The Manipulative Nature of Greek Life

Graphics by Anika Dua

Remember last year on Syracuse’s 2026 Snapchat story, there was a girl asking for people’s reasons for dropping rush in 2022? That was me!

And boy, did I get some backlash. People assumed that it was an article attacking Greek life, but in reality, it was an article about why someone might choose to drop rush or leave their chapters– this can be because of money, time restraints, or anything really. 
People mocked me and told me I wasn’t a real journalist, while others came forward with their experiences and asked not to be in the article in case they want to rush in the future, or were just scared of Panhel. 

That article never got published on Newshouse due to not enough sources. Many wanted to remain anonymous, or later asked not to be included at all.

It was never going to be a slander article– my opinions on Greek life, though negative, were never the focus.

But now it is. So, here’s an extensive article on why Greek life sucks: its lengthy history in racism, sexism, hazing, and animal cruelty. And, by the way, many of these things haven’t disappeared. 

First, some history.

Around the late nineteenth century, students started forming informal groups to discuss current events and literature (nerds!), due to wanting to explore more academic topics than what was offered at the universities at the time. Many of these organizations were encouraged by colleges to reinforce students to think for themselves and expand their education. These groups grew and began to be more than just intellectual debates: it became a social scene with parties, sporting events, dances, and more. 

The “Chapter House” became a “thing” in the 1890s, which led to the formation of boards to handle mortgage payments and legal matters. This shift more or less erased the academic aspect of these organizations and turned the focus to caring for the house. Since these members were living together, social activities began to take priority, as well as economic concerns. Chapter Houses also led to what we know today as “rush,” (also called “recruitment”) where Greek houses cater to incoming freshmen (and other classes) before another organization gets to them first. 

The first fraternity was Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776, and kept a secret. In 1831, secrets and bylaws were disclosed to the public, which led to a lot of other fraternities doing similar or copying their traditions. As time went on, these original rituals were more or less lost– and this is when “hazing” is believed to have begun.

The first use of the term “sorority” was used in 1874 at Gamma Phi Beta at our beloved Syracuse University. Before this, all societies of this kind were referred to as fraternities, or women’s fraternities. 

A lot of chapters have a lengthy and gross history tied to sexism and racism, which can and do persist today. 
While this is not the experience for many, there are “sisters” that experience a lot of double standards. For example, some sorority members are not allowed to have men sleep over, or drink in a sorority house regardless of their age. However, if they are co-hosting with a fraternity, they can drink at the frat’s house. 

There have also been a lot of issues with drugging girls at frat parties. I’ve personally heard first-hand accounts of this happening– and this more or less goes ignored. 

But sexism is so much more than just weird practices at parties. A fraternity member is three times more likely to rape a girl than any other classmate, with women in sororities 74% more likely to experience rape. And this is not just now– between 1980 and 1990, 55% of gang rapes on college campuses were tied to fraternities. 

And these unforgivable acts– such as sexual assault and rape– are forgiven or glossed over by the universities themselves. As of 2017, SUNY Geneseo reinstated two previously suspended frats– Phi Sigma Xi and Delta Kappa Tau– which were unaffiliated with the university due to an overdose death and implications in a gang assault of a pedestrian, respectively. 

I personally think these acts are unforgivable, and this is an instance where the idea of “second chances” should be severely called into question at the very least.

While it must be said that Greek life does produce a lot of top executives– “2% of the US population is affiliated with Greek life but 80% of top executives at Fortune 500 companies and large majorities of US Congress, Presidents, and Supreme Court justices are ‘Greeks’”–  we must keep in mind who we are talking about when we say this: those that experience these benefits are historically white and male– reflecting the majority of successful people in America today. So, this statistic is kind of bullshit.

While there were and are exclusively Black Greek frats and sororities, the motivations for this exclusivity in race was different from the white-only frats and sororities: Black Greek frats/sororities offered safety from racial discrimination and violence, while white-only frats were promoting it, keeping their chapters “pure” or whatever the fuck. In fact, the University of Alabama desegregated their sororities… in 2013. 

These universities only made these discriminatory practices of Greek life worse by allowing blatant racism on campus such as blackface and Klan regalia in the 70s and 80s (as well as earlier and likely later). Even as late as 2015, Sigma Alpha Epsilon (University of Oklahoma) blew up on social media showing members using the N-word repeatedly during a racist chant, promising to never accept Black members into the organization. It was later discovered that this chant was known by at least five different chapters. 

Social media seems to be an interesting added element of Greek life, as now sororities and fraternities have to keep an “image” of inclusivity, regardless of their actual beliefs. If anything, it’s holding them under more scrutiny than ever before. Just in 2018, our own Syracuse University suspended 15 members of the professional fraternity Theta Tau for a racist video that was sent to university officials, where they’re depicted saying “extremely racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, sexist and hostile [things] to people with disabilities,” according to the New York Times. The members of the fraternity apologized for the “pain, sadness and fear” that this incident caused, but the damage was done, and the fraternity was kicked off of campus– hopefully for good. 

Many homophobic, sexist, and racist notions are perpetuated through hazing– which is simply a part of the way Greek life is. Hazing dates back to the beginnings, believed to have started due to practices by Phi Beta Kappa way back with the start of the nation in 1776. 

One unfortunate part of hazing actually involves animal cruelty. In 2019, Alpha Epsilon Pi at Hofstra University, there was a cocker spaniel who was forced to drink beer, which can be poisonous. 

In Syracuse University, one example of extreme hazing was in 2015, where pledges for Nu Alpha Pi were “‘punished’ with exercises three times a day for 22 days” in the winter, with one pledge who nearly lost four fingers due to frostbite. 

Unfortunately, hazing doesn’t stop at “just” nearly-lost limbs. 

The most recent death due to hazing was in 2021 at Michigan State University, where Pi Alpha Phi held a “crossing party.” Pledges were left passed out in the basement with cereal, vomit, urine, and blood coating the floor, according to witnesses. It was also said that some attendees went down to the basement to watch and take photos, before heading back up to the party. Partygoers were heard saying the following to pledges: “You’re going to die tonight!” and “He’s dying!”

A 21-year-old pledge, Phat Nguyen, was found unresponsive at 2am, with four others found unresponsive and moved to the local hospital. The firefighters were unable to save Phat Nguyen, while the others survived. Three members of the fraternity were charged with wrongful death suits. Charges against one of them– John Pham– were dismissed. As of June 5, 2023, the most recent update I can find is that the Nguyen family has filed suits against up to 67 people. 

The Pi Alpha Phi fraternity chapter at MSU has been (rightfully) disbanded since the incident. 

This is not a unique experience– over 250 deaths have occurred since the 1800s due to hazing-related incidents, with 5 deaths already in the 2020s, including Gracie LeAnne Dimit (Emory and Henry University, 2020), Adam Oakes (Virginia Commonwealth University, 2021), Stone Foltz (Bowling Green State University, 2021), Lofton Hazelwood (University of Kentucky, 2021), and Phat Nguyen (Michigan State University, 2021). 

These were real people, with real lives, who were killed before they got through their 20s. Hazing is not some party trick— hazing is illegal in most states, and has real consequences. 

When fraternities and sororities are careless and abusive, people suffer. It’s important to keep yourself grounded in whatever you’re experiencing. If you have the ability to leave, do it. Abuse is abuse, regardless of whose hand (or mouth) it’s coming from. 

So how does this happen? How has an organization with such a horrible track-record continued to thrive? Certainly if this was the history of some other brand, it would be ripped from the shelves, right?

Truth be told, Greek life is really easy to get sucked into. It’s presented to you in a transitional period of your life– typically when you first enter college– when you’re looking for a sense of community. These sororities and fraternities show you how fun it would be for you to join– but only show you the fun things, such as cook-outs, themed parties, etc. They don’t show you the expenses or time commitment it will be to join these groups, or the lengthy/dangerous process that might take place. They make you feel at home. You see these guys or girls in a community that look like they belong together, you get compliments, you get to be a part of something that’s been around since America became its own country.

You follow these rules and ideas that go with the group, such as not associating with a certain fraternity or sorority. You abide by the rules of Panhel. You join to get a sense of purpose– whether that be community or otherwise. You join in activities that maybe you wouldn’t have without having joined this group. There’s “families” and lineage to tie you together and create this tight-knit community. 

So why do so many people go through hazing and associate with something that has such a horrible past? Because it’s a welcoming environment (for most) that can make you feel at home, and many college students– especially freshmen– are likely missing their families: so they find a new one. 

And Greek life isn’t all horrible, which is why it continues to thrive. Despite its dark history, for many, the good can outweigh the bad. Maybe you won’t get along with everyone, but you might make friendships and connections that last well into adulthood. There is a reason why the tradition has persisted.

I don’t want the take-away from this article to be that everyone who is in Greek life is bad. I have many friends in Greek life who are absolutely fantastic people, and all things considered, Greek life at Syracuse University is pretty tame compared to many universities some southern states. 

This article isn’t meant to discourage you from rushing or being in these communities, especially if you’re really excited or passionate about it. I just want you to be aware of the potential dangers that Greek life could pose. You may find that this is where you’re meant to be, that you found another family– and if you did, that’s great! Just never forget who you are, what you believe in, and to trust yourself.

If it feels off, it probably is.