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In reply to the discussion: Two flamingos dead after bungled Mississippi fraternity prank [View all]LeftinOH
(5,354 posts)-not surprisingly- were never members of one. Maybe not a cottage industry, but it sure is a popular theme among academics.
I just returned from a Homecoming weekend in which I reunited with many fraternity brothers from years past and also got to meet some new ones. Oddly, none of us discussed the rape orgies we used to have or the drink-till-you pass out booze fests. We DID discuss how our kids are doing in school; where are careers are going (or not going); our latest health issues; getting to meet some of the wives or partners (some of them same-sex) for the first time, etc.
It is distressing that a few badly run organizations (and sometimes only one) on some campuses manage to tarnish the reputation of ALL of them. The relentless 'proof' that ALL of these organizations consist of rapist alcoholics is tiresome. It is also offensive.
As for screening out potential members, the process is more "screening in" than anything else. Show up drunk, picking fights, showing little interest in studying, etc... yeah- you'll get "screened out." There is no way to alter the prevailing stereotype that ALL fraternity and sorority members are elitist snobs and/or rapists. All we can do is hope that a sufficient number of people in academic administrations know better than to judge an entire social scene based on the actions of some bad actors.