Running head: FRATERNITIES INFLUENCES

Fraternities Influences on Students

James Pea
University of Texas at El Paso
Paul Jay Vierra
English 1312

FRATERNITIES INFLUENCES

Abstract
Many universities around America have Greek organizations called fraternities. The
groups try to persuade incoming students to join their frat. Most groups actually have negative
effects as well contains positive influence on students. This only makes the decision for the
student to pledge harder. Some students join based on stereotypes about partying. The true
intentions of fraternities have to offer may not be in effect. To gain money and members,
fraternities use the stereotypes to their benefit to keep the Greek organization alive. The purpose
of this literary review is to determine if joining a fraternity is a better choice for the student.

FRATERNITIES INFLUENCES

Introduction
Many students that are new to a university are targeted by fraternities looking for new
pledges. Students will see table cloths, banners, and may even pass by a fraternity house on
campus. Fraternities are looking for new pledges to keep a tradition of the school going. To gain
attention the Greek organizations tell students that are interested how joining a fraternity may
help them in their higher education as well as being successful after graduation, but why do
students actually join a fraternity? In a video by the North-American Interfraternity Conference,
an interviewee states fraternities offer a home away from home (NIC, 2008). Fraternities
contain different stereotypes which may impact a student choice about joining.

What do students expect when pledging in a fraternity?

What do fraternities have to offer students to help for the future?

What if fraternities only focused on school and not on extracurricular activities?

Do Fraternities have trouble getting started on campuses?

The questions will be answered through the literary review by providing information from a
variety of sources on the positive and negative effect on a student when joining a fraternity, this
paper will also determine if students will join a fraternity for their future or for their
entertainment.. A Journal done by Gary Pike (2000) will be the used as a primary source that will
answer the research questions as well and using information for past studies. Pike researched the
Nation Study of Student Learning claim to see if effect of the student is really short term.
What do students expect when pledging in a fraternity?
Students may expect a Greek organization to be how they seen on T.V and some may see
it as an opportunity for a better professional future. Students may join a fraternity believing that
one student membership can keep a honored tradition and creating history (Wallace, 1967, p.

FRATERNITIES INFLUENCES

643). Incoming students also look for how the organization can be positive, which can be
answered by doing charity work, practicing their leadership skills, and helping fellow pledges
academically wise (Grubb, 2006, p. 1085). Students seek to join organizations like these to give
those credentials as they believe it will make them more valuable as a person in future. This is
due to the life experiences fraternities offer such as skills that are necessary for the maturing of a
boy into a man. Student may be seen to staff as a junior colleague (Wallace, 1967, p. 645).
Fraternities offer the student a chance to be a good student which according to Urciuoli (2014)
is a student that appears in university photos and are written about in the schools newspaper.
Figure 1: An example of what students expect based off media stereotypes.

According to the NIC, students are also known to join a fraternity because of the
party stereotype delivered by movies (NIC, 2008). A movie called Neighbors is an example,
which is a comedy that contains a fraternity throwing parties, bothering the community, and
playing pranks. An example can be a picture from the movie shows a party that is being thrown
where many other students attend at a frat house. This is the basic approach the press gives to
fraternities as they publicize them negatively giving an impression to students of a party being
exciting causing them the desire to experience such an event.
More negative views can consist of drinking, hazing, and poor academic performance
(Grubb, 2006). According to Grubb (2006), hazing is a disciplinary action any given Greek
organization decides to do to their newest members. Throughout the process of the initiation
period, many forms of hazing are done as a new member must prove to the elder fraternity
members that they are capable of meeting all the requirements. Typical hazing includes padding
of a member, high-risk and dangerous dares, and humiliation caused by fraternity officers.
Many people believe that violent hazing is the most dangerous event associated with fraternity
life (Flanagan, 2014).

FRATERNITIES INFLUENCES

All these points have an impact on the student who is deciding to join a fraternity but
other characteristics these organizations offer can outweigh the negatives. This consists of the
students social skills and intellectual skills (Wallace, 1967, p.644). A student will look for how
they are viewed in the facultys eyes. Professors and Doctors are required to view the student as a
colleague within their years of progression in their academic career.
What do fraternities offer students for their future?
Fraternities offer many things to students in order to improve their performance in school
and build character. Due to the community events that fraternities are associated with, many
skills are learned throughout the organizations. Pike found that Greek members contain higher
levels of social involvement than independent students (2000, p. 118). These skills are mostly
acquired though charity work most members are required to accomplish. This is a form of giving
back to the community which promotes sympathetic behavior. Many fraternities are also what
creates campus activities as they help conduct and endorse university recreations. According to
Pike members are more like to participate on campuses events and in being in a frat is positive
to cognitive development (Pike, 2000, p. 118).
These Greek organizations not only help contribute to campus and community events but
members gain social skills as well. This is due to the multiple encounter members conduct
throughout their volunteer work. Along with social skills, members also gain interaction with a
diverse community. This can be a positive factor as a network of communication within the
community expands for members.
All these factors lead to members of a fraternity gaining the ability to become a leader.
Leadership skills play an important role not only in the university and community itself but its
also a benefit for the future of fraternity members. Grubb states this is positive, such as doing

FRATERNITIES INFLUENCES

more charity work, exercising more leadership, and helping other members succeed socially.
This helps create confidence of a member, which is a trait employers seek. Resumes are built
upon traits as these as they help build a stronger and more powerful one.
Fraternities offer students and way to get criminal record but the students dont know
because the organization doesnt notify them. According to the United States Department of
Transportation (2004) there were a large percentage of fraternities members were arrested for
driving while intoxicated (DWI). Organizations also have been fined for underage drinking,
freshman members participate in the events that fraternities hold and offer alcoholic drinks to all
members. The effects to the actions that were committed violate the university regulations and
may result in fraternity being kicked out of the campus. Some fraternity use alcohol as hazing,
there have been articles in the news of students dying due to drinking. Drinking throughout a
students college education can cause lifetime effects on his health. Some case of being arrested
in DWI with fraternity members have resulted in a death in car accidents (United States, 2004).
Members to a fraternity can become a great student if they project they fraternity to their
academic career. According to Wills (2008) student organization are important for a strong
student development. But being associated with these groups can cause a segregation problem
with other organizations (Wills, 2008). Some fraternities are based off ethnic groups. These
fraternities can cause problems in the future as they can give the students with racial perspectives
amongst other ethnic groups. This can harm the student in the future when he is employed in a
diverse community or even if he is a boss in a company because if the student grew up with
racial stereotypes from his fraternity he might only hire people same race as him.

FRATERNITIES INFLUENCES

What if fraternities focused primarily on school?

Students that are not Greek members tend to maintain a good grade point average (GPA)
throughout their college career. In a study done by Bradshaw, Freshman Greek members do well
their first semester trying to be allegeable to pledge. Shown in the graph above, after the students
become members their GPA drops lower and lower throughout college (Bradshaw, 1967). A
fraternity is mostly developed by students who received a decent math score but got a good
verbal score on a SAT (Grubb, p. 1065). Grubb also states that 1 to 10 percent of members have a
low GPA. This is because fraternities only have an acceptance GPA requirement but members do
not have to maintain a certain GPA once accepted into the organization. If fraternities would
focus more on their education instead of extracurricular activities, and then the student may
perform better academically. Fraternities may hold a study group or a session with the group to
improve the performance of their members in school (Schmdit, Wilson, 1967). Students that
want to be successful in their college career may join to improve their success. GPA scores can
be increased for the members if fraternities enforce studying periods. Pike argues with Grubb by

FRATERNITIES INFLUENCES

stating that Greek students put a higher amount of effort in their education than non members,
but he also agrees that fraternity members were associated with low test scores. (2000, p. 118)
The publicity view of fraternities can change if their main focus was the grade point
average of any given member. This may increase the potential number of well educated members
to join the fraternity as it would be an organization of their interest. Along with an increase of
young educated men, fraternities would be known as honor programs that members are
committed to. Not only would this increase a fraternitys popularity but it would form a better
reputation as an organization that contains young dedicated men to their grades. If this was so,
listing a fraternity under a resume would be a bigger credential for any given member as it would
be viewed as an honor.
On a negative aspect, if a fraternity had a narrow focus to education, members would be
limited in other factors. Social skills would not expand causing the absence of networks that can
be essential in the near future (Porter, 2012). In a university setting, students are in a stressful
environment therefore if the Greek organizations only focused on academics, students might get
overwhelmed with their workload. This would also cause a decrease in leadership skills that are
learned in fraternities.
Due to absence of social interaction with other students with a stressful environment,
these organizations become an isolated population. This will cause a restriction within members
as communication will be limited within the fraternity. Participation of campus events will
decrease as well as campus events themselves as they are typically held and managed by
fraternities. This can limit social interaction within a university itself, as many events would be
nonexistent or limited to a smaller population (Johnson, 1972).
Do Fraternities have trouble getting started on campus?

FRATERNITIES INFLUENCES

Universities still question if fraternities should still be allowed on campus or phase the
organizations out. Fraternities are still offered on some campuses because fraternities gives
students a reason to stay in school (1967, pg. 645). Fraternities can offer beneficial skills to
students to prepare for their future because of their practices in liberal learning. Also due the
participation and interest the groups bring to campus events have an impact on the university to
see if fraternities shall be kept on campus.
Even if Greek organization or none, most students and parents believe that college is a
very important experience in a students life this is because they teach the students how to be
employable and be prepared to embrace the world outside of school (Urciuoli, 2014).These can
be considered positive outcomes of a fraternity be founded at a universitys campus, so these can
be more factors that universities take in deciding if they shall allow an organizations
establishment.
There are some schools that believe that not allowing a Greek organization is the best
for students, due to pledging procedures and unlawful actions (Grubb, pg. 1086). Fraternities
affecting a students GPA in a negative approach give curiosity to the schools choice. Students
that are in the brotherhood have dropped their GPA faster than non members. Flanagan states in
his article that crimes in a fraternity have increased, leading the chart is assault followed by
sexual offense (Flanagan, 2014). Many issues involving fraternities have disturber the campuses.
If no fraternities are in a university, the student may have trouble starting one because of the
issues that fraternities have created. If fraternities do exist on a campus and a student tries
establishing a new fraternity, the school may try to interpret the intentions of the group to other
student and may question how it will benefit the whole university.

FRATERNITIES INFLUENCES

Including all the positive and negative effects fraternities can have many universities still
allow fraternities on campus. Some University try to end the parties that fraternities host by
getting rid of fraternities houses. At the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) the allow
fraternities but do not allow them to live on campus together (UTEP, 2013). Even though UTEP
decide to not allow any fraternities houses on campus to reduce the crime rate fraternities are
said to have does not mean that the organizations do not commit crimes off campus. Greek
organizations that still hold events and get publicity for the negatives goes back to the University.
In other words trouble of a fraternity cause off campus still impacts the school as much as it did
on campus.
Conclusion
Fraternities contains an impact on students but to determine if the result in positive or
negative still remains to be seen. The student, when making his choice shall keep in mind what
he plans to do with the organization to improve his career. If the student joins because of how
media imagined a fraternity was, then the student is in for wrong reasons. With all the research
and previous studies, fraternities can cause great harm to student but can improve the scholars
skill to create a better image of him and help him after graduation. Students can use the fact that
they were in a fraternity to help them when applying for jobs once they have graduated.
Fraternities can also create many great memories for the student that he can keep and cherish for
his entire life. Fraternities also give an opportunity to make friends that the student can have but
may also create enemies against the rival Greek organization. Joining a fraternity should be
decided by the total outcome the organizations have to offer.

FRATERNITIES INFLUENCES

References
Bureau, D., Ryan, H. G., Ahren, C., Shoup, R., & Torres, V. (2011). Student learning in
fraternities and sororities: Using nsse data to describe members' participation in
educationally meaningful activities in college. Oracle: The Research Journal of the
Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, 6(1), 1-22. Retrieved from http://0search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=89964549&site=ehost-live&scope=site

FLANAGAN, C. (2014). The dark power of fraternities. (cover story). Atlantic, 313(2), 72-91.
Retrieved from http://0-search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=94773763&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Galsworthy, J. (1968). Fraternity. London: Heinemann.

Grubb, F. (2006). Does going greek impair undergraduate academic performance? A case study.
American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 65(5), 1085-1110. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/27739611

Johnson, C. S. (1972). Fraternities in our colleges. New York: National Interfraternity

Foundation.
Kelley, D. R. (2008). Leadership development through the fraternity experience and the
relationship to career success after graduation. Oracle: The Research Journal of the
Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, 3(1), 1-12. Retrieved from http://0search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=89964527&site=ehost-live&scope=site

McWilliams, W. C. (1973). The idea of fraternity in america. Berkeley: University of California

Press.
Men's fraternities. (2013). Retrieved from http://sa.utep.edu/fsl/mens-fraternities/

FRATERNITIES INFLUENCES

Peters Jacob. "Cumulative GPA by Semester and Greek Participation." [Online image] 10
December 2014. <http://www.businessinsider.com/trinity-college-fraternities-sororitiesco-ed-2014-10>.
Pike, G. R. (2000). The influence of fraternity or sorority membership on students' college
experiences and cognitive development. Research in Higher Education, 41(1, AIR Forum
Issue), 117-139. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/40196391
Porter, H. D. (2012). Interactional diversity opportunities through involvement: Fraternity and
sorority student leaders' experiences. Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of
Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, 7(1), 54-70. Retrieved from http://0search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=78131676&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Schmidt, W. F., & Wilson, S. (1967). Archives and education. Improving College and University
Teaching, 15(3, Teaching the Humanities), p. 163. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/27562705

United States. (2004). The alcohol summit :A roadmap for fraternities and sororities.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration. Retrieved from http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS59456
United States.Congress.House.Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. (2008).
Authorizing the use of the capitol grounds for a celebration pf the 100th anniversary of
alpha kappa alpha sorority, incorporated :Report (to accompany H. con. res. 335)
(including cost estimate of the congressional budget office). Washington, D.C.: U.S.
G.P.O. Retrieved from http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS95933;
http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS95934

FRATERNITIES INFLUENCES

Urciuoli, B. (2014). The semiotic production of the good student: A peircean look at the
commodification of liberal arts education. Signs and Society, 2(1), 56-83. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/675537

Wallace, W. L. (1967). Faculty and fraternities: Organizational influences on student

achievement. Administrative Science Quarterly, 11(4, Special Issue on Universities as
Organizations), 643-670. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2391080
Wells, B., & Corts, D. P. (2008). Measuring attitudes towards sorority and fraternity members:
Indication of implicit, ingroup favoritism. College Student Journal, 42(3), 842-846.
Retrieved from http://0-search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=34262673&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Why should you join a fraternity? . (2008).[Video/DVD] Youtube: North-American

Interfraternity Conference.
Williams College.Social Fraternity. (18uu). Catalogue of the social fraternity. Retrieved from
http://0-galenet.galegroup.com.lib.utep.edu/servlet/

Sabin?

af=RN&ae=CY111160353&srchtp=a&ste=14&q=txshracd2603