[From: http://www.uiowa.edu/~rhetoric/student/jen-billy.htm]

In the grand, old tradition of higher learning the Greek system has been greatly revered and looked up upon. College fraternities and sororities were organizations whose true intentions were to have a fun time and help the community. Not that the community service is no longer present, but the Greek system has managed to rearrange their priorities. In fact fraternities and sororities are sometimes regarded as the scapegoat for many college problems. Even though the Greek scene can be a fun time there is unfortunately a down side. The Greek system is a catalyst for heavy drinking, higher number of rapes, and racism occurrences on college campuses across the country.

Since the days of prohibition to the discussions of a national drinking age, alcohol has always been a controversial issue. College campuses are known for their drinking, especially binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as five drinks in a single outing for a man and four drinks in a single outing for a female (Rosenberg 69). A Harvard University study published last year found that almost half of 17,000 students surveyed qualified as binge drinkers (Rosenberg 69). In this same survey Henry Weschler (author of the survey) found that an incredible 86 percent of fraternity house residents were binge drinkers (Rosenberg 69). Binge drinking has even accounted for student deaths. In the most recent cases an MIT student but also a Greek member passed out after taking 16 shots in an hour. His frat brothers carried him to their house basement where they noticed he wasn't breathing. Rescue workers were called but not early enough to save his life. Alcohol deaths like this occur from either the blood gets so thick from the alcohol that oxygen can't reach the brain or the victim chokes on his own vomit (Schroth 6). This tragedy came weeks after two former frat brothers from MIT had warned officials that fraternity drinking was at a dangerous level, which they even posted in a 50 page booklet on the internet (Rosenberg 69). Other cases involved a Louisiana State University pledge died after a night of binge drinking. In May a fire at North Carolina fraternity house took the lives of 5 students, 4 of which may have been to drunk to escape (Rosenberg 69). Abusive drinking has created a campus issue especially that it was reported from a Big Ten School that 70 to 80 percent of these students at Greek parties are underage (Chorley 1a). Any radical reform seems far from plausible. Fraternities must haze and binge drink in order to bond because they have no purpose except to bond with each other (Schroth 6). Heavy drinking is something that they can all do to bond together. One rare student, Andrew Cohn, talked about how is individuality was thrown out the door when he joined a frat. He quoted, "I put on my mask and joined the masses" (Schroth 7).

This ever-lasting bond has spurred other problems as well. The desire for male bonding, as indicated by the popularity of fraternities, can lead in combination with other factors to forced sexual acts. This theory was proven in a large mid-western university survey that quoted, "there was strong evidence uncovered that male peer support for victimization of women does exist (Schwartz and Nogrady 148). What was even more shocking was the conclusion that the men who are most likely to rape in college are fraternity pledges. The theory behind this claims that the pledges are trying to fit into the "frat mold" by doing whatever they can to be included in the bonding. This superior male bonding does have a direct affect with all forms of rape. Others have found an increased number of sexual crimes when there is heavy drinking involved, which is more likely to take place in the fraternity houses (Bohmer and Parrot 21). A lot of these crimes and tragedies don't even make it to the press. The New York Times (5/6/96) reported thousands of criminal offenses completely disappear in the campus justice systems of colleges and universities. They are covered up for the schools' reputation, which also then creates the idea of separate and special privileges for the Greek System (Bohmer and Parrot 24).

If abusive drinking and increasing sexual crimes are not bad enough frats and sororities are also at the center of another huge, national problem. Racism and prejudice is present all around the country, but even more so at the universities in our country (Barry 31). Isn't it ironic, that at the highest places of learning we are still not learning a simple lesson? Even though it was taught to us as early as kindergarten, shouldn't we have learned by now that we are all equal, American citizens? Almost every public university that has fraternities and sororities includes minority houses (Barry 31). There is no law to stop this but it all goes back to the "separate but equal" issue that was dealt with in our country over 50 years ago. This was when our country was still grappling with the idea of freedom and equality. The frats system only seems to support the idea, which leads to racial insults and racial fights all stemming from the Greek System (Schroth 6). How can the frat system be good for the community when it increases the intensity of racism around the area?

Not only does the increased prejudice hurt the community, but also does the rape occurrences and abusive drinking which have been proven to lead to other crimes and unnecessary injuries or even deaths. These are terrible consequences that come from the innocent goal of bonding. Obviously the Greek system has some very serious problem that need to be dealt with. Today's Greek System is not what it was intended to be when it started out. Better decisions need to be made by all college students regardless if are part of the Greek world or not. It's scary to think that all these immoral decisions are made from our nation's future.

Works Cited:

Barry, Don. "Whites frats racism peaks ire of blacks." Jet Feb. 1993; v83n16: page 31.

Bohmer, C. and Parrot, A. (1993). "Sexual assault on Campus." New York: Lexington, page 21.

Chorley, Kelly. "Greek react to new dry policy." (October 29, 1997).

Rosenberg, Debra. "Drinking and Dying." Newsweek Oct. 13, 1997; v130: page 69.

Schroth, Raymond. "Brotherhoods of Death." America Oct. 18, 1997; v177: page 67.

Schwartz, M. and Nogrady, C. (1996). "Sexual Aggression on Campus." Washington DC: Sage Publications Inc., Page 148.

Women Fight Back--from the Massachusetts Daily Collegian, 1997:

Increasing Rape Awareness


To the Editor:

The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, better known as Pike, was recently the subject of a number of flyers posted around campus and had its house vandalized on the same day. Neither the flyers or the graffiti spray painted on the house had good things to say about the fraternity, a fraternity with a less than positive reputation around UMass.

Both the flyers and graffiti were concerning two alleged rapes that occurred at the Pike house last March. Once these alleged rapes became known to the public, there was a protest on Haigis Mall followed by a march down fraternity row. This show of solidarity by the UMass community was both encouraging and effective - Pike promised to implement rape awareness programs.

But, a little over a year later, all seems to be forgotten, time heals all wounds, except for the wounds of the victims of this horrendous crime. But it was apparently not forgotten by some and they reminded the UMass community about it last week. This is why the graffiti and the flyers regarding the Pike fraternity were a useful and effective tool in combating a terrible crime that occurs far too frequently, especially in fraternities.

Although I do not advocate threatening to "slice" anyone, or threats in general (which these flyers did) I believe that the people who did this, most likely some group of radical feminists, got their point across. Coincidentally, this incident occurred toward the end of April, which is sexual assault awareness month.

A staggering number of rapes occur in the United States every year, approximately 600,000. In fact, the United States has the highest rape rate of all the countries in the world that publish such statistics. The rape rate in the U.S. is four times higher than in Germany, 14 times higher than in England, and an astounding 20 times higher than Japan. This says that American society has a very large problem when it comes to dealing with sexual violence.

College is a reflection of the society in which it is located. This is why problems that exist in American society, such as violence and racial tension, also exist here on the UMass campus. This is also why rape is such a large problem at UMass and other colleges and universities across the nation.

But rape seems especially rampant in Greek life. According to the Department of Justice Statistics Office, 93 percent of all reported university-related rapes that occurred between 1984-93, the aggressor was a male fraternity member. Even more alarming is the fact that more rapes occur on fraternity and sorority property than any other place in the United States, excluding military bases and prisons (not good company to be part of). Finally a woman is more likely to report being raped at, or after, a fraternity or sorority organized event where alcohol is present than outside, by a stranger in any urban area of the United States. I am not suggesting that Greek life encourages rape, because I am sure it does not. But there are an amazing amount of rapes that occur on Greek property. Moreover, the fact that the crime is so heinous and frequent, it reflects upon the whole fraternal system... Perhaps, it is this solidarity and common bonds which also perpetuate the rape problem in fraternities. Nor am I saying that the Greek system should be abolished, although I am not completely against the idea. But this would be punishing a vast number of students for the crimes of a few. Furthermore, eradicating the Greek system would only be [an] easy solution to a problem that has no easy solutions. Fraternities are attempting to remedy this problem by enacting rape awareness programs, but there is little evidence that these programs have any effect on the amount of rapes that occur.

I do not necessarily agree with the actions taken by the people who vandalized the Pike house and posted flyers around about the fraternity. But these acts are signs of people's growing frustration and anger about a crime that does not receive enough attention on campus, or in society. Actions such as these make the participants feel empowered against a system that does not seem to hear or care about their complaints. If remedies are not sought, these types of acts are only going to increase on campus and in society.

The fact of this matter is that this country has [an] enormous problem when dealing with violence toward women. This violence is projected in the media, movies and television and is [eventually] acted out in real life. Until we, as a country, can better realize what it is we are doing wrong, nothing will change and violent crimes such as rape will only continue. The only way that the university community and American society as a whole will overcome this problem is through increased discussion, awareness and responsibility.

Ken Tatro
Central

Shannon's Article

From http://www.sexualassault.virginia.edu/sapc-07-11-98.htm

Everyone had been working hard for months. Posters had been made, flyers handed out, and the quad was chalked. This whole week of events ranging from speakers to movies to an open mic evening was just one long kick-off for this night, April 24, 1998. The biggest Take Back the Night, [a march and speak out against sexualized violence,] Syracuse University has seen in years. I stood on the steps of Hendricks Chapel and watched as more and more people showed up to show their commitment to stop rape and their support for violence survivors. Over 400 people showed up that night, and more men and non-university students than in any previous years.

Inside Hendricks Chapel I listened to the speakers, but my eyes kept wandering, straying to the people packed in around me. The place was full, not a single pew was empty and many were crowded. We all roared in appreciation at the end of Kathleen Hannas' talk. Somehow, she managed to capture the hyperactive audience of soon-to-be marchers and weave all the pieces of the puzzle together to show the whole picture, the larger scale of sexualized violence of all forms within our culture.

Together we moved outside to march as a unified voice against this same sexualized violence that brought us all here tonight, stopping only to pick up posters to carry. The stack quickly diminished and was re-distributed among groups. I held one side of a poster while a friend held the other. A friend visiting from out of town stood on my other side. He had never seen this kind of gathering before, and stood amazed and appreciative of the enormous energy created as we began to form a line for the march. I linked my free arm with my poster companion and set off on the most powerful and moving adventure of my life.

I was towards the front of the march. I looked back and saw the streams and streams of people behind me. Police lined us in the front and back, with a few spread out in the middle of our movement. Many of us had to fight our personal battles against rape alone, but now we were together as a collective force demanding change. Together we chanted, voicing what had been in our hearts for years; "No more silence, no more violence," "SU unite, take back the night," and many others. So many people were marching, and our stream of people was so long, that often the front and back ends could chant different things and not get mixed up with each other.

Another chant used at the beginning of the march was "Hey, hey, ho, ho. Misogyny has got to go." This was replaced with "Hey, hey, ho, ho. This sexist shit has got to go" because it voiced the accumulated rage of the people there better. Little did any of us realize that misogyny, the hatred of women, would be our true battle that night.

The emotion of our group changed as we neared "frat row," the street filled with nothing but fraternity and sorority houses. We became a little uneasy, but this nervousness of their possible reactions did not stop us. Knowing that fraternities house more rapists than will ever be accused or formally charged, we only lifted our chins and looked the gawking brothers and sisters in the eyes as we passed. No one shirked from proudly proclaiming our War Against Sexualized Violence. We did not experience any problems until we reached one of the last houses on that street, the house belonging to the brothers of Alpha Tau Omega at 304 Walnut Place. Several brothers were out on the porch, playing loud music and drinking beer. The events that unfolded next changed me forever.

As the first wave of our marchers passed, they began shouting obscenities at us. Then one came off the porch to the street, pretending to join the march and then called us names and told us how we were just stupid b***hes. His brother cheered him on and followed his lead. Above our call to end the violence could be heard the brothers of ATO yelling comments such as, "Come on up here and have a beer with us, and well show you what a frat is really about" and "Why don't you come up here so we can f**k you?"

Several more of the brothers came down to the sidewalk next to us, shouting at us over their drinks. As more and more of us marched passed, and not a one of us backed down at their taunts, they became increasingly "brave." They began walking among us, laughing at those who carried the posters proclaiming survivorship.

One woman was carrying a sign that read she was the survivor of three rapes. Several brothers walked up to her and wondered out loud how she would survive a fourth. Others were invited in to get drunk and have sex with them. For several moments I stood, mute in the face of my worst fears, out right malevolence against people willing to fight for what is right. Yet this blatant display of misogyny did not stop us. Wave after wave of marchers passed, continuing their chanting and attempting to ignore the shouted ignorance and insensitivity of the ATO brothers.

Then came the ultimate act of anger and violence against women willing to speak out. A woman was attacked. She had done no chanting, nor she was marching in the throngs of people. She was there as a journalist, taking pictures for the newspaper where she worked. She set her camera down to change the batteries and was jumped by several of the ATO brothers. This same woman lost her job because she was attacked. The paper she worked for fired her because she was not "acting in her journalistic capacity at that point." This same paper gave no coverage of Take Back the Night, or any of the prior events of the week.

We were called every name possible to degrade us, to make us feel powerless and humiliated. The brothers of Alpha Tau Omega reached for every trick in the book to try and show us our place in their world. They wanted us to be ashamed for speaking out, but no one was. We had done nothing to them, except threaten their established safety and shelter from accusations and truths about themselves. They obviously had no respect for women, for their mothers and sisters and girlfriends, for they disrespected us without consideration of effects and consequences. They obviously did not believe that we had a right to be there, for they tried everything to get rid of us. These men, if I dare call them that, obviously do not feel the fact that four women are killed each day by husbands or boyfriends is not a concern of theirs. To them, the fact that one rape is reported every five minutes in the United States is not important or relevant.

"They have both directly and indirectly made themselves a part of the 1997 American Medical Association statistic showing that 35 percent of male college students admitted anonymously that they would rape if they knew they could get away with it," now graduate of Syracuse University Amy Sonnie wrote in a letter of complaint to Suzy Nelson, Director of Greek Life.

Fraternities were once seen as honorable and their members as leaders. This myth still holds too true in many minds across America. The members of ATO proved that the other reputation fraternities hold, that of being places of rape, hazing, and homophobia, is more true than the former. If fraternities such as Alpha Tau Omega are looked upon favorably, and its members considered leaders, what does this say about this city as well as this country?

It says that it is time for change. It reinforces the desire to be able to walk alone and not fear for safety and life. It says that something must be done to stop the violence that goes unrecognized daily, the usually silent, often violent aspect of society that approves of the systematic degradation of women through verbal harassment and implied threats, such as those shouted by the ATO brothers. This is the same aspect of society that refuses to acknowledge the active role all people must take to end the holocaust of womens' and girls' spirits and lives. To me, it also reinforces the disgust and distress that has been leaving its mark on my life since I was first raped five years ago, and the drive to eliminate it from others' lives.

This is easier said than done. For many, stepping forward and denouncing what has been ingrained as good and holy since conception is not a viable option. That is why those of us who can must take this opportunity to show our unwillingness to tolerate sexualized violence of any form, our unwillingness to be the pawns of oppression. The silent majority of those who desire change but have yet to speak must speak and act now.

Since it is summer not much can be actively done. ATO is officially suspended, meaning that they are not allowed to act as an official group. Yet they are allowed to wear their letters and have parties in their house. This suspension is not enough. A slap on the wrist will not change the fundamental lack of integrity that pervades this and many other institutions of patriarchy. The Feminist Collective of Syracuse University is calling for the fraternity of Alpha Tau Omega to be removed from campus, for ATO to have their national charter revoked and not returned.

When the fall semester begins again, there will be a rally. All of the fraternities and sororities of Syracuse University will be invited to speak out against this behavior and show their support and dedication to stopping it. There will be protests and demonstrations by the rest of the University and city community as well. All members of the area community are invited and encouraged to attend and to share their feelings and voice their concerns about having this kind of organization as a part of our city.

This behavior will no longer be tolerated, supported, or ignored by the Syracuse community. The concerned and caring members of this community will help see to that. I do not want to live in a world where the survivors of sexualized violence are laughed at and degraded. I do not want to pass that kind of world on to the next generation. It is up to us, right now, to end this behavior. I will not tolerate having the people I care about assaulted and harassed, raped and abused, or verbally tormented any longer.

The brothers of Alpha Tau Omega gave me one good thing that night. During the Speak Out after the march, I was able to tell my story and re-dedicate myself to ending the obvious and not-so-obvious violence against women that is present in today's world. I was shown exactly what the fate of people who rock the boat can be, how truly a violent world it is for those of us who want to change that world. It was on that night I realized the extent of hatred and violence against women and feminists, but I also learned the full extent of my own anger about the way society is run and how that anger can and will save my life, and hopefully many others