With universities around the country beginning their fall semester, that means rush week for the Greek system is right around the corner. Thousands of students will be sought after to join an organization which has the potential to change someone’s life. With the recent incident of Alabama’s Alpha Phi chapter’s “controversial” rush video, and many other negative press instances surrounding the Greek system, writing an article like this seems timely. American pop culture and the media love making fun of, stereotyping, disrespecting, and tearing down the Greek system. Often, members of Greek organizations are the ones to blame for the negative press that is usually surrounding them. Whether it be hazing, sexual violence, or binge-drinking, these and other negative circumstances are unequivocally linked to Greek organizations because of the tendency for fraternity and sorority members to commit these acts. But I'm sure not every Greek organization is like this, right? Well, according to pop culture and the news media, there are no positive stories about Greek organizations. I've never seen one from either. Are there any real life stories that show Greek organizations in a positive light? Are there any stories of the organization changing someone’s life for the better? I’m sure these stories exist, right?

“College movies have been consistently unflattering in their depiction of fraternities and sororities, especially over the past three decades”….”Few movies portray fraternities and sororities as organizations that serious, tolerant, and well-behaved students would want to join.”

This quote, which was pulled from an article written by Ashley Fetters, titled “Pop Culture's War on Fraternities,” aptly embodies the sentiment of the article's title. American pop culture and news media has repeatedly shown fraternities and sororities in a negative light while often ignoring the positive aspects that Greek organizations offer. Incidents like Alabama’s Alpha Phi chapter’s rush video receiving widespread criticism, and the racist chants by University of Oklahoma’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter, garner national headlines. Meanwhile, stories like Tau Kappa Epsilon's chapter at the University of Michigan hosting a philanthropy event in which they did 13,500 push-ups and raised $18,500 for St. Jude Children’s Hospital in one day, or the TKE chapter at Virginia Tech raising over $33,000 for charity in one week, rarely make it to the local newspaper! It’s RIDICULOUS that a silly harmless rush video is considered more newsworthy than an organization of young students selflessly contributing their time and energy to help save young children’s lives. In 2010, as a national organization, Delta Delta Delta made a five-year commitment to raise $10 million for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. They met their goal in just three and a half years, and since 1999, as a national organization, they have raised over $40 million for St. Jude. It’s amazing how many countless young lives these women have potentially saved, yet for some reason America thinks a silly rush video is more important than this noble accomplishment. People may think that Greek organizations only contribute to charity because it makes them look good, but all Greek organizations strive to help their members understand the importance of charity, and to make them care about it. Even if not every member is convinced of this, Greek organizations at least change some of the members so that they care, and that particular positive influence on those young men and women should be enough to be appreciated.

The one-sided view of Greek organizations offered by the media has a strong effect on how people see them, and until a more balanced and accurate portrayal of them is offered, people will continue to hold Greek organizations to negative stereotypes and misconceptions, while ignoring the positive aspects they have to offer. It is unfair, and a slap in the face to the countless people whose lives have benefited from a fraternity or sorority.

“Movies have, overall, frequently depicted fraternities as places where college men spend their days and nights drinking a lot, treating women poorly, and declining to care about academics. While plenty of active, university-affiliated chapters don’t fit that description, many studies over the years (though not all!) indicate that these behaviors are more common in fraternities or in Greek houses than elsewhere on college campuses.”

This quote was taken from the same aforementioned article written by Ashley Fetters. Some studies have found that these negative behaviors associated with fraternities are more common in fraternities than elsewhere in college. By portraying this aspect of fraternities, American pop culture is not being unjust. However, it is unjust for movies and news stories to constantly reinforce these negative aspects without highlighting any of the Greek organizations positive aspects, which non-Greek members rarely get to see. With some examples from my personal experience, as well as statistics, I would like to spend some time dispelling many of the negative stereotypes and misconceptions associated with fraternities and sororities.

Members of Greek Organizations Are Paying For Friends

This is one of the most prevalent misconceptions and it could not be farther from the truth. Any organization that sponsors its own events or participates in events and provides benefits to its members, is going to require money from its members. If that was not the case, then how would that organization go pay for it's events and the benefits allowed to the members? The events that Greek organizations sponsor or participate in are only made possible by the payment of members dues. These events include philanthropic fundraisers and events, brotherhood/sisterhood retreats and activities, leadership and educational conferences, travel expenses, and naturally parties as well. Also the benefits of membership include scholarship opportunities exclusive to members of your organization, free fraternity/sorority merchandise, housing opportunities, an extensive support/networking system, opportunities to expand your leadership and business experience, and naturally parties as well. Additionally becoming an involved member, stepping into officer positions and leadership roles, helps members gain general knowledge and experience that can be beneficial to a myriad of careers. This means fraternity and sorority members are paying for charitable contributions, opportunities to learn and grow as a leader, potential career knowledge and experience, fun events and weekend trips that strengthen the bond between members, an extensive support/network system that sometimes goes beyond state and country boundaries, and so much more. Stating that fraternity and sorority members are simply paying for friends is a disrespectful minimization and complete understatement of what Greek organizations stand for and provide for their members

Greek organizations promote binge-drinking

Studies like the one I mentioned earlier show that binge-drinking is more common among members of Greek organizations than other individuals. Admittedly, fraternities do make alcohol more accessible to underage students. This is more a result of the environment that fraternities are in than a result of an environment created by fraternities.In 2010 the Center for Disease Control reported that 17.1 percent of Americans binge drink. Meanwhile the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that 39 percent of college students binge drink. Obviously this shows that college students in general are more likely to binge-drink than other individuals. Being that all Greek organizations are based at colleges, they are subject to the culture and enviirnment that is already in place on college campuses. They didn’t create the problem. Binge-drinkers will binge drink regardless of a fraternity. Although fraternities make it more accessible, studies have shown that college in general makes it more accessible, so even if fraternities ceased to exist, binge-drinking would continue to happen on college campuses. The amount of binge-drinking that occurs in Greek organizations could be attributed to the way they are so often portrayed as binge-drinkers in our culture, causing a self-fulfilling prophecy, something I will go into more detail about later.

Greek organizations lack diversity, and members are homophobic or racist

Through my personal experience of being a black man in a fraternity, I know this stereotype is a complete misconception. The chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon that I rushed on my campus is pretty small, yet there are members from literally every continent on Earth! Every color, religion, economic class, sexual orientation, etc. is represented in our small group of guys. Attending national conferences for TKE, I see the same diversity. One of our previous grand council members is homosexual, and when he was called to the stage at the conference, he was accompanied by his husband, and they received a more thunderous applause than any other member called upon. The Alabama Alpha Phi rush video received immense criticism for their lack of diversity displayed, but if you look at the statistics, it is another incident of them being subject to their environment. Only 12 percent of the student body at Alabama is African-American, while 3 percent are Hispanic and 2 percent Asian. They didn’t make Alabama a school lacking diversity, so why the hell are they being criticized for reflecting that? Also, people within the Greek System as a whole are diverse. In movies, fraternity members are always shown rich privileged snobby white men who are assholes. SOME fraternities may look like this, but isolated instances of racism, homophobia, and lack of diversity should not define Greek organizations as a whole.

Fraternities have a culture of hazing and committing sexual violence against women

In regards to the sexual violence claims, this is another example of the college environment driving the problem and not fraternities creating it. Studies show that college-age women have a high risk of sexual violence of occurring to them, and that cannot be solely because of fraternities. There are instances where fraternity men commit acts of sexual violence, and it is horrifying that these acts occur as often as they do. I can guarantee, though, that these acts are not a result of the culture set forth by the fraternity. This also goes for hazing. Many fraternities have or still do participate in reckless hazing practices. However, these chapters are looked down upon by the leaders of the National fraternities, and are reprimanded, in many cases losing their charters for such behavior, effectively ending the chapter’s existence. In recent years, there has been a HUGE push by fraternity leaders to end hazing, and this has been met with much success. My own chapter has been guilty of hazing, myself being a part of that. Luckily, our chapter is learning from our past mistakes, and this upcoming semester hazing will officially no longer be a part of our fraternity. I know many other fraternities around the nation are starting to make those same responsible decisions. Each fraternity and sorority has a constitution and bylaws set forth, which outline the principles and values in which the organization is founded upon. I have only read my fraternity's constitution, but I can guarantee that all the others contain principles and values that promote a culture of scholarly achievement, charitable contributions, respect for your fellow man and woman, love, kindness, and other such values, which do not condone a culture of hazing or sexual violence. The fraternities that violate the principles that their organization is founded upon should not be held as representative of Greek organizations. Parents should be proud to have their child join an organization which holds their members to such values and principles, one that does not promote disrespect to other men and women.

Fraternity members are dumb, irresponsible, and apathetic.

I definitely have the statistics and personal experience to refute this common misconception.

National Interfraternity Council reported that in 2013-14 fraternities nationwide rose a collective $20.3 million for philanthropies, and contributed a total of 3.8 million total community service hours. In that same year, the average fraternity member grade point average was 2.912, while the all-male average is 2.892. Most fraternities have a minimum GPA requirement ranging anywhere from 2.0-2.8, but you wouldn't know that from watching the movies about fraternitities. While fraternity men represent only 2 percent of the American population, 50 percent of the top 10 Fortune 500 CEOs are fraternity men, as well as 44 percent of U.S. presidents, and 31 percent of U.S. Supreme Court Justices as well. These statistics paint a different picture of fraternity men, illustrating that the irresponsible apathetic “frat boys” so often portrayed in American pop culture is not representative of fraternity members as a whole. If these positives aspects were represented more in movies and the news media, there would be less negative generalizations about Greek organizations.

Moving forward, people need to understand just how much pop culture and the media can affect our everyday thoughts, beliefs, and perpetuation of stereotypes and misconceptions. When looking at how Greek organizations are often portrayed, the plight facing them in that regard is similar to the one faced by African-Americans. African-Americans, are constantly shown in a negative light in American pop culture and through the news media. Blacks are disproportionately portrayed as drug-dealers, gangsters, prostitutes and general low-lifes, and the news often frames stories involving blacks more negatively than they would if the story involved a white person. A black teacher of mine, formerly an actress, told me she stopped acting because she was tired of always being cast as a drug-addict or a hooker. This negative representation of African-Americans in our culture has a real effect on how they are viewed by individuals, especially those whose only experience with black people comes from seeing them on television, movies, or music. Of course there are horrible low-life African-Americans (just like with any race), and of course there are horrible low-life fraternities and fraternity men, but these low-lifes don't represent those groups as a whole. Obviously, every black person is not the same and neither is every fraternity man, but when the culture constantly portrays them that way, it affects how people view them. People who don’t know any black people/fraternity men begin to assume (either consciously or subconsciously) that the way blacks/fraternity men are represented accurately depicts their nature. Both African-Americans and fraternity men are victims to the negative stereotypes being caused by our culture, and in both instances, self-fulfilling prophecies are perpetuated. As a black man and fraternity member, I can attest to the validity of this, because I was almost a victim of a self-fulfilling prophecy myself in both instances. When we’re constantly told by our culture that this is what we are, this is what we do, this is how we speak, this is what we think, etc, many times we eventually give in to that and internalize the messages being sent by our culture. When looking at the Greek system, so often our culture and media sends the message that Greek members are nothing but irresponsible, unintelligent, apathetic, disrespectful, binge-drinking misogynists. Not everyone succumbs to this message, but some who aren’t as strong internalize this message, thinking that’s what Greek members should be like, and they start exhibiting those qualities, which is what makes it a self-fulfilling prophecy.

"According to "Animal House," there were two kinds of fraternities: the elitist kind that willingly aligned itself with the establishment, and the kind full of kooks who refused to be tamed.By casting the outsider oddballs of Delta House as heroes, "Animal House" made the radical declaration that the latter sort was the better sort. Pop culture—and real college kids all over America—followed its lead."

For the third time, I have quoted the article “Pop Culture's War on Fraternities,” because it is an outstanding example of what I am trying to convey.The movie "Animal House" a canon in American pop culture, changed the way America saw fraternities, thus changing how many fraternity members are viewed, and therefore changing how many acted. With our culture producing a barrage of this unfair one-sided portrayal, it has had serious effects on how fraternities and sororities are viewed and stereotyped.

My friend and fellow CSULB student, Jon Andrino, said this when I asked him what he thought about fraternities:

“I heard they just party and f*** b****.”

Jon admitted to not having any personal experience with a fraternity. This is a real life example of how someone’s views of fraternities had been completely shaped by movies and the news stories in the media, causing him to view them negatively. Ralph Ruiz, a current fraternity member and campus leader, had a different take when asked the same question:

“A fraternity has one purpose and one purpose only: to take a young man and provide him with the tools and resources needed to become the best MAN he can be. I believe in fraternity, because I am a product of its creation. As an 18-year-old freshman, I had one intention for college: to meet new people, party my ass off, and talk to girls. It was when I became a new member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity that I found value in the collegiate experience and the opportunities a college education had to offer me” said Ruiz.

The difference in the two young men’s answer rests on the knowledge and experience that each contain regarding fraternities. With no personal experience or knowledge about fraternities, Jon's answer shows how the negative portrayal of Greek organizations hurts their reputation, and lowers the amount of respect shown to them. Meanwhile, Ralph’s answer shows that he has personal experience and knowledge of how fraternities really are, and his experience and knowledge led him to respect fraternities because he knows how much of a positive influence they can be in someone's life.

So after almost ten pages of me droning on, you may be asking yourself, why is he so fervently sticking up for Greek organizations? Why does he care so much? I care so much because my fraternity has cared so much about me. The amazing positive influence that my fraternity has had on me cannot be measured, which is why it hurts me to see how often fraternities and sororities are disrespected. I am going to tell you a story about myself, and afterwards, if you are still convinced that fraternities don't deserve respect for their potential to change young men's lives for the better, than I'll be damned.

I have been a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon since 2012. When I was introduced to these men, my life looked nothing like it does now. I was a completely different person. When I rushed TKE, I was still a kid, a kid who did not even attend CSULB, the school my chapter is based at. But regardless, these men welcomed me with open arms. They welcomed me, a kid who was struggling academically. A kid who was without a car, without a job. A kid who lacked accomplishment. A kid who lacked responsibility. A kid who didn’t know what he was dong with his life. They welcomed a kid who had just been released from jail. A kid lacking a support system. A kid who was a piece of crap pledge that ranked last among all pledges. A kid who never thought he could become a leader. TKE welcomed that kid, and nurtured his growth, helping him become the man he is today, writing an impassioned article in an attempt to inform America of the overlooked positive aspects that Greek organizations offer.

The growth I experienced began once I was officially initiated into the fraternity. When Gabriel Cataldi ran for president of my chapter, he changed my life when I saw the passion and dedication he exuded during his presidential speech, and after being elected. Similarly, Gabriel experienced much growth through TKE, and he used that to inspire me and others to do more for our fraternity than we thought possible. Because of my fraternity, I was inspired to try harder in life, inspired to lead, and inspired to make a difference. In a short amount of time, being a member of TKE inspired me, that piece of crap kid who ranked last among pledges, to know that one day I was going to become president of my chapter, and I was inspired with the confidence to know that I am going to be a damn good president. This inspiration I received because of my fraternity trickled down into other areas of my life. In order to gain enough respect from my brothers to be elected president, I knew that I would need to get my life together. I began getting straight A’s in school. I got a job, at one point working two different ones simultaneously. I bought a car, and after four years and being denied three times, I finally gained acceptance into CSULB. Meanwhile, I began taking advantages of the opportunities TKE offered me to become accomplished. I became one of the most active and vocal members, participating in almost every community service event, as well as other events. I stepped into the roles of historian, secretary, and last year, after losing the election for presidency, I was elected into a position for the first time: vice-president. This year, I plan on being the new-member educator, so I can inspire them to grow through TKE like Gabriel and I did.

Although I lost the election for president, being in this fraternity helped me realize something which changed my life again. Growing up, I always wanted to make a positive impact in the world somehow, someway. While running for president, I realized this fraternity gave me my first opportunity to do so. The positive influence in the world that I could cause by leading a group of young men to achieve more and become better men isn’t going to save the world, but it is meaningful, and it’s a wonderful facet of being in a fraternity. Realizing this made me change so I could become the best role model I could for my brothers, and be in a position to lead us all to achieve more as a fraternity, and in our personal lives. I can honestly say that realization has made me a better person to this day.

The first thing I did to become a role model for my brothers and inspire them to do more was organize a fundraiser. Previously, our chapter was an embarrassment when it came to fundraising, but with this fundraiser we did something that no one in our chapter thought we could do. We raised over $4,000 for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and being inspired to be a role model, I raised $1,700 of that myself, something that the piece of crap kid never would have imagined possible.

The list of accomplishments I have achieved as a DIRECT result of my membership in a fraternity include being awarded a scholarship, being accepted into the prestigious President’s Ambassadors program, being selected to my fraternities national leadership conference, becoming a mentor for Power 4 Youth, then being awarded “Mentor of the Year” by them, and being hired as an intern for the Odyssey. Becoming a member of my fraternity changed me from being a piece of shit kid with no direction and purpose, and it nurtured and inspired my growth into the accomplished man I am today, who knows exactly what his purpose and direction is.

All in all, although members of Greek organizations are many times at fault for the negative press surrounding them, the gross exaggeration of their negative aspects in pop culture, and the unbalanced, unfair, perpetually negative coverage of them in news media does Greek organizations a huge injustice. Furthermore, it is a slap in the face to the many other people like myself whose lives have been changed for the better because of them. So next time someone starts disrespecting Greek organizations and ignores the value they offer, or the next time the media goes out of its way to demonize a silly harmless rush video, remember this article. Remember my story. What makes my story any less important than that silly rush video? Is it the fact that it's not an attempt to tear Greek organizations down like our culture loves to do? While fraternities and sororities are far from perfect, the right ones have the power to help turn the piece of crap kids in America into the accomplished men and women that we all want our kids to be.