With the increased use of social media over the past decade, exposure to Greek life on college campuses has increased correspondingly.  It is quite often that news channels get a hold of stories of students being hazed by older members of their fraternity or members being involved in a sexual assault cases.  This negative light has opened a widespread debate about whether or not all fraternities should be banned from universities around the nation.  Supporters of this theory tend to argue that there is an increased involvement in sexual abuse crimes within this population, and that hazing leads to fatalities each and every year. While this notion to ban fraternities nationwide may seem to prevent crime and promote student wellness, the presence of these organizations on campus give students the academic and social opportunities that keep students on the right track to succeed not only academically but socially as well. Fraternities need to stay on college campuses because they are so beneficial to their members with the networking opportunities, to their communities through volunteer work and philanthropic events, and to their universities by donating a large majority of all donations to their alma mater (Grunner 1). These are all great things that have kept many fraternities around for over 150 years, but since time has passed there has been an increasing negative connotation that is now associated with fraternities. Fraternities need to change the way they do things, sooner rather than later, to fix the poor public relations problem that they created in order to save themselves from being banned altogether.

One of the bigger issues that fraternities face are the sexual abuse cases. Fraternity men have been identified as being more likely to commit sexual assault or sexual aggression than nonfraternity men (Gray 1). That being said we need to look at what is causing this to happen and how to stop it. According to the Association of American Universities, a study done in 2014 it was said that about 1 in 4 women close to 23% will experience some type of sexual abuse in college, that includes kissing, unwanted contact, and all the way up to rape (Wallace 1). Also, in another study published by Campus Safety Magazine, it shows that 1 in 3 sexual assaults, the perpetrator was intoxicated. And that at least 50% of college student sexual assaults are associated with alcohol use (Gray 1). This being said Villanova University did a national survey and found, "That a very large majority, about 80% of college students use alcohol." But they also found that, "More than 70% report that when they drink, they drink four or fewer drinks on any one occasion of drinking," ("Alcohol Use in College" 1). Which is a very promising statistic because it shows that out of all college drinkers, a vast majority of them drink moderately, if at all. Also, it is worth pointing out that this significant majority of students drink an amount that puts them in a safe range of drinking, since other independent research has shown that people who drink fewer than five drinks on any occasion are much less likely to find themselves in trouble because of their drinking than people who drink five or more drinks in any occasion ("Alcohol Use in College" 1). So who are the remaining 30% of all college drinkers that drink five or more drinks or "binge drink" during any one occasion? The truth is according to a Harvard University study is that out of all binge drinkers in college, 4 out of 5 of them are in a fraternity or a sorority ("Drinking and Drug Abuse in Greek Life" 1). This is pure evidence that members of Greek Life are putting themselves in very dangerous situations because of their drinking habits. 

USA Today published an article in 2013 titled, "Police, Experts: Alcohol Most Common in Sexual Assaults", and in it they interviewed many doctors and crime lab workers about sexual assault. In the article it was a clear consensus agreement from all that alcohol is the most common date rape drug, not roofies or Xanax.  Dr. Susan R.B. Weiss, associate director for scientific affairs for the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institute of Health, was quoted in the article saying, "We know for sure alcohol is much more common than other drugs." (Tennessean 1). Putting all that together and with 80% of college fraternity and sorority members being binge drinkers the connection is clear as to why fraternity men are more likely to be involved in a sexual abuse case due to alcohol. Tennessean writes, "While a person's blood-alcohol level rises with continued consumption, physiological effects of alcohol: confusion, sedation, and potential loss of consciousness: cause lowered inhibitions and may incapacitate a person, rendering him or her incapable of consenting to any sexual act." (1). Men, already having a natural constant urge for sex combined with the lowered inhibitions caused by alcohol is a very dangerous combo that makes them make very poor decisions. This ultimately puts females at risk for sexual assault, and is even greater when the victim is also intoxicated.  

Alcohol is the number one main reason these sexual assault cases happen in college. So, to prevent future cases from happening the answer seems obvious, right? To just ban alcohol completely? No.  Banning alcohol completely isn't the answer because it is an addictive substance and those who binge drink are much more likely to find a way around the rule to continue their habits. At many Universities alcohol is banned throughout campus, but it doesn't do much to fix the issue because usually the only people who live on campus are freshman. For example, at the University of South Carolina students are required to live on campus their freshman year, but nobody is monitoring the overwhelming majority of students who don't have to live on campus. These students who live off campus can, will, and currently do continue to binge drink without thanking of any consequences. However, by simply making it mandatory for all Greek life students to see a psychologist at least twice a month to talk about their own individual substance use it would be very beneficial for students who are binge drinkers, since the majority of them are. From these evaluations the psychologist can determine which students are at a problematic level, and can ease these students off of their poor habits. Students who show or admit to more dangerous levels of drinking can then be put through a secondary program that sees members more frequent. This will be effective because the psychologist knows how to lead people away from binge drinking, while at the same time the program will educated members on how drinking too much puts people at risk for sexual assault, and how it causes health issues. You cannot expect these students to stop binge drinking just by banning alcohol, anyone would need help to reduce the use of an addictive substance. This programs main goal is to reduce the chances of sexual assault from happening, but will also be used steer members away from illegal drug use as well. 

The network connections that come from joining a fraternity are made from the pledging process. Joining a fraternity provides members with a lasting brotherhood among each other because of the pledging process, which is what alumni recognize. The brotherhood is what creates the many networking connections for after graduation. For example, Alpha Tau Omega is an excellent example of a fraternity focused on creating a brotherhood because the first thing new members learn is their creed. It goes, "The Creed of Alpha Tau Omega: To bind men together in a brotherhood based upon eternal and immutable principles, with a bond as strong as right itself and as lasting as humanity," (Glazebrook 1). This sense of brotherhood provides members an outlet to discuss emotional issues, academics, and many other things. These friendships essentially help boost morale and keep students happy having that many close friends to count on. For example, in an article from the Washington Informer it puts the sense of brotherhood into perspective that being a pledge brother brings, "There was social prestige and friendship, and the sense of belonging to something great, something lasting, something eternal even" (Muhammad 26). The bond created is truly something that lasts a lifetime and something that brings joy to every Fraternity member. 

During the pledging process many fraternities are known for hazing their new members. Pledges are required to learn all the history of the fraternity they're trying to join and the current brother's names, hometowns, and majors before they can be initiated. Pledges are hazed until they know all the material. This practice of hazing new members is one of the big problems surrounding fraternities in the eyes of the public. Hazing is a difficult issue to fix regarding public relations though, because it actually serves a purpose, determining who is worthy of joining. During the pledging process pledges get hazed, and this is what creates the strong bond within each pledge class.  Getting hazed means that you are going to have to work hard to become a member. Having to work hard to accomplish something and then achieving it makes people feel proud of themselves, knowing that they can get through something difficult. This is why fraternities have lasted so long and haven't died off; being hazed is what makes members care so much more about their fraternity rather than an organization that anyone could join. Which is why hazing, as controversial as it is, creates a since of self-worth after going through it. 

The truth though, about hazing, is that while most hazing rituals are considered fairly harmless, others can be downright dangerous  Hazing does have its limits, and death caused by hazing serves absolutely no purpose and needs to stop immediately. For example, an article was posted by AddictionCenter.com explaining how excessive drinking is an all too common side effect of many hazing activities, often with tragic results. Explaining how freshman are usually the ones going through the pledging process which is why a disproportionate amount of alcohol related deaths happen to freshmen that are in fraternities. Overall, "Of the 24 fraternity-related freshmen deaths since 2005, 15 occurred during or after recruiting events, hazing and initiation rituals." ("Drinking and Drug Abuse in Greek Life" 1). Also, since 2000 there have been 57 total deaths due to all types of hazing according to Fraternal Squib (1). One of the cases was published in the Washington Times after a beloved Clemson student, Tucker Hipps, passed away from alleged hazing activities.  It states that Hipps' body was found in a lake after an early morning workout consisting of his pledge class and older members (Pace 1).  This article moves forward to discuss how Clemson proceeded to suspend all Greek life activities for roughly two months, "due to a 'high number' of incidents 'ranging from alcohol-related medical emergencies to sexual misconduct" (Pace 1).  According to Pace, Clemson is not the only university that has experienced an increased number of forbidden and illegal activities among fraternities.  Specifically, a student from the University of Southern Mississippi is being charged with grand larceny after members of his fraternity sent him on a hunt to capture two Chilean flamingos, ultimately resulting in the death of two flamingos.  Pace proceeds to describe in detail countless activities where pledges were humiliated, severely injured, or in rare instances killed.  These reasons provide a substantial argument for banning Greek life from campuses across the United States, which is why fraternities need to stop hazing immediately (2). Any number higher than zero is too high for deaths caused by hazing, and is something fraternities need to fix immediately by ending all hazing now. Fraternities need to implement a zero tolerance policy for hazing, kicking members out immediately if they are found to have taken part in a hazing activity. 

An article posted by The Bulliten gives more of an overview of what can be done to prevent hazing on college campuses and what strategies are currently in place. In the article it is noted that, "Of students in the study who reported experiencing hazing behavior, nine out of 10 did not consider themselves to have been hazed" (Allan and Madden 1). This clearly shows that people in charge of overseeing if Greek organizations are run correctly need to educate the current fraternity and sorority members on what hazing is. If members actually know what is considered hazing then it will help them govern themselves in identifying and stopping hazing incidents from happening. This helps the supporters that advocate banning Greek life to see that efforts are currently being put forth to reduce these numbers of deaths, crimes and psychological damages caused by hazing. The article describes what hazing is defined as, several studies on what organizations are being hazed (not all are Greek), and the current research that is being done to determine what causes hazing and how to prevent hazing from happening in future situations on college campuses. Completely ending hazing in fraternities is key to restoring the public relations issue that fraternities face. New members still would have to learn all the history and info of all the current brothers to be initiated. To do this without hazing being an issue the learning process would have to be made public, in a class room type setting with a teacher who gives out test and quizzes on the material until everything is learned completely. Having the learning process public will insure anyone that no hazing activity is going on because anyone can find out what is going on in the class room if they wanted to. 

Rather than looking to ban Greek life, supporters of playing advocates of these students should look into improving these organizations so that they are not only sustainable, but a safe environment for students to be able to grow, network, and enjoy the college experience.  By putting these new ideas of making all Greek Life members go to see a psychologist regarding their alcohol and substance use, any risks linking them to sexual assault and the zero tolerance policy for any hazing incidents, it will greatly improve the ways fraternities and Greek Life as a whole are viewed by the public once they hear of such changes taking place. Solving the main problem of abusive drinking first will positively help Greek life in their efforts in becoming a better organization as a whole by reducing the number of sexual assault cases caused by being over intoxicated. Also, by educating current students on hazing, what it is, how to spot it, and how to prevent it, it will prevent many future hazing violations from occurring in Greek life. Alongside with the zero-tolerance policy that will kick members out immediately because of hazing, and the new public learning process for new members, the number of hazing incidents will go down drastically. These few first steps can easily be made and will clearly put Greek organizations onto a smart path moving forward that will look good in the public eye. This positive start needs to be put in place immediately because fraternity life as we currently know it won't exist if fraternity men don't change what they're doing. Plus, overall it is going to be a long process to fix the current Greek life system. These ideas are just the beginning to solving the negative public image that fraternities created for themselves, but they will also help jumpstart the process to a new and improved fraternity image, one that still has the networking and lifelong bonds that it is so popularly known for.

