Initiation Week

The end is near. 

With less than 2 weeks left in the semester, classes are winding down and students are preparing for the holidays. Greek life, however, is at its peak. 

For many fraternities and sororities, the end of the semester also means the end of pledging. Hundred of eager rushees have now been weeded out into a select few, the next generation of active fraternity brothers and sorority sisters are now ready for initiation. 

Initiation is perhaps one of the most heavily guarded traditions of the entire Greek system. Each sorority and fraternity has their own method, their own rituals for inducting pledges, followed to a T year after year. 

Generally, though, initiation begins as a week of heightened "hazing" followed by that inglorious moment when it's all over. 

"No matter how big of a hard-ass you are, initiation might bring a tear to your eye. You've survived the hardest semester of your life; you deserve to show a little emotion."

Initiation is one of the best feelings of your life. It's the moment you've been anticipating since the start. After you've been through hell and back, you are finally worthy of sportin' those awesome Greek letters on your chest. So a huge congratulations to everybody crossing over into active-hood this week! Welcome to best four years of your life. 

While initiation is very symbolic to fraternities and sororities alike, I would like to point out that there are significant differences in initiation week for girls and guys. While guys may endure some of the most brutal and demeaning adventures preceding induction into the brotherhood (as depicted in the video below), sororities often engage in a series of nurturing, sisterly bonding activities prior to induction into the sisterhood. Both achieve the same goal, but through starkly different routes. 

In a final hurrah, fraternities embrace everything that embodies masculinity--aggression, homophobia, independence, strength, etc--in order to test their pledges' loyalty to the brotherhood. Initiation week is often the time when fraternities are caught for illegal activities such as hazing. Pledges are inducted into the fraternity at the end of a very long week, when the entire house, pledges and actives alike, have reached the limits of their exhaustion.

In contrast, sororities cultivate femininity during initiation week, inspiring their pledges through gifts and candlelight ceremonies that reiterate the demure and gentle nature expected of women. Come initiation day, pledges are donned in all white, another reference to virginity and monogamy. As a symbol of purity, it is at this moment that sorority pledges are graciously inducted into active-hood by the swift switch of their pledge pin for an active pin. 

I guess differences in initiation can be attributed to the differences between men and women. Women achieve equal status with each other by proving their dedication in a more mental form, whereas men attain status over one another and prove loyalty through physical force. Women are less likely to view physical training as an integral part of the bonding that creates sisterhood; men are less likely to take mental symbolism as seriously.  

"Father blames UCLA fraternity for son's death"

Last Saturday an eighteen-year-old man was found dead on a mattress at the UCLA Theta Chi fraternity house. Authorities say the victim, Glen Berlin Parrish, was under the heavy influence of alcohol and prescription medications which was most likely the cause of his death. Parrish's father is now attempting to place blame on the Theta Chi fraternity for negligence.

UCLA Theta Chi Fraternity

While I send my condolences to the young man who's life was tragically cut short, there is a larger issue at hand. Headlines in the Los Angeles Times, NBC, and Fox 11 News, all read along the lines of "Father blames UCLA fraternity for son's death." In an all too familiar scenario, Greek life is yet again implicated with 100% of the blame for misconduct.

First of all, Glen Berlin Parrish was neither a student at UCLA nor was he involved or with a fraternity on any college campus. His body was merely found at Theta Chi, upon where his father claims Parrish was visiting a friend for the weekend.  Therefore, he has no affiliation with the Greek system; there should be no reason to attribute the cause of his death to influences of the fraternity.

Secondly, Parrish was 18-years-old, which, in all fifty states of America means he is no longer a minor. He is an adult; he can make his own decisions and take full-responsibility for his actions. If Parrish was drinking and using drugs, he was well aware of the risks and consequences.

A quote from the LA Times: "Parrish's father said his son 'was really looking forward to' the Friday night party at the fraternity house." Mr. Glen Berlin Parrish knew exactly what he was getting into when he walked into Theta Chi come Friday evening. Fraternity houses are not known for classy, sober fun and parent-approved activities. Of course drugs and alcohol would be present at a party, but I am almost positive no one was forcing these down Parrish's throat.

The father claims that Parrish's friends should have alerted the paramedics, that they shouldn't have allowed him to drink alcohol or take drugs, and that fraternities should "have someone walking around checking on people at night."

The issue with these claims is that people like Mr. Parrish senior are making it more difficult for students to contact the proper authorities when underage drinking and often illegal substances are present. If the fraternity men were to alert the paramedics every time someone got a little too drunk at their house, there would undoubtedly be consequences for the frat such as social probation or termination of their chapter charter. In most cases, the inebriated folks that pass out at the frat house wake up fine (granted a little hungover) the next morning. How are Parrish's friends, who were most likely also intoxicated in more ways than one, expected to know that their friend was in grave danger?

Drugs and alcohol are a part of the college scene whether or not a fraternity house is the social setting. If you plan to participate, you have to be responsible for your own actions. Simple as that.

It's an unfortunate situation that Glen Berlin Parrish passed away, but his actions can't really be blamed on the fraternity.

A Big Fat Greek Engagement

A new phase of life has recently dawned on me--I am reaching that point in my life where my high school classmates are starting to get married. It's a scary concept, really, because my perception of married couples is still the image of my parents and the baby boomer generation. Yet many of my Generation Y peers are diving into serious relationships and thinking seriously about marriage.

The concept of marriage got me thinking about love, romance, and relationships are perceived differently by men and women. Most women will have fantasized about  their perfect wedding years before they've even hit puberty; most men cannot even fathom the concept of marriage until they are involved in a very serious relationship.

This gender dichotomy is further demonstrated by one of the oldest traditions in the Greek system--the lavaliering ceremony (sometimes also referred to as pinning). In a typical lavaliering ceremony, a brother gives his fraternity's Greek letters to his girlfriend, thereby symbolizing his commitment to her. This ritual often occurs between couples who are in very serious relationships and about to be engaged, a pre-engagement rite of passage. Sororities have a similar tradition that couples the lavaliering ceremony called the candle passing ceremony; sisters of the sorority house gather together and pass a lit candle around in a circle until the engaged girl blows the flame out. 

For sorority women, an engagement announcement is one of the happiest events of the year. As soon as the chapter president announces a candlelight ceremony, the whole house erupts into an excited buzz trying to guess the lucky girl that is now one step closer to attaining her dream wedding. A quick glance at wedding message boards confirms the idea that women are generally excited to get lavaliered; as one woman puts it,

"My (now) FI lavaliered me the end of my senior year. We had been dating since my sophomore year and I watched countless sisters get candle passes (some from guys who they hadn't been dating for nearly as long as we were dating at the time...) and I was obviously happy for my sisters, but secretly SO jealous!"

Marriage and engagement is perhaps the epitome of traditional femininity. When a woman commits herself to a man, she is thereby committing to a monogamous relationship and taking a more dependent role that will allow her to enter domestic sphere.

The Black Engagement Coffin

Conversely when a fraternity house gets wind of a lavaliering ceremony, brothers of the house band together to mercilessly haze the poor fool who fell in love. Some fraternities deliver their brother to his girlfriends doorstep in a black coffin, symbolizing his social death, other fraternities kidnap their brother and tie him naked to a tree for all to see. In this particular video aptly titled the "consequences" of lavaliering, a brother is dragged and then pushed into a pool after lettering his girlfriend.

Whereas lavaliering is seen as an accomplishment for women, the ceremony is seen as a suicide for men. By committing to one girl, men are forgoing their masculinity and forever giving up their promiscuity and independence.

It's interesting to think that the same ceremony could produce such polarized responses from the different genders. Do you think you would respond in a similar way if your friends got engaged?

A Testament to Brotherhood (Continued)

People often claim that fraternity brothers are closer to each other than sorority sisters. While this statement may be subject to interpretation, there is a ton of evidence that can be presented in favor fraternities.

I've already made my case for the strength of Greek life as a whole, but its the enigma of fraternities that has captivated my interest this week. While girls naturally tend to socialize and cluster in groups, men are often expected to be independent and self-reliant. Masculinity is often defined by patriarchal, aggressive, and macho tendencies, yet fraternities, the very embodiment of traditional masculine roles, cultivate loyalty, selflessness, and supportive attitudes. Where and why did this paradigm originate?

I read a quote from "Inside Greek U" on a fraternity brother who described his experience in brotherhood as "...so much more. Friends don't have a commitment to each other; brothers do. I will be there for them, all of them, even brothers that I don't spend a lot of time with or even like that much. Friends don't think like that."

It's true. Fraternity brothers will support each other to no avail.

The strength of brotherhood, I believe, can be attributed to three concepts embodied by the fraternal system: (1) The family metaphor, (2) the importance of dependence, and (3) the pledging program.

The Marlboro man, stoic and independent

First and foremost, the idea of a family setting for Greek life allows males to take on more domestic, nurturing roles. As a pledge you are given a big brother who functions just like a traditional older sibling, giving advice and providing a shoulder to lean on when times get rough. As an active you are paired with little brothers; they take on roles that force them to be caring and compassionate instead of stoic and emotionless. As you progress through the Greek system, you acquire an entire family, a unit that supports you and one that you must support in return.

This brings us to the idea of interdependence. While its socially acceptable for women to express the need to be near their girlfriends, it is less acceptable for males to seek solace in others. Males are expected to be self-reliant; they are expected to be able to find their own way and pave their own paths from childhood to adulthood. The Greek system, however, provides a socially acceptable avenue for men to become interdependent. Fraternity men are allowed to open up to one another and share their qualms and experiences. As brothers let their guards down and become more comfortable, they develop a unique relationship with one another unlike any other same-sex relationship they would have ever experienced. The fraternity listserv serves just as it would in a sorority, giving members a safe space to gossip with one another and ultimately develop deep, emotional connections with the rest of the house members.

Most importantly, the idea of a pledging process unites all members of a class in a shared experience that nobody else could ever imagine. The same could be said for a sorority pledge-ship, however, hazing has, for the most part, been eliminated from the sorority program in recent years. Many pledge events encourage "self-disclosure and communicative vulnerability" that bind pledges closer to one another. In males this is especially important because it opens up an aspect of communication that was not previously available/acceptable for them. The pledging process, grueling and outrageous as it may be, forces unlikely people to band together against a common threat. For the rest of their lives, brothers will have a set of common memories to reflect back on, a time when they were united and shared an unparalleled and unforgettable closeness to one another.

Overall the fraternity system is able to provide men with the experiences and emotional connections that traditional masculine male roles lack. Every human being needs a certain amount of interdependence and emotional connection, yet most men will go through life learning to stifle this need. The traditionally feminine attributes of loyalty, selflessness, and support are repackaged and embedded into the fraternity system, a system traditionally typified as the embodiment of male masculinity.

This is why the fraternity system is so strong.

A Testament to Brotherhood and Sisterhood.

When people ask me why I joined a sorority, I tell them I joined for the sisterhood. As an incoming freshman, I wanted to find a group of girls I could trust, sisters that would stick by me through thick and thin.  

Greek life has been able to provide me with my home away from home. Though it isn’t always apparent, I truly believe that Greeks are able to form a bond that runs stronger and deeper than ordinary friendships.

This week I had to collect survey data for a research paper I am working on. Judging by the amount of survey spam that inundates my email and Facebook account, I did not expect survey data collection to come easy. To my surprise, within an hour of launching my survey I was able to get 50 immediate responses. 99% of these responses were from my Greek-affiliated friends.

Curious as to whether or not my other non-Greek friends would reciprocate the favor, I then proceeded to conduct a little experiment of my own, mass emailing a few of my classes to see if they would respond as quickly to my survey request. Within the hour, I had only 2 responses. No surprise considering these people hardly knew me. A double check of the survey stats that showed very few of my high school friends were willing to complete my survey.

My mini-experiment is only a microcosmic example of the extent to which brotherhood and sisterhood is valued within the Greek system. The Greek community is simply bonded to each other in ways that normal friends just are not.  The rituals and culture that are embedded in Greek life—pledging, families, houses—all contribute to the creation of a lasting connection that will continue past college.

In 2003, Lakoff and Johnson discovered than metaphors create and frame social reality. In this sense, being initiated into a fraternity or a sorority is like joining a family. You have big brothers, big sisters, little brothers, little sisters, pledge parents, and even grandparents. By framing the context of Greek life within a family metaphor, members develop a loyalty to each other that goes beyond surface level acquaintances. Just like the saying “blood runs thicker than water”, when push comes to shove, fraternity brothers will put their grievances aside and defend one another.

What makes the Greek system so strong and durable? Why is brotherhood or sisterhood so different from same-sex friendships? Answers to follow in next week’s post! 

Famous Greeks!

Babe Ruth, Frank Sinatra, Donald Trump, Brad Pitt, Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King, Jr.; Condoleezza Rice, Rosa Parks, Katie Couric, Kate Spade, Carrie Underwood.

Katie Couric, ΔΔΔ 

Carrie Underwood, ΣΣΣ 

What do all of these names have in common? Other than the fact that these men and women have each made a name for themselves in their respective fields, they have all pledged for Greek-lettered organizations.

76% of the U.S. senators, 71% of the men listed in Who’s Who in America, 85% of the Fortune 500 executives, 120 of the Forbes’ 500 CEOs, and 85% of the U.S. Supreme Court justices since 1910—all members of fraternities and sororities. If you think Greeks have a large presence in college, I think it suffices to say they also continue to dominate the real world outside of university.

Condoleezza Rice, AXΩ

I don’t know why, but when I first heard these statistics I was a little more than surprised. Maybe it’s because the Greek life stereotypes of partying, drinking and mayhem don’t exactly align with the ultra-poised persona of Condoleezza Rice, our national security advisor. When I think National Security Advisor I think prestige, power and control; “frat party” makes me think crazy, stupid, love.

Greeks have gained a reputation for being reckless and careless, yet somehow a large percentage of respectable men and women of today’s society have emerged from the very institution that inspired movies like Animal House, Accepted, and Revenge of the Nerds. Are Rosa Parks, MLK and Katie Couric mere exceptions to the larger Greek population that perpetuates the endless partying and booze? Or could it be that there is something about the Greek culture that evokes the leadership and confidence for Greek men and women to go on and become the forerunners of our society?

MLK, AΦA 

My opinion rests with the latter. One of the unique features of Greek life is that it places young adults into a world that, on a small scale, can be said to mimic real life. Pledging teaches new members the importance of collaboration and humility. The hierarchical system of pledges, actives, and cabinet members is much like the corporate ladder—everyone starts from the bottom and must earn their way to the top. Leadership positions within the Greek system require a large amount of responsibility and organizations; not only are chapter presidents constantly in contact with a myriad of university authorities, but they also must garner the patience to sit through the politics and dramatics that are inevitable within a group full of guys or girls.

Once initiated into the system, Greek members are bonded for life. This means that connections made in college will carry weight in the workforce; fellow members will undoubtedly preference their qualified “brothers” or “sisters” over a random applicant. Greek life builds a network of connections and support that continues well beyond college.

Fraternity and sorority culture has the ability to produce many determined, goal-oriented individuals, as evident in the numbers of influential Greeks that already exist. The traditions of the Greek system can definitely be geared toward shaping individuals into strong leaders of our society, but too often we focus our attention on the backdrop of booze and partying that can be attributed to any number of college-age students.

(Other notable men and women in the Greek system, if you’re curious.)

What About the Sororities?

The information that can be found on fraternities is astounding. There are numerous research studies and articles devoted to analyzing the actions of male Greeks; everything from the correlation between fraternities and alcohol consumption to the identity paradox of gay men in the Greek system has been explored extensively. Perhaps this is why I have spent the last couple of weeks posting primarily about such fraternities.

Discussing fraternal issues, however, only speaks for half of the Greek system. In order to fully understand the culture of Greek life we must include sororities, an equally puzzling enigma in their own right.  

Elle Woods, Legally Blonde

Sororities have gained the general stereotype for being superficial, catty clones. It doesn’t help that movies like The House Bunny, Legally Blonde, and Sydney White perpetuate the ideal that sorority women should look like Barbie dolls and gossip with one another 24/7.

I must admit I initially fell victim to the idea that sororities were purely about partying and drinking. When I rushed for my sorority, I definitely wasn’t joining because of the academic achievements and the number of philanthropy hours that the house boasted about. While my opinions of sororities have drastically changed with my involvement in a Greek-affiliated organization, sorority stereotypes have largely remained the same from an outsider’s perspective.

Kappa Phi Nu Sorority, Sydney White

For those of you who may still be skeptical on the benefits of the Greek system, here are a couple reasons why you may want to reconsider. The college section of USA Today has a blog devoted to Greek life, and has recently posted a string of articles related to sorority stereotypes.  

In “The Odyssey: What it truly means to be Greek”, Claire File of Chi Omega at Purdue University gives an intimate account of her experiences with the Greek system. At the beginning she notes that she had been having doubts about joining a sorority, until the tipping point when her mother passed away unexpectedly. In a raw, heartfelt essay, she describes how the Greeks at her school were able to come together to support her. People from different pledge classes, different houses, were able to set aside their trivial differences to offer their sympathy, sending dozens of bouquets and flowers to the funeral home. 

Claire goes on to describe how she was brought to tears by the fact that her entire pledge class made it down to her mother’s funeral. This really struck a chord with me. If, heaven forbid, my parents ever passed away, I know each and every one of my pledge sisters would be there to support me. Even if this happens 20 years down the line, I am confident that I am part of a sisterhood that will stand the test of time. 

“Sure, people may argue that we ‘pay for our friends,’ but if I simply ‘paid’ for a group of superficial friends, then no one would have showed up for my mother’s funeral.” 

I cannot agree more. The culture of partying and drinking is going to be present whether or not Greeks are involved, because that’s what happens when you put 18-24 year olds in an environment without adult supervision. However what sets Greeks apart from the college norm is the fact that we have fostered a strong and lasting bond with each other. 

Masculine Fraternities, Feminine Sororities.

Why do men and women use separate bathrooms? Why do we have “girls night out”, or boys only nights? Despite the obvious anatomical differences, are men and women really all that different?

Last week, I began reading a book titled “Inside Greek U” by Alan D. DeSantis which “explores the role played by fraternities and sororities in shaping the gender identities of its members.” If you’ve read my posts before, you know that this is the book I stumbled across while searching for my bookmarking soulmate; the treasure I picked up at Doheny Library as soon as I got the chance.

DeSantis opens his introductory chapter with a clear-cut goal in mind. He states “I want to critically and sympathetically examine the way these students [Greeks] are having their potential limited by a rigid gender classification system that insists that “real men” must be tough, unemotional, promiscuous, and violent and “nice girls” nurturing, passive, nonconfrontatational, and domestic.”

David Beckham, a "Real Man"

That got me thinking. Did the culture of fraternity and sorority life really reinforce gender stereotypes of traditional masculinity and femininity? What does being a “real man” or a “nice girl” even mean?

A real man is masculine, someone who stands up for what he believes in and commands attention when he walks into a room. Somebody like David Beckham. A nice girl is feminine, even-tempered and polite; Amanda Seyfried-like.

DeSantis says the words masculine and feminine are each composed of a set of 5 innate characteristics:

MASCULINE

1. Heterosexual Promiscuity

2. Toughness and Assertiveness

3. Imposing Physical Type

4. Relational Independence

5. Professional Orientation

FEMININE

1. Monogamy and Virginity

2. Nurturing and Caring

3. Petite Physical Type

4. Relational Interdependence

5. Domestic Orientation

As arcane as these definitions may be, I have no doubt that the traditions of Greek life have reinforced these gender roles of masculinity and femininity.

Take a traditional frat party, for example.

The lights are off, the music is loud and the house is filled with a constant flux of people.  Sorority girls are dancing with each other in scattered clusters all around the dance floor (exhibiting relational interdependence), while frat guys stand solo as they scan the room for cute girls. Much like a predator hunting for prey, the fraternity boy immediately starts heading in the direction of the lucky woman that catches his eye. For the most part, these are the girls who are thin as a chopstick with features as dainty as flower.

Approaching from behind, and often not even asking for her permission, he wraps his arms around her waist and begins to sway his hips to the rhythm of hers. The guy and the girl continue to dance and become more involved as the night wears on.  Wanting to take it another step further, the guy leads the girl into his room down the back hallway of the fraternity house. The girl, no doubt a lightweight drinker, is already too inebriated to care what is going on, and the two proceed to have sex.

The next morning, the girl walks out of the fraternity house doing the “walk of shame”, while the guy is congratulated for his conquest. For the next couple of days as word spreads, the frat guy is able to gain a better reputation, while the sorority girl earns the title of a “slut”.

A sorority girl should be classy and respectable. They are expected to be pretty and put-together, the elusive ladies that men want but can never have. Fraternity men on the other hand, are allowed to be carnal; they are allowed to be aggressive, engaging in many intramural and brotherhood athletics.  But who says that women absolutely have to have a slight frame and a domestic nature? It’s the fact that those are the types of girls that guys chase after. The fact that there is a group of guys and a group of girls, fraternities and sororities, respectively, that are perpetuating these gender roles. 

My Bookmarking Buddy.

Apparently there are not many people dedicating their life to research on college Greek life. After searching numerous social bookmarking sites and a plethora of resource databases, I came across only a handful of users who had bookmarked more than a couple sites on the topic.

Jreading was one such user, whom I found as I was browsing through article titles on citeulike.org. While Jreading was not quite the bookmarking maven I was hoping for, she had a collection of 28 sites dedicated to the issue of young adults entering college. One of her largest categories uses the tags “fraternity” “greekstudents” and “sorority”, which is where I was able to obtain a wealth of information on differences between students who were involved in Greek life compared to those who were not.

Most of the articles that were tagged were actually based on scientific research—study after study that analyzed the correlation between alcohol consumption and Greek life participation, the relationship between academic dishonesty in sorority women, sexual orientation with respect to fraternity life and so on. I was thrilled with Jreading’s findings because most of the articles I have found thus far have been anecdotal or circumstantial evidence. These articles, however, were peer-reviewed and published in academic journals, giving me a more concrete foundation for information on my topic.

Each site jreading has bookmarked is denoted with a short paragraph summary of the article’s contents, making it very easy to browse through her links and pinpoint exactly what I would be interested in reading and what is irrelevant.

One of the most interesting articles I came across was titled, “Gay and Greek: The Identity Paradox of Gay Fraternities”. The article chronicled the foundation of Delta Lambda Phi, a nation-wide Greek fraternity for gay men. Fraternities are based upon the traditions of brotherhood, family, acceptance and inclusion; college students and more importantly gay men are searching for their place in the world and a fraternity is a great place to foster community. With such a large LGBT community here at USC, I was surprised that we did not have a chapter chartered on campus.

On another note, I was disappointed to find that jreading was not linked to any groups or authors that could lead me beyond her site. Though she has been a member of citeulike.org since 2008, she has only bookmarked a total of 28 sites, which is a very minimal amount, and I am uncertain if she will be able to provide more information beyond what she already has flagged.

However, after power browsing through some of the links that jreading’s bookmarks referred to, I stumbled upon the crowning glory of my research—a book titled “Inside Greek U: Fraternities, Sororities, and the Pursuit of Pleasure, Power and Prestige” by Alan D.DeSantis. Though I could not find the text online, I was able to locate a hard copy at Doheny library. Reading the summary provided by the USC library database, I was immediately fascinated by the content this book might have to offer.

Gold.

 “DeSantis, himself once a member of a fraternity, shows the profoundly limited gender roles available to Greeks: “real men” are taught to be unemotional, sexually promiscuous, and violent; “nice girls,” to be nurturing, domestic and pure. These rigid formulations often lead to destructive attitudes and behaviors, such as eating disorders, date rape, sexual misconduct, and homophobia…” 

Not only does the author go into explicit detail on the psyche of Greek-lettered students, but he also relates his findings to the larger social backdrop and culture that stems from fraternities and sororities. This is everything I could have ever hoped for and more.  

Trio.

Hello, World!

The first Thursday night.

The row should be teeming with the party-goers milling about the sidewalk as they wander from one frat house to another.  Yet this Thursday, 28th street (aka the “Greek Row”) is noticeably quieter than previous years.

Pre-rush parties have been cancelled; open frat parties have been changed to closed door, invite-only kickbacks. Red cups still litter the gutters along the street, but the college party pandemonium that typically ensues during the first couple weeks of school here at USC is unmistakably subdued.

Perhaps we can point our fingers to the events of last spring, when the Kappa Sigma fraternity was set ablaze with controversy over a rooftop sex scandal and an inappropriate email. As a consequence of these events and the unwanted media attention it caused, USC placed the entire Greek community on a social probation and continues to keep a close eye on the happenings of every fraternity and sorority on campus.  Rules that were once overlooked are now resurfacing like zombies from the dead.

All eyes are turned to USC Greek life, and the spotlight has dredged up many issues that are bigger than just one fraternity chapter of one college campus. There are a plethora of negative connotations associated with sororities and fraternities—the most prominent being the process of pledging, the ritual of hazing, and the overconsumption of alcohol. 

Perhaps as a college student I have become more aware of the situation, but it seems as if more and more horror stories about the dangers of Greek life are appearing in national news headlines. We are hearing about people who have died as a result of hazing, people who have been sent to the hospital as the result of alcohol poisoning, and people who have been peer pressured into awful situations as the result of the culture that surrounds the Greek community. 

Though the most notable actions of fraternities and sororities as of late have generally been met with a controversy and mixed emotion, there are many other innocuous practices that shed light on a more positive aspect of sorority and fraternity life. Many of these traditions, which include lavaliering and pinning, have a deep-seated history and symbolism that I feel warrant more attention from the general public. Greek life definitely goes beyond just the infamous parties and mixers; it is a system that manages to cultivate loyalty that runs deeper than ordinary friendships.

While I am not a member of the Panhellenic or the Interfraternity Councils that occupy the largest presence of student Greek life, I am a member of a Greek organization and I am fascinated by the very idea of joining sororities and fraternities; I am interested in learning more about the logic and reasoning that create such a unique culture. What motivates a student to rush for a fraternity or sorority? What rationalizations make it okay for an older active to demand certain tasks from a younger pledge? What leads a campus like USC, where the students excel above average academically, to foster one of the most reputable Greek life systems in the country? 

Participating in the events of fraternity and sorority life is nothing new—it is a process that remains firmly rooted in its origin, a lifestyle that occupies millions of young adults throughout their undergraduate careers, and a system that somehow continues to perpetuate year after year. 

More and more blogs are beginning to dedicate themselves to the topic of college Greek life, shedding light on the processes of recruitment, pledging and even activeship. Some of the most notable blogs I came across lately include:

• WebGreek, which is dedicated to bringing the online community newsworthy information and fresh perspectives on controversial topics associated with going Greek.
• The Fraternity Advisor, a Dear Abby-esque blog aimed at providing advice to fraternity and sorority leaders.
• Greekopedia, an encyclopedia-based blog defining anything and everything pertaining to Greek life.

There must be a method to the madness, and over the course of the next 15 weeks, I am determined to find out just how and why the system prevails.

Pledging Sucks.

Photo Credit Joe Mulder via Facebook

“It's Not Hazing. It's Brotherhood.” That is the tagline of the blog justly titled PledgingSucks.com. Oh, the joys of being a pledge. 

Judging from the title of the blog, my initial reaction was hesitant. Was this blog going to document the day-to-day deeds of a fraternity pledge from rush week to initiation? Was it going to be a slew of depressing tirades from a bitter freshman?

However, after reading the first couple of posts, I found that the stories on PledgingSucks.com were not only shockingly hilarious, but also thoroughly amusing. The blog is monitored by an anonymous frat guy that goes by the name of “the Pledge Master”, but the stories he posts are submitted by fraternity ex-pledges all over the world.  Anybody can submit the story content, but most of the posts are rewritten to take the perspective of a superior pledge master looking down on his inferior pledges. What an interesting twist! Most of the stories I’ve heard about pledging have come from the perspective of the pledge, or somebody clearly against the issue.  

As if my interest was not already captivated with the idea of the Pledge Master as the author, PledgingSucks.com managed to shed light on the most fascinating topics, ranging from puke laden slip-n-slides to hosing down pledges in 30-degree weather.

The Pledge Master, who advocates for a pledging program within fraternities, ends most posts with a tough luck farewell to his audience, coining the phrase “It’s not hazing, it’s its brotherhood.” 

I was disappointed to find out that the Pledge Master only posts periodically; spurts of concentrated bi-weekly posts are followed by months of absence. But I guess that’s understandable for a blog that relies on outsider tip-offs.

While posts are somewhat inconsistent, this blog has managed to gain loyal audience following, with at least a couple of comments on each of its posts, and a Facebook fan page dedicated to its name.

One of the most interesting posts I uncovered was written on February 18 titled “14 Most Brutal Hazing Rituals”. I was taken aback by the first ritual described in the blog—Raped by a Sharpie. In graphic detail the Pledge Master described how, in 2002, a freshman was restrained and stripped naked while seven football players drew all over his butt. One of the players eventually went on to sexually assault the freshman by means of a Sharpie. Reading this post I could not even believe my eyes. Not only is this against the law, but this is cruelty in its purest form. I felt violated just reading it. Guy on guy sharpie action? Could it be that the idea of hazing has become normalized enough in the college social circles that sharpie rape seemed like a humorous prank rather than a demoralizing crime? It seems to me that retelling that story would garner more awkward silences and furrowed eyebrows rather than any form street cred or ego boost... 

On a lighter note, PledgingSucks.com also sheds light on fraternity stereotypes, such as “The Token Fat Pledge” posted on August 10. As the Pledge Master puts it, 

“The importance of such a pledge goes beyond words…The fat pledge is the guy whom every other pledge thinks to himself (or sometimes even says out loud)… “If he can do it, then fuck, so can I.” 

Though I haven’t really given this particular topic much thought, looking back on all of my friends who have pledged for fraternities, I can safely reaffirm this notion that there might exist a fat pledge in every class. Regardless of if its fall or spring semester, a large or small class, there is always one pledge that stands with a significantly wider base as compared to the rest of his pledge bros. And of course, the hefty pledge always provides renewed motivation for the class and the comic relief for the house. They’re easy to talk to but also easy to pick on. Let’s face it, the fat pledge really brings a sense of personality to the class the way no other skinny pledge ever could. I’ve seen it played out time and time again. 

As for the culture that might spawn the separation of fat and skinny pledges, I would consider it an issue of the heightened superficiality that manifests during rush week. While sorority and fraternity bid extensions are based on the personality and character of the rushees, houses still have pressure to maintain their social status, which unfortunately is largely based on physical attractiveness.

Overall this blog coincides with many of the topics I hope to cover over the course of my blogging. While it argues in favor of hazing to strengthen brotherhood, the Pledge Master writes almost satirically on the outlandish events that can only be explained by the culture of Greek Life. The colloquial style of writing lends itself to a more informal blog setting and creates a relatable and inviting atmosphere for readers, most of whom are college students or fraternity alumni. Since the topics of my blog will encompass many of these topics as well as more sorority oriented traditions, I hope I will be able to reach much of the same audience that PledgingSucks.com targets.

The Chapter Advisor.

Dave Normand, Phi Kappa Psi Alumnus

Most fraternity and sorority advisors tend to fade into the background, out of sight and out of mind from the general student population. This is understandable, since most of these advisors are 40+ years old and have long since detached themselves from the college social scene.

Some advisors, however, have decided make it their personal mission to utilize dispense their wisdom on members of the active house—sharing stories of way back when and including themselves in activities meant for 20-something-year-olds. Dave Normand, Phi Kappa Psi advisor at Louisiana State University, seems like one of these types.

After reading a couple of his blog posts on The Chapter Advisor, I’ve come up with a mantra for Dave: “No excuses. Play like a champion (Rule #76)”. In all of his posts, Dave presents himself as a no-nonsense type of guy—he presents an issue surrounding fraternity life, and immediately proceeds to tell us why it is a problem and how we should go about solving it. 

The first line of “An Idea That Doesn’t Hold Its Liquor” begins as “No matter what your opinion of the 21-year old drinking age, it’s clear that universities and national fraternities will no longer tolerate local chapters that facilitate underage drinking.” Wham bam thank you ma’am. Dave quickly establishes that he is going to be talking about underage drinking, bottom line being that it is illegal and thus wrong. Using words like “facilitate” and later “espouse” and “violate”, Phi Psi’s chapter advisor makes use of business-professional diction to show that he is educated and in a position of authority to tell us what is right and what is wrong. 

This sophisticated word choice is paired side-by-side with a snarky attitude, in which Dave effortlessly knocks down any possible rebuttal to his arguments as if they were bowling pins in a bumpered lane. 

He transitions from first to second paragraph with, “Still many chapter leaders espouse the idea that they can’t compete in social, rush or whatever the topic of excuse, without alcohol. Give me a break.” This sentence is loaded with personality and character. “Whatever” conveys a sassy tone that is typically used in conversations between young adults; I did not expect to find it within the vocabulary of a middle-aged man. Furthermore, the “give me a break” is another colloquialism that boldly commands the reader’s attention. Dave is not a fool, so don’t even try to feed him your web of excuses. He is not going to sugar coat the topic of underage drinking; it is what it is. 

Dave goes on in a reprimanding tone, using quotations to highlight the words “honorable” and “leaders” which he says are words to describe fraternity men. However, by placing these words in quotes, the Chapter Advisor cheapens the value and meaning of each word, as if he believes they are untrue. The quotations around these specific words not only highlight their significance against the rest of the text, but also alludes the fact that these words may not be used in the way that they should.

The remaining body of the post is composed of a long series of rhetorical questions, questioning the logic of fraternities whose programs include underage drinking. The questions read like a father reprimanding his son, demanding answers to questions that the son has no time to answer. Much like a father, a chapter advisor must look after the well-being of his fraternity, and thus it is fitting that the slew of questions establishes Dave’s position as a strict warden. The snark returns with the last line of the post, “Then again, maybe you’ve had too much to drink.” Sarcastic and witty, this comment eloquently ends the topic of discussion on a less serious note. 

The Chapter Advisor’s distinct voice follows through every post on the blog, but was exceptionally exaggerated in “Watch for Icing”. Like most of his titles, this title was pun-intended and attention grabbing from the start. The topic of discussion deals with a popular drinking game in 2010 known as “Icing”, in which fraternity members “ice” each other (forcing one another to chug bottles Smirnoff Ice). 

Snide comments are back in full swing, with Dave calling the icing game “the dumbest game ever” and stating that it is “clearly” a violation of the fraternal risk management policy. Once again, Dave manages to succinctly lay down the law and drop in his own sarcastic know-it –all opinion. Clearly. 

An interesting feature of this post in particular was the way that hyper linking was utilized. Instead of labeling links with the title of the page they linked to, Dave added the element of mystery by linking specific quotes. I found myself clicking just to find out what lay behind the link, and as a result ended up gaining a better understanding of the references The Chapter Advisor was trying to make.

The Chapter Advisor

All sororities and fraternities are required to have a chapter advisor in order to be considered a legitimate organization on campus. Most advisors tend to fade into the background, trying to stay out of sight and only appearing at formal chapter events or to sign off on necessary paperwork.

Dave Norman, Phi Kappa Psi Alumnus

Some advisors, however, have decided make it their personal mission to utilize dispense their wisdom on members of the active house—sharing stories of way back when and including themselves
in activities meant for 20-something-year-olds. Dave Norman, Phi Kappa Psi advisor at Louisiana State University, seems like one of these types.

No excuses. Play like a champion (Rule #76). In all of his posts on the Chapter Advisor, Dave presents an issue surrounding fraternity life, and immediately tells us why it is a problem and how we should go about solving it.

The first line of “An Idea That Doesn’t Hold Its Liquor” begins as “No matter what your opinion of the 21-year old drinking age, it’s clear that universities and national fraternities will no longer tolerate local chapters that facilitate underage drinking.” Wham, bam, thank you ma’am. Dave quickly establishes that he is going to be talking about underage drinking, bottom line being that it is illegal and thus wrong. Using words like “facilitate” and later “espouse” and “violate”, Phi Psi’s chapter advisor shows that he is educated and thus in a position of authority to tell us what is right and what is wrong.

This sophisticated diction is paired side-by-side with a no-nonsense snark, in which Dave effortlessly knocks down any possible rebuttal to his arguments.

“Still many chapter leaders espouse the idea that they can’t compete in social, rush or whatever the topic of excuse, without alcohol. Give me a break.” “Whatever” conveys a sassy tone that is typically used in conversations between young adults; I did not expect to find it within the vocabulary of a middle-aged man. Furthermore, the “give me a break” is another colloquialism that boldly commands the reader’s attention. He is not going to sugar coat the topic of underage drinking; it is what it is.

Dave goes on in a reprimanding tone, using quotations to highlight the words “honorable” and “leaders” which he says are words to describe fraternity men. However, by placing these words in quotes, the Chapter Advisor cheapens the value and meaning of each word, as if he believes they are untrue. The quotations around these specific words not only highlight their significance against the rest of the text, but also alludes the fact that these words may not be used in the way that they should.

The remaining body of the post is composed of a long series of rhetorical questions, questioning the logic of fraternities whose programs include underage drinking. The questions read like a father reprimanding his son, demanding answers to questions the son has no time to answer. Much like a father, a chapter advisor must look after the well-being of his fraternity, and thus it is fitting that the slews of questions establish Dave’s position as a strict warden. The snark returns with the last line of the post, “Then again, maybe you’ve had too much to drink.” Sarcastic and witty, this comment eloquently ends the topic of discussion on a less serious note.

"You've been iced, bro." by BroBible.com

The Chapter Advisor’s distinct voice follows through every post on the blog, but was exceptionally strong in “Watch for Icing”. Like most of his titles, this title was pun-intended and attention grabbing from the start. The topic of discussion deals with a popular drinking game in 2010 known as “Icing”, in which fraternity members “ice” each other (forcing one another to chug bottles Smirnoff Ice).

Snide comments are back in full swing, with Dave calling the icing game “the dumbest game ever” and stating that it is “clearly” a violation of the fraternal risk management policy. Once again, Dave manages to succinctly lay down the law and drop in his own sarcastic know-it –all opinion. Clearly.

An interesting feature of this post in particular is the way that linking was utilized. Instead of labeling links with the title of the page they linked to, Dave added the element of mystery by linking specific quotes. I was definitely intrigued and more prone to clicking, even if it was just to find out where on earth he was going to link me.

Pledging Sucks.

“It's Not Hazing. It's Brotherhood.”

Photo credit Joe Mulder via Facebook

That is the tagline of the blog justly titled PledgingSucks.com. Oh, the joys of being a pledge.

Judging from the title of the blog, I initially thought this was going to be a slew of very depressing posts written by a whiny pledge as he documented his journey from a rush week to initiation.

However, after reading the first couple of posts, I found that the stories on PledgingSucks.com were not only shockingly hilarious, but also thoroughly amusing. Who comes up with these ideas?! Never in a million years would I have dreamed up something as ridiculous as a puke laden slip-n-slide or hosing down pledges in 30-degree weather.

The "Pledge Master"

The blog actually is monitored by an anonymous frat guy that goes by the name of “the Pledge Master”, but the stories he posts are submitted by fraternity ex-pledges all over the world. Most of the posts were written from the perspective of the pledge master looking down upon his inferior pledges, ending most posts with a sense of tough luck and the coined phrase “It’s not hazing, it’s its brotherhood.”

The Pledge Master posts periodically in spurts of concentrated biweekly posts followed by months of absence. While posts are somewhat inconsistent, this blog has managed to gain loyal audience following, with at least a couple of comments on each of its posts, and a Facebook fan page dedicated to its name.

One of the most interesting posts I uncovered was written on February 18 titled “14 Most Brutal College Hazing Rituals”. I was taken aback by the first ritual described in the blog—Raped by a Sharpie. In graphic detail the Pledge Master described how, in 2002, a freshman was restrained and stripped naked while seven football players drew all over his butt. One of the players eventually went on to sexually assault the freshman by means of a Sharpie. Reading this post I could not even believe my eyes. Not only is this against the law, but this is cruelty in its purest form. I'm going to say this again: WHO THINKS OF THIS?! Whoever they are, these people are definitely evil geniuses. But moreover, how could anyone live with themselves if they had raped another guy via sharpie? It seems to me that retelling that story would garner awkward silences and furrowed eyebrows rather than any form street cred or ego boost...

On a lighter note, PledgingSucks.com also sheds light on fraternity stereotypes, such as “The Token Fat Pledge” posted on August 10. As the Pledge Master puts it,

“The importance of such a pledge goes beyond words…The fat pledge is the guy whom every other pledge thinks to himself (or sometimes even says out loud)… 'If he can do it, then fuck, so can I.'” 

Though I haven’t really given this particular topic much thought, looking back on all of my friends who have pledged for fraternities, I can safely reaffirm this notion that there exists a fat pledge in every class. Regardless of if its fall or spring semester, a large or small class, there is always one pledge that stands with a significantly wider base as compared to the rest of his pledge bros. And of course, the hefty pledge always provides renewed motivation for the class and the comic relief for the house. Let’s face it, the fat pledge really brings a sense of personality to the class the way no other skinny pledge ever could. I’ve seen it played out time and time again.

Overall this blog coincides with many of the topics I hope to cover over the course of my blogging. While it argues in favor of hazing to strengthen brotherhood, the Pledge Master writes almost satirically on the outlandish events that can only be explained by the culture of Greek Life. The colloquial style of writing lends itself to a more informal blog setting and creates a relatable and inviting atmosphere for readers, most of whom are college students or fraternity alumni. Since the topics of my blog will encompass many of these topics as well as more sorority oriented traditions, I hope I will be able to reach much of the same audience that PledgingSucks.com targets.

Hello, World!

Photo by Greg Ma

It’s 5:00pm on a Thursday afternoon and 28th street (aka the “Greek Row”) is noticeably quieter than previous years. 


While a few red cups still litter the gutters along the street, the college party pandemonium that typically ensues during the first couple weeks of school here at USC is unmistakably subdued. Perhaps we can point our fingers to last spring, when the Kappa Sigma fraternity was set ablaze with controversy over a rooftop sex scandal and an inappropriate email. As a consequence of these events and the unwanted media attention it caused, USC has placed the entire Greek community on a social probation and will continue to monitor the happenings of every fraternity and sorority on campus.

But the issue is much bigger than one fraternity chapter of one college campus. The social probation that has hit USC is the result of a culmination of negative buzz words often associated with sororities and fraternities—pledging, hazing, and alcohol—to name a few.

Maybe because I am a currently college student I have become more aware of the situation, but it seems as if more and more horror stories about the dangers of Greek life are beginning to surface in national news headlines. We are hearing about people who have died as a result of hazing, people who have been sent to the hospital as the result of alcohol poisoning, and people who have been peer pressured into awful situations as the result of the culture that surrounds the Greek community.

Though the most notable actions of fraternities and sororities as of late have generally been met with negative connotation, there are many other innocuous practices that can only be found within the distinct culture of sorority and fraternity life. Many of these traditions, which include lavaliering and pinning, have a deep-seated history and symbolism that I feel warrant more attention from the general public. Greek life definitely goes beyond just the infamous parties and mixers; the system really cultivates a loyalty that runs deeper than ordinary friendships.

While I am not a member of the larger councils of Panhellenic and IFC that dominate the Greek row, I am a member of a Greek organization and I am interested in learning more about the logic and reasoning that drive the whole operation; I want to take a closer look at both the positives and negatives that continue to perpetuate the Greek system. What motivates a student to rush for a fraternity or sorority? What rationalizations make it okay for an older active to demand certain tasks from a younger pledge? What leads a campus like USC, where the students excel above average academically, to foster one of the most reputable Greek life systems in the country? 


Participating in the events of fraternity and sorority life is nothing new—it is a process that remains firmly rooted in its origins, a lifestyle that attracts the attention of millions of young adults, and a system that somehow continues to persist year after year.


More and more blogs are beginning to dedicate themselves to the topic of college Greek life, shedding light on the processes of recruitment, pledging and even activeship. Some of the most notable blogs I came across lately include:

• WebGreek, which is dedicated to bringing the online community newsworthy information and fresh perspectives on controversial topics associated with going Greek.
• The Fraternity Advisor, a Dear Abby-esque blog aimed at providing advice to fraternity and sorority leaders.
• Greekopedia, an encyclopedia-based blog defining anything and everything pertaining to Greek life.

There must be a method to the madness of Greek life, and over the course of the next 15 weeks, I am determined to find out just that.