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User:Corsulian/North American fraternity and sorority system

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See also: Fraternity and Fraternal and service organizations

"College students have always shown a more or less marked tendency to form themselves into societies."

William Raimond Baird
Author, Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities[1]

The North American fraternity and sorority system is the collection of organizations that arose from collegiate secret societies in the United States. Today these organizations are numerous and can have various levels of social, charitable, and other purposes or goals. While the majority of these fraternities and sororities are collegiate in nature, they also exist in the secondary school system and elsewhere. The organizations, which can be singular entities or national groups with many chapters, are each called a "fraternity" or "sorority" (from the Latin words frater and soror, meaning "brother" and "sister" respectively).

Terminology edit

In the the North American fraternity and sorority system, the term "fraternities" generally refers to all-male or mixed-sex organizations. The female-only equivalent is usually called a "sorority," a word first used in 1874 at Gamma Phi Beta at Syracuse University. For the vast majority of female-only organizations, the term "sorority" is one of popular reference while the term "women's fraternity" is considered formal.

Greek Letters edit

The names of North American fraternities and sororities generally consist of two or three Greek letters, often abbreviating a Greek motto which may or may not be secret. For this reason, fraternities and sororities are known collectively as a Greek Community, Greek Life, or Greek Society and its members as Greeks. The use of Greek letters started with the first such organization, Phi Beta Kappa, which used Greek letters to hide their secret motto. Some exceptions include "Acacia", "FarmHouse", and "Triangle."

Individual Chapters edit

For organizations that have them, individual chapters are named by some convention. Some chapters are named with Greek letters in the order in which they were founded (Alpha, Beta, Gamma...). Some choose their own Greek letter combinations. Some chapters are named in reference to the educational institution or state in which they were founded (NY Theta). Some others may use ordinals to describe a chapter such as "Beta Deuteron" (BΔ). These conventions vary between organizations.[1]

Abbreviations edit

The word fraternity is sometimes shortened to "frat" which is alternately considered a term of convenience, endearment, or insult. The word sorority is sometimes, and much more rarely, shortened to "soror" and is generally used to refer to an individual member of an NPHC sorority.

Types of fraternities edit

The most recognizable form of a fraternity (or sorority) is the "social fraternity," which is an organization that emphasizes a strong and permanent bond of friendship (brotherhood or sisterhood) in addition to promoting charitable endeavors, professional advancement, and scholastic achievement. Other fraternities (often, and sometimes interchangeably, referred to as "professional," "service," or "academic" fraternities) are usually focused almost exclusively on one of these aspects. There are exceptions to these categories and organization chapters can vary between educational institutions.

Membership in a Greek organization may be restricted to, or historically consist of members of a certain race, religion, or national origin. Only gender exclusivity is legal and only then for social fraternities and sororities.

It is difficult to categorize many fraternities as specifically "social," "professional," etc. For example, it is usually social fraternities and sororities that are known to have chapter houses, a large close-knit membership, and many secret rituals. However, there are exceptions to the rule.

Scope edit

Many fraternities and sororities are national or international organizations with chapters at individual schools. Some fraternities and sororities are "local," do not belong to a national organization, and may consist of only one or several chapters.

The majority of chapters from any fraternity exist at one college or university. Some may exist at other levels of educational institutions including secondary school, technical schools, or some chapters may encompass a geographical area.

Often legally and nominally separate from these chapters are alumni or alumnae chapters. Alumni and alumnae chapters are more likely to be regional in scope.

Umbrella Organizations edit

Most organizations are members of one or more umbrella organizations that serve as governing bodies for certain policies and facilitate cooperation. It can be easier to categorize individual fraternities and sororities by their inclusion in these bodies than by any other title.

History and development edit

Main article: History of North American fraternities and sororities

Membership edit

Joining a fraternity or sorority edit

The process of joining a fraternity depends very much on what sort of organization the chapter is. Organizations belonging to large umbrella groups like the NPHC, NPC, NIC are often respresented on campus by umbrella groups such as an Interfraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic Council (NPC), or National Pan-Hellenic Conference (NPHC). While a common staple among campus student organizations, these groups vary between chapters and schools.

Joining a chapter may involve a formal recruitment period, a series of informational sessions, or a simple registration process. All fraternities and sororities have an initiation process to indicate membership. The period prior to initiation (sometimes referred to as a "new member period" or "pledge period") may be brief and nominal or lengthy and filled with elaborate requirements and events. Many groups have requirements for membership that may include a minimum grade point average.

Formal and structured recruitment periods are common for NIC and NPC organizations. Sometimes, a Continuous Open Bidding or Recruitment (COB or COR) process will be in place during which time organizations are welcome to "bid" unaffiliated men and women. A bid for membership is an invitation to become a new member and can, in some cases, become a legally binding document. The unaffiliated men and women are free to accept or pass on a bid.

Some organizations have less publicized recruitment procedures or may focus more on general information sessions than on the frequent social interaction emphasized in NIC and NPC groups. Academic and professional fraternities more commonly utilize an application process without any new member period.

Membership termination edit

The causes for and effects of membership termination vary between organizations and even chapters. The termination of a new member, or uninitiated member, of an organization is generally a simple process and the decision for it may be mutual or one-sided. Termination of an initiated member can be the result of financial delinquency, a violation of rules, or may be voluntary although some organizations do not accept voluntary membership termination.[2]

Member benefits edit

A major benefit of the fraternity and sorority system is the membership network gained access to. Membership in one of the nine NPHC organizations, for example, provides access to over 1.5 million alumni.[3] As of 2004, membership from NPC organizations totaled around 3.5 million.[4]

Benefits may also include honorable recognition, greatly enhanced social networks, access to certain financial scholarships, participation in various events, and more.

Traditions edit

Fraternity and sorority housing edit

Main article: North American fraternity and sorority housing

Fraternity and sorority housing can vary widely between campuses. On some campuses, clusters of fraternity and sorority housing are referred to as "Greek row" or a "Greek village." A term for a fraternity house which may be considered a pejorative by some is "frat house."

Rituals and symbols edit

Most fraternities and sororities today maintain traditions which are generally symbolic in nature and closely guarded secrets, calling it their Rituals. They include an initiation ceremony but may also include passwords, songs, handshakes, and more. Meetings of active members may be secret and not to be discussed without the formal approval of the chapter as a whole.

"In the earlier days when the 'college secret societies' were tabooed, the undergraduate members wore no pins or concealed them. Now these are worn constantly over the members' hearts."

Clarence Frank Birdseye
Individual Training in Our Colleges[5]

Fraternities and sororities often have a number of symbols by which they are identified, such as colors or flowers, in addition to a badge (or pin), crest, and/or seal. An open motto (indicating that the organization has a "secret motto" as well) is used to express the unique ideals of a fraternity or sorority.

The use of symbols and rituals is mostly borrowed from their original use in Phi Beta Kappa and the fraternities that followed.

Accessories edit

While they were originally very secretive about their membership, fraternity and sorority members now often proudly display their affiliation in many ways. Shirts with large block Greek letters, necklaces (lavalieres), handbags, and even tattoos can be common sights on some college campuses.

Events edit

Events vary between organizations and institutions, but many campuses have familiar events thrown by certain groups.

Greek Week edit

A common series of events on many college campuses is referred to as "Greek Week." Most, primarily social, fraternities and sororities get involved with events ranging from barbecues, athletic competitions, fundraising competitions, song and dance shows, and more.

NIC & NPC edit

Comprising most of the oldest fraternities and sororities, members of the NIC and NPC umbrella organizations have events common on many campuses. One of the most well-known events is the "mixer." This event is commonly held between a men's fraternity and a women's fraternity and may consist of community service or a party. The emphasis is on social interaction and these events face varying levels of scrutiny and regulation.

NPHC edit

A well-known event on campuses with NPHC organizations (and cultural-based fraternities) is the "step show."

Programs edit

Philanthropy edit

 
Fraternity members sell raffle tickets and collect money for philanthropy

Philanthropy events are more personal and supported by all active members. Their semester dues go towards a good cause. The Delta Delta Delta sorority helps raise money to help support St. Jude’s hospital for children with leukemia. One of the classic events held by Tri-Delta is "D-HOP" (Delta House Of Pancakes). The girls have all-you-can-eat pancakes with a purchase of a ticket. The Pi Beta Phi sorority focuses on reading for children. They spend time reading to them and raising money to purchase books for lower class families. The Kappa Alpha Theta sorority volunteer and are trained community of citizens who are appointed by a judge to speak up for abused and neglected children in court. As volunteers they research the child's background details to help the court make a sound decision about the child's future. All sororities have some sort of community service they do to help less fortune children and adults, or raise money for health care.

Academics edit

Criticism and legal issues edit

Fraternities and sororities have been criticized for many reasons since their inception. Specific criticism varies in form and accuracy.

Hazing edit

"You have insecure 18- to 21-year-olds who are trying to prove their manhood, how tough they are."

Lawrence C. Ross Jr.
Author of The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities[3]

The act of Hazing in a college setting can be traced back over a thousand years. German and British freshmen at universities were hazed throughout the 1700s. Hazing against students at Harvard is documented as early as 1657. Freshman hazing continued as fraternities formed in the United States.[6]

Hazing became widespread after World War I, with soldiers re-entering colleges, they brought with them the discipline and strict responses to authority they learned in boot camp. Hazing began to be officially banned at the national and international levels of fraternities and sororities, is against many colleges' Greek Codes, and is illegal in most U.S. states.[7][8] The North-American Interfraternity Conference also requires anti-hazing education for members, as do many Greek organizations and universities. Hazing can result in the revocation of the local chapter's charter, and expulsion of members from the national organization or university.

Substance Abuse edit

Some fraternity chapters have banned alcohol in their official chapter houses and have found these practices can raise morale and improve recruitment.[9]

"Alcohol is the No. 1 issue on every college campus I've been on. [But] it isn't just the No. 1 issue in fraternities and sororities. It's the number one issue for all students."

John Williamson
Former executive VP of the NIC[10]

Sexual Misconduct edit

Social fraternity chapters are under particular scrutiny on the topic of sexual misconduct and rape. While rape on college campuses is not limited to fraternities or even American campuses, there are many incidents of rape occurring in North American fraternity chapter houses. In Fraternity Gang Rape: Sex, Brotherhood, and Privilege on Campus, Peggy Reeves Sanday notes that there are fraternity chapters with a complete lack of respect for women and chapters in which women can feel quite safe.[11]

Exclusion and discrimination edit

One criticism of of social fraternities and sororities is that they select their own membership and so, by their very nature, they exclude certain people. This is an unusual practice today given that many chapters are recognized student organizations. Exclusions may be warranted but there has also been a history of chapters excluding members from others based on ethnic background, religion, political inclinations, sexual orientation[12], and physical appearance. Prejudice has declined in organizations over time and attitudes have evolved alongside cultural changes such as the Civil Rights Movement, but issues still remain. While they may overlap, exclusivity and discrimination are largely separate criticisms of the North American fraternity and sorority system.

Alumni & professional involvement edit

For many organizations and individual chapters, alumni are closely involved in advising the undergraduate membership. Alumni are also known to provide financial support and provide a large career advancement network. Alumni members of chapters have also been known to create alumni chapters that may be only for the alumni of a particular undergraduate chapter or may represent a geographic area. These alumni chapters may pool resources to purchase real estate property for the undergraduates. In addition to involvement in their own organizations, fraternity and sorority alumni or alumnae may be involved in other groups or may be professionally employed in a fraternity and sorority advising career.

Similar organizations outside North America edit

Further information: List of fraternities and sororities in the Philippines, Studentenverbindung, and House system

Outside North America, organizations similar to Greek letter fraternities and sororities exist. The similarities vary between countries and cultures. Some of these include the House system of the United Kingdom or the Studentenverbindung in Germany. There are many Greek letter student societies in the Philippines but these are rarely affiliated with North American organizations.

Additionally, some North American fraternities and sororities have colonies outside of North America.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Baird, William Raimond (1879), Baird's Manual of American College Fraternites (1st ed.), Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & co., LCCN 07019131, retrieved 2008-06-17
  2. ^ Phi Sigma Kappa (2007). The Constitution and Bylaws of the Grand Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa (PDF). Self-Published.
  3. ^ a b Thrash, Rodney (September 2), "Fraternizing With The Enemy", St. Petersburg Times, pp. 1E {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  4. ^ Robbins, Alexandra (2004), Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities, New York: Hyperion, p. 324, ISBN 1401300464, retrieved 2008-06-26
  5. ^ Birdseye, Clarence Frank (1907), Individual Training in Our Colleges, New York: The McMillan Company, p. 309, retrieved 2008-06-20
  6. ^ Kimbrough, Walter M. (2003), Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs, and Challenges of Black Fraternities, New York: Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, p. 39, ISBN 0838639771, retrieved 2008-06-26
  7. ^ University of Michigan, The University Record Online, September 27 2004, Campaign: See Through the Haze, by Laurel Thomas Gnagey (retrieved July 25 2006)
  8. ^ StopHazing.org, State Anti-Hazing Laws (retrieved July 25 2006)
  9. ^ Marklein, Mary Beth (October 22), "Can dry fraternities survive on campus?", USA Today, pp. 1D {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  10. ^ Marklein, Mary Beth (February 28), "Binge drinking's campus toll", USA Today, pp. 8D {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  11. ^ Sanday, Peggy reeves (2007), Fraternity Gang Rape: Sex, Brotherhood, and Privilege on Campus (2nd ed.), New York: NYU Press, retrieved 2008-06-26
  12. ^ DeSantis, Alan D. (2007), Inside Greek U.: Fraternities, Sororities, and the Pursuit of Pleasure, University Press of Kentucky, p. 33, retrieved 2008-06-26

See also edit

External links edit

 
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