Greek Life and Peer Pressure - Essay Example

John Q. Doe English 344 8 May 2000 Greek Life and Peer Pressure (1st Introduction) In nature, red and black ants cannot tolerate one another. When a red ant crosses the path of a black ant, the two will fight to the death. Additionally, if red ants colonize an area, they will drive out all black ants and vice versa. This behavior insures the dominance of whichever species of ants colonizes the area. If one examines a college campus, this same type of behavior exists, and not just with ants. Greek fraternities and sororities use similar tactics to gain members, control territory, and exert influence on the college community.

(Alternate Introduction) College campuses nationwide are a social extension of high school. The students at university may be legal adults, but the same codes of behavior and belonging that dominated high school also dominate college. Just as in high school, the greatest social influence on the student is peer pressure. In high school, the student seeks a group to join that offers a sense of identity. This group usually sits together at lunch and engages in activities together outside of school.

In college, fraternities and sororities satisfy this need for belonging by providing a sense of identity and power to members. Fraternities and sororities gain members by creating an “us or them” mentality. They provide a means for a student to create an identity apart from the student body. Their membership is limited to a few students and creates a selective environment for the members. To join, a student must “rush.” Once the student has passed rush, the fraternity will decide to accept or reject the student.

If selected, this new member knows that he is part of a small group on the college campus. The fraternities and sororities maintain exclusivity by allowing only members to attend functions such as dances and parties. To nonmembers, it is clear that they are not welcome on the grounds of the fraternity or sorority. This method of gaining members and enforcing exclusivity creates tension on the college campus. Greek students do not interact with non-Greeks, and this effect means that the student body is not able to accomplish as much as it could if united.

Fraternities and sororities control territory on college campuses. Each Greek organization owns property bordering the campus. Additionally, Greeks hold many leadership positions on campus, and there is a part of student government devoted solely to Greek life. No other groups on campus have this level of power. Because leadership positions are elected, Greek organizations will vote in blocks to insure that their candidates gains office. Once in office, these Greek students promote the agendas of their fraternity or sorority.

This ownership of territory, both physical and political, is detrimental to the student body. The majority of students are not Greek. Legislation that favors Greek organizations is often not in the best interest of the student body. Land that the university could use to expand its academic endeavors is owned by Greeks and cannot be taken. Unfortunately, the power and influence of the fraternities and sororities are deeply entrenched, as most of these organizations have roots in the 1800s. For such small groups, the Greek organizations exert influence that extends to the student body and beyond.

On the college campus, most students feel that the life of fraternity or sorority member is the ideal college life. Additionally, the media and society members outside of college believe that the partying and drinking in which Greek students engage is representative of college students as a whole. However, the majority of college students are at school to get an education. Fraternities and sororities offer their members benefits that reach beyond the walls of the campus. Many prominent business leaders and government officials were in a Greek organization during their education.

Because of this, many of these people hire college graduates who participated in Greek life. The overall effect of this practice is that non-Greek graduates are at a disadvantage during job searches. Furthermore, Greek organizations charge dues of their members that are often above the financial capabilities of many students, so these hiring practices are discriminatory and harmful. Overall, the most harmful effect of Greek organizations is that they divide the student body. Students who cannot afford to join a fraternity or sorority or get rejected from one feel animosity toward the organizations.

Compound this with the fact that Greek students have an advantage in a tough job market and there is almost a level of hate between Greek and non-Greek. Most exclusive organizations have disappeared as they have realized that by being more inclusive they can have a greater impact, but the Greek organizations are still dominating college campuses. The only beneficial effects of Greek organizations are those that they provide for their members. Greek students have a place to belong and have an identity that they can assume.

The fraternity or sorority provides a physical place for the student that is kept undefiled from non-Greeks. It also provides guaranteed social events and dress that allows members to be easily identified by other Greeks. Members also have access to job connections and influence that most students do not.