COLLOQUY

THE QUESTION

RESPONSES

BACKGROUND

As an ex-Fraternity Consultant, I had the unique experience of traveling to over 70 college campuses. At EVERY SINGLE campus, some percentage of students drank alcohol. I also had the privilege of starting up a local chapter of my National Fraternity. Both experiences have given me a unique perspective on Greek Life.

Alcohol abuse is not a Fraternity/Sorority issue (Forgot about those didn't you!), it is not a University/College issue, and it is not an initiation issue. It is a societal issue. I highly doubt that the individuals that died from drinking had never drank alcohol before.

The blame lies in several areas.

1. Why do very few campuses provide social programs with or without alcohol, for students? With supervision, we would probably see a decrease in alcohol- related incidents.

2.Why do students need to seek out the comfort and "family" of a Greek Letter Organization?

a) There home life was terrible - divorce, mental and physical abuse, etc.

b) There are so many positive benefits that these organizations provide - study hours, positive peer support, emotional support, etc.

c) Easy access to drugs and alcohol.

I think maybe A & C.

3. Family values are nonexistent. I came from a background where alcohol was accepted, but not encouraged. My father, who is a physician, told me, "The problem isn't that you drink, or do drugs, or any particular habit. The problem is why you do them, or why you do them to excess." No matter how low your self esteem, or desire to be accepted, the human body is normally reluctant to engage in behavior that is self destructive.

If, you argue, that is why we should not allow these organizations to exist, because they encourage this behavior, you are not looking at the source of the issue. Feel free to come up with some more creative "Band-Aid" solutions, such as banning on campus alcohol possession. Students are allowed to go off campus, and now they have to drive home - Good one! Well, how about banning fraternities-after all they have no positive attributes? Well, a few million men and women might argue, some of whom are presidents of companies, entrepreneurs, and even a few have been Presidents of the U.S. What other load of crap suggestions have I heard?

Here is the answer: EDUCATION. Teach incoming freshman how to discover themselves. Have some mandatory mental-health programming. Preventing first semester freshmen from "rushing", or other immediate access to "distractions", as opposed to allowing them to get adjusted to the most radical change they have ever experienced in their lives! I am a tyrant, because I do include denying them access to joining clubs and athletic teams. Heresy, I admit. But look at the results: more, well-adjusted students can make better decisions. I am not talking about joining a fraternity here; I am talking about life decisions. Increased graduation rates, higher GPAs, better members of society.

I do digress somewhat, however. We need to look at one more aspect of society. Explain this one: "My son or daughter died. I don't care about sending someone to jail, I want some money. HELLO!? Take a long hard look at society. The fault isn't the schools (well, not really), the fault isn't the organizations that may have drinking as part of their day to day activities, the problem is with the parents' inability to nurture, educate, and teach their children how to be a human being and not a sheep. And, when all else fails, SUE! So they can have some money to go drown their sorrows? I don't get it.

I think that a University should sue the parents of students who have alcohol-related accidents, for failure to be caring human beings.

Finally, I wish to say one thing. I personally believe that sentient life is sacred, and that it is a damn shame that anyone has to die because of stupid, preventable reasons. But, we do need to stop blaming and suing others for our own inability to raise children. I am also in favor of sterilization of the majority of the population.

-- Anonymous (posted 11/6, 11:52 a.m., E.S.T.)

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