editiorial board.
In the Nov. 6 article “‘Hazing’ too broad” it was mentioned that “The Reveille” editorial board is made up of two Greeks and three non-Greeks, so we all see this issue from different perspectives.”
Why does it have to be Greek and “non-Greek?” Why can’t we “non-Greek” people just be termed “normal” (i.e. Greek and Normal)?
By this time it is apparent that I have a problem with fraternities. From watching their infantile fights and maulings in Tigerland, to counting “fallen Greeks,” to watching my Greek friends become alcoholics, and back to being forced to leave the third floor library study carrels because I can’t hear myself think over all the noise some of the fraternity “study halls” generate, I frankly am disgusted with them.
Also, in reference to the whole promote “brotherhood” thing … I have watched one of my best friends get slapped by one of his pledge “brothers.”
What did he pledge to do? Not hit one of his “brothers” unless he irritated him? I have another friend whose pledge “brothers” stole his textbooks and sold them back to the bookstore. I could go on.
Who am I to say anything? When I came to LSU, I spent time with three different fraternities. I was “what they were looking for” to all three.
Some took me to lunch. Some let me drink for free on their bar tabs. It was more as if they were selling the organization to me, rather than me selling myself to the organization.
Truth is, for the most part they don’t really care who you are. Just so long as you are faithful and obedient to the house which you pledge to.
Fraternities have been slowly sucking the life out of LSU and other universities in America for decades now. Instead of promoting individuality, they stump self-reliance and creativity.
Instead of developing studious members, they, night-by-night, exchange-by-exchange, are producing alcoholics.
In many cases they are attracting students to LSU because there are fraternities here, not the other way around.
Furthermore, most Greeks seperate themselves from the “non-Greek” student body, cutting out a huge margin of social interaction.
Is it the University’s right to police Greek activity? You’re damn right, it is.
Once again, the fraternities are here because of the university, not the other way around. … just the attitude I would expect from a greek.
Too long have fraternities gotten away with illegal practices. Too many times have myself and others had to seek late-night entertainment elsewhere because of “Greek Night” in Tigerland.
Too many students have died on part of fraternity irresponsibility. Too many people get seriously injured in the nightly post-bar fights.
These fights alone are subject for argument. If I had a dollar for every intra-fraternity fight, and a videotape of a couple to submit to COPS, I’d be living large right now.
If my income was solely based on the amount of times per night a significant fight occured after the bars emptied, I’d be broke.
And sadly, it all stems from insecurity. I could go on forever. Unfortunately, there is not enough ink or paper provided by student fees to cover all the malarchy set forth by fraternities. Yet one last thing:
The current “possibilty lingering in Greek minds” of Master Planners cracking down on them in hopes to “free up some space along the University Lake,” is simply a poor defense.
I would agree that if fraternities were making as good of use of that prime real-estate as, say, something else could, that it would be great if they stayed. However, if that motive has yet to cross the minds of Master Planners, it would not be all that bad if it does soon.
While in thought about writing this article, I was torn between remaining anonymous (perhaps for my life’s sake), or not.
I figured if I left my name, I might be sought out and abused, harassed or even hospitalized by one or all of the fraternities on campus.
It’s what I would expect although I hope these things don’t come to pass. Yet, even higher are my hopes that my article encourages Greeks to look within themselves, within their organizations and their actions, and see if the whole Greek thing’s positive aspects outweigh it’s negative ones.
In the meantime I am anxious to see what becomes of the current Greek situation. I predict we can all look to see serious reform in the coming years for the Greek system.
Spencer Drury
Sophomore
Finance