Has Greek Life Turned Sour

   For my son, college is just around the corner. We've had many ups and downs, as my husband and I have experienced the frustrations of teenage angst. Through it all, I can say I am extremely proud of my son’s accomplishments. We speak to our son often in regards to how he should conduct himself and the type of person he plans to become.

   This past week I decided to talk to him about Greek life. I had to tread lightly because I know he has already established that he intends to pledge. Suffice it to say, the current portrayal of Greek life disturbs me greatly. Please understand that I am only speaking generally and not all of these observations will apply.

   When I was in college (clearing throat) way back in the 80's, there was a heavy presence of Greek life. Packs of red and white, pink and green, purple and gold, and blue and white roamed the campus with an abundance of confidence. They were the bells of the ball, the black and gold kings of the castle, envied by most and despised by others.

   I attended a sorority rush out of curiosity, as several sorority members were already friends of mine. During the meeting, I was educated on the history of the sorority and its true intent.

   According to StateUniversity.Com, the origins of Greek life date back to 1800's, where secret groups met at off-campus houses to offer opportunities for non-academic socializing. After gaining acceptance by college officials in the late 1800's, Greek life was officially established. Greeks on campus contributed to the college experience. But more importantly, they solved the colleges’ problem of limited housing, by offering to their members living accommodations at their privately owned fraternity houses.

   The perception of Greek life has changed drastically since the 1800's. I myself have heard the rumblings of pledges beaten with two-by-fours, forced to commit atrocious sexual acts, and humiliated publicly. Unfortunately these are the stories that make headline news, not the community service or the universal camaraderie. Just recently University of Mississippi was under fire when three students from Sigma Phi Epsilon (Alpha chapter) were expelled after hanging a noose around a statue of James Meredith, the first black student to enroll at the school. University of Mississippi handled this racially sensitive incident admirably, offering a $25,000 reward for their capture. Another fraternity member of Sigma Phi Epsilon met life threatening opposition when he decided to turn in his three frat brothers to the police. 

   Is this merely an image problem or is there actual cause for concern? What should we tell our kids when they decide to pledge?  I would love to know your thoughts on this subject.