Renee Shaktivel
Staff Writer
73 percent of students in fraternities or sororities have experienced some type of hazing during their affiliation, which is any action that recklessly endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student.
This can also be a practice that creates risk of injury, discomfort, embarrassment or harassment, which willfully destroys or removes public and private property for the purpose of initiation.
ISU sororities held open recruitment last week on Sept. 6, 7, and 8, a process that is typically spread out over a four-to-five-day period involving pledges, attending house tours, dressing to the nines, befriending current members and tests. But one tradition that isn’t featured at some ISU sororities is hazing.
“Idaho State Greek life prides itself on not hazing,” said Kayla Gunning, Panhellenic Council President. “It’s a matter of human decency. Hazing is not okay, never has been, never will be. Greek life is so much more than what you see on TV and movies.”
Stuck up partiers, binge-drinkers and hazers are common labels placed on frats and sororities. A Harvard study shows that 4 out of 5 Greek members are diagnosed binge drinkers, feeding the stereotype. Negative public opinion has skyrocketed due to the increase of accidents and deaths caused from parties and hazing within the associations. Some of these stereotypes have become highly exaggerated through cinema and television portrayals of Greek life.
“I always thought Greek life was like Legally Blonde, chapters getting shut down because of alcohol, hazing, and deaths,” Gunning said. “I had a very poor view on it because I only saw stereotypical things.”
Despite the dark connotations sororities are now known for, the associations began as an academic socialization.
Fraternities began as early as 1776 by a male college student that was rejected from two Latin secret societies. His desire to be a part of a group with friends drove him to begin his own social support becoming known as Philosophia Bios Kybernethes, the first fraternity. In order to continue in the pattern of secret societies, the members used only the first letter of the first word to talk about the group publicly. The group became known as Phi Beta Kappa. This tradition continued into the process of naming the modern-day Greek chapters in both fraternities and sororities.
Greek life on ISU, along with hundreds of other sororities throughout the U.S., are fighting to change these misconceptions. ISU chapters aim to strengthen the community and promote philanthropy, diversity and leadership. Several rules and regulations have been placed within the chapters constitutions in order to insure these uplifting behaviors.
Both social sororities here on campus, Sigma Sigma Sigma and Alpha XI Delta complete 8-15 hours of volunteer community service.
New and current members gain access to leadership roles, service opportunities, and networking. Studies have shown students who are members have higher grade point averages and career advancement than non-members.
“I really want to join one of the sororities,” said a freshman sorority pledge who chose to remain anonymous to not ruin her chances for getting into a group. “Being in a sorority is a tradition and honor in my family.”
