March 1, 2007 - When many look at the Greek Community, students, faculty, and parents alike seem to want to align the community with a stigma that has haunted every sorority and fraternity since the debut of the movie Animal House: Alcohol.

When talking to many students about why they didn’t (or weren’t allowed to) join a fraternity or sorority, many said their parents did not want them exposed to the bawdy nature of fraternity men or the binge drinking.

One father was even quoted saying, “Fraternities are nothing but a big group of alcoholics.”

For years, we have tried to beat the stereotype. FIPG, the insurance carrier for all the fraternities on this campus has put regulations on all houses restricting the consumption of various types of alcohol.

Not only are fraternity houses not allowed to serve any kind of alcoholic beverage of any kind to non-members, there are also restrictions against kegs and hard alcohol.

True, these rules are not always followed, but most fraternities at least make an attempt at following the rules. They know that if a situation were to occur at their house and one or more of those rules were violated, then FIPG would not give them coverage.

On the sorority side, alcohol plays almost no part in any official event of each sorority. Both Zeta Tau Alpha and Alpha Delta Pi are both dry sororities.

True, the girls know how to have fun, but drinking is no more or no less a part of life than it would be for any non-Greek.

In reality, it is easier for a non-Greek to do many more things involving alcohol than any sorority or fraternity member.

Through my years in school, I have noticed the drinking occurring on campus was often worse than the drinking occurring at the house. Hard alcohol sits in dorm windows and kegs are snuck up the back stairs.

On a Saturday night, before even coming to the house, individuals will “pre-game” or drink in their rooms before they ever leave campus.

Within each chapter, sober does exist. There are individuals who are Greek and regardless still do not consume alcohol. Within the organizations, they are rarely chastised, but instead respected.

During pledging, alcohol is supposed to play NO part. It is actually considered first tier hazing, which is the highest and most severe level.

If a fraternity or sorority was caught forcing their pledges to drink or play drinking games, the punishment would be harsh, even if the pledge had participated willingly.

Following a series of probations and fines, the following semester the chapter would be forced to activate their new member instantly. This essentially means there would be no pledging period.

While I cannot deny that alcohol is present within Greek life, it is my feeling that it is no more present in the lives of Greek as non-Greeks.

Ashley Hodak