I figured I should write an article on the person wrapped in toilet paper and set afire because that is what college kids care about.
UK closed down a fraternity because some people got drunk and got an asinine idea — that has been top billing for the last five days. Online comments on the news story were full of exchanges between the current and former Greek members, swapping trash talk and stories about chest-beating barbaric societies where people go to fit in with one another.
I can see the wrath building in the eyes of the readers now and fraternity and sorority members are probably ready to wreak havoc on my head — but these organizations are a timeless faction of college life that do all this good service to the community.
It is these people who are picking up trash after football games, spending time with the disabled and raising money for all kinds of social causes.
My question is: would these same people not be doing the same things if they were not placed beneath the brand of these organizations? Is that what these societies are really about — good service, with a stress on academia, community work and good, clean fun?
From lot of angles it looks like these organizations are places where kids go to party, get drunk and feel popular. The service angle seems to be secondary to a lifestyle that creates social cliques for these weekend warrior fests of binge drinking and social debauchery.
When parents or officials come knocking after one of these incidents to reprimand someone, the first thing that comes spewing out is, “But we do this great work for the community,” like it is a get out of jail free card.
I am not naive to the fact that there are some organizations worse than others. I am sure it is true there are the good cliques that preach abstinence, and sobriety (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).
The horrible truth, though, is the whole does suffer from its parts. For all the people that belong to these groups, there is a population of people that don’t, that see the whole thing as a scam.
A group of people see these groups as a guaranteed way to find yourself circling the drain of worthlessness two years after entering a promising start to a now-defunct collegiate career; now wasting mommy and daddy’s money, reaffirming yourselves through a brethren of losers and sucking up good oxygen.
I know plenty of people who do these same kinds of good work in the community and do not belong to social cliques and don’t ask for a pat on the back for doing these deeds. These people do volunteer work without having to make a shield for it.
Just because you scoop up another man’s beer cans doesn’t mean you get a medal of honor.
With every major incident like the flammable mummy, there are many that go unreported and ignored. Whenever these things happen, each chapter comes out trying to play damage control. Everyone is able to disassociate themselves by knowing all the stories about the others.
Maybe UK President Lee Todd should make these organizations accountable for their knowledge more often. Either watch each other’s back earlier to prevent this kind of thing or punish the whole bunch of them.
When I read one girl post online that SAE stood for “Sexual Assault Expected,” I was floored. If that is the kind of thing that is known or speculated and not shared with someone of authority, then everyone needs to go.
Punishing the whole for the sum of the parts seems like the strategy most employed. Look at the proposed housing bill or the party plan in the same way. This would keep the same spirit with hopefully better results.
It sends a message to students that if you want to act like children, you can be treated like children. And if you go to a fraternity keg party, don’t squeeze the Charmin.
Austin Hill is an English senior. E-mail opinions@kykernel.com.
I’m going to be honest with you here, Austin, your article really sucks. In fact, this could be the worst I’ve read in a long time. Have fun being a GDI
So you are saying that only the Greek system has issues with drinking on UK’s campus. Maybe you should open your eyes and realize that is an issue across all individuals attending UK. It is a part of college life. Since you evidently live in a hole, maybe you should go out on a weekend sometime and poll the number of Greek people vs non Greek people who are partying on the weekend. I was once a Greek member and there are many individuals who were not a part of the organization just for partying. Before you start pointing fingers next time, why dont you actually do some research on your topic. The Greek Community reflects a lot of what the entire college population is doing as well .
I completely agree with your article. And of course if you poll Greek vs. Non Greek,the later will be higher because thier are many more people not part of the Greek system. ” The Greek Community reflects a lot of what the entire college population is doing as well.” Arent the Greeks supposed to stand for something better? If the rest of the college population was jumping off buildins would you too?
You are correct about one thing: fraternities do not exist to perform community service. Fraternities, in their current form, provide the opportunity for people with common interests to pool their money in an organized and enforceable manner to fund social events and develop a community within the Univerity. I joined a fraternity specifically for these reasons – not to pick up beer cans.
But here’s the kicker: fraternities provide a more efficient way of doing large community service projects and fund raising than what could be done without them. Think of activities like Greek Sing. What institutions within the University could replace this activity and raise half as much money? Do you think the alignment from the colleges could do it? Absolutely not.
As far as the “Sexual Assault Expected” saying goes, I think that is just complete horseshit. How many times has SAE been in trouble for ANY sexual assault related cases? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Well here is your answer, never.
If SAE is a bunch of rapists, then why do such a large number of girls still hang out with them? Is it because they hope to get roofied? No. Where the hell would anyone go about getting roofies anyways?
This article reflects decades of jealousy towards the Greek community. It always comes back to the saying “we don’t have to pay for our friends.” Well that is a just a crockpot full of shit if you ask me. We’re not paying for our friends dumbass, we’re paying to be apart of an organization that will provide us opportunities that well help better us for future endeavors. Of coarse I didn’t join a fraternity for the community service, but it definitely is a plus.
It is sad that non-Greeks have to be so bitter and jealous because they KNOW AS MUCH AS THEY WONT ADMIT IT, that they don’t have as much fun and that they wish they were involved in the Greek system.
GDI’s UNITE!
Why do members of the Greek Community always get angry when people try to hold open discussions with them? It seems like anytime I try to have an intelligent discussion with a Greek about the nature of the system they always use profanity and then resort to the old stand-by “You’re just jealous of us” argument. Shouldn’t fraternities be better preparing their members for the real world where they will be required to have open dialogues with a diverse group of people?
Austin, your ignorant. obviously you werent in a greek organization so you do not know the inner workings of any of them. and please name individual people clubs or groups that have raised a fraction of the money for charity that greeks raise on this campus. guess what you cant because there are none. And the comment about sexual assault expected….well if you didnt know that SAE has a reputation for actions such as that then you obviously know absolutely nothing about the greek organization, Everyone on this campus knows they have that reputation including the deans and to say otherwise is a flat out lie. oh, and its pitiful they let you write an article as inaccurate as this.
Why do members of the Greek community fail to use proper grammar, punctuation, or capitalization in their comments? Is it a misguided attempt to dumb themselves down?
I just wish all frats were Like Farm House and the Dames Like Phi Mu. I have seen so much positive Charity and Philanthropy from these local frats. Those ROTC boys and girls are up there also. If you read the national charter for these groups you will find the following words: ethics, morals, good conduct, etc..
Austin, Im glad a Kentucky fan punched you in the face.