http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/05/05/frat-guys-gone-wild-whats-the-solution/teach-ethics-101-to-new-fraternity-members
The Article I read was part of a NY Times debate on "Should Colleges Ban Fraternitites?". There were a lot of articles, but I thought this one was the best of the bunch, because it did not just attack or defend the Fraternity life, but it gave both sides of the coin.
The article was focused on the sexism that is displayed by fraternity men, and if this sexist presence on campus deters from a woman's education. The author argues that while this can hurt an education, it is not strictly fraternity men that show this trait, but an all guy floor at a dorm, or a group of male spectators at a sporting event. The root of the problem is not fraternities, but it is really the groupthink that happens between a group of men, because of one bad egg or multiple bad eggs. A great quote to explain this is:
"By the time many young men arrive on a college campus, they are aimed to perpetuate the systemic sexism whether or not they know it, believe it, or acknowledge it. "
The reason why fraternities are being targeted with this is that a fraternity is a public organization that engages the student community and the overall university community. When something is done by one or a couple of their members, it is depicted to be the fraternity that has done something. The article also brings up the issue about Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity at Yale, which is covered very well in Caroline's blog.
She argues that banning fraternities will not fix this issue, but making a cultural change in the overall university community to prevent or educate people about this issue is the only way of fixing it.
MY REACTION
I thought the article was very good at pointing out an issue that was thought to be very fraternity centered, and made the arguement that it is more of a cultural problem, not a fraternity problem. The issue is the groupthink, and I can see it at my chapter sometimes too. We have to work hard to make sure that this kind of behavior is nipped at the bud, because if it is let go, then it just becomes commonplace in the fraternity.
Fraternities should not be banned because they really do great things and help many men find the brotherhood and networking they need to be successful. The problems with fraternity come about when someone joins and does not follow the values of the fraternity. If that person can convince you that they are a good person until they join, but perpetuate these non-fraternal values, you must tell that person that this is not what we want our fraternity to look like, because as a member of the fraternity, they are one of the many faces of your organization.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Being A Bystander.
Being a bystander is something that was a part of me when I was younger. I was skinny, shy, not very opinionated. I was the classic quiet mild mannered teenager. I can think of many times where I have been a bystander, but all those times, I feel like they pale in comparison to some of the examples I have read in other people's blogs. Some examples include watching my friends cheat on tests, hearing and watching people get bullied and demoralized. I have seen all these things. However, I really have no example of great importance to me. I am just thankful that I have never been a bystander in any of these situations.
I have been a bystander at my chapter meetings, which is the most recent and relevant example that I can think of. Often issues are discussed at meetings, and I used to be afraid to stand up for what I thought, until Winter Quarter. I really got invested in my chapter, and I realized that the best way to make the chapter better was to offer what I thought was the best solution, so that the whole chapter could hear all the sides of the issue. It has really helped me feel like this is my chapter, and I have done something to make it better.
This kind of investment is needed in the Greek Community, because to make it better, we had better be ready to make our voices heard and listen to others voices. Everyone has ideas, and the best way to get them out is to express them, and not wait for someone else to take the lead.
Now, check out this video for a cure to your bystander problems.
IGNITE!!!
I have been a bystander at my chapter meetings, which is the most recent and relevant example that I can think of. Often issues are discussed at meetings, and I used to be afraid to stand up for what I thought, until Winter Quarter. I really got invested in my chapter, and I realized that the best way to make the chapter better was to offer what I thought was the best solution, so that the whole chapter could hear all the sides of the issue. It has really helped me feel like this is my chapter, and I have done something to make it better.
This kind of investment is needed in the Greek Community, because to make it better, we had better be ready to make our voices heard and listen to others voices. Everyone has ideas, and the best way to get them out is to express them, and not wait for someone else to take the lead.
Now, check out this video for a cure to your bystander problems.
IGNITE!!!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Oath
Wikipedia defines an oath as:
"Oath is is either a statement of fact or a promise calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually God, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. To swear is to take an oath, to make a solemn vow."
The oath that I made to my fraternity is an oath that I don't take lightly. I realized that after class last week.
If my fraternity is to grow and prosper on this campus, I have to live my oath and make sure that my brothers do the same. I don't hold my brothers accountable enough sometimes, and that is something I intend to do better. To really make a difference in my fraternity, I have to make a difference in how I hold myself and others accountable. I also have to hold myself and others to a higher standard.
My oath needs to reevaluated, just to make sure that I am following it as I should. This oath will last a lifetime, so I must make sure that I am doing all I can to uphold it and make it a part of everyday.
"Oath is is either a statement of fact or a promise calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually God, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. To swear is to take an oath, to make a solemn vow."
The oath that I made to my fraternity is an oath that I don't take lightly. I realized that after class last week.
If my fraternity is to grow and prosper on this campus, I have to live my oath and make sure that my brothers do the same. I don't hold my brothers accountable enough sometimes, and that is something I intend to do better. To really make a difference in my fraternity, I have to make a difference in how I hold myself and others accountable. I also have to hold myself and others to a higher standard.
My oath needs to reevaluated, just to make sure that I am following it as I should. This oath will last a lifetime, so I must make sure that I am doing all I can to uphold it and make it a part of everyday.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Citizenship is all around us... I think.
Citizenship, as defined by the book, implies active engagement of the individual and the group in an effort to serve the community. A "citizen's mind" is a set of values and beliefs that connects an individual in a responsible manner to others.
I try to display citizenship in many ways as an individual in the Fraternity/Sorority Community. Whenever I hear that a chapter is having a philanthropic event, I always will try to head out and support the event. I make sure that I wear my letters when I go to these events to show that a fellow greek is coming out to support them.
My fraternity needs to do a better job of being a citizen of the Greek Community. We always will attempt to make a team for another fraternity/sorority athletic/philanthropic event, and we remind everyone at chapter about events that are happening during the week. We need to go out be outgoing in the Greek Community. We should be actively trying to meet more sororities and fraternities.
The Greek Community is also semi-active in the overall university community, mostly through moving OWL participants in and being around campus trying to get people to help with their philanthropies. I think that the Greek Community should be involved in planning/running more activities on campus. That way, more people would get to meet greeks and see that the stereotypes are mostly untrue. This change would also hopefully grow our community to the size that President E. Gordon Gee wants it to be.
I try to display citizenship in many ways as an individual in the Fraternity/Sorority Community. Whenever I hear that a chapter is having a philanthropic event, I always will try to head out and support the event. I make sure that I wear my letters when I go to these events to show that a fellow greek is coming out to support them.
My fraternity needs to do a better job of being a citizen of the Greek Community. We always will attempt to make a team for another fraternity/sorority athletic/philanthropic event, and we remind everyone at chapter about events that are happening during the week. We need to go out be outgoing in the Greek Community. We should be actively trying to meet more sororities and fraternities.
The Greek Community is also semi-active in the overall university community, mostly through moving OWL participants in and being around campus trying to get people to help with their philanthropies. I think that the Greek Community should be involved in planning/running more activities on campus. That way, more people would get to meet greeks and see that the stereotypes are mostly untrue. This change would also hopefully grow our community to the size that President E. Gordon Gee wants it to be.
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