Asking why Greek organizations exist at all is an appropriate question
You have to be trolling right? You are much smarter than to pose something so stupid as a serious premise.
I'm not a fan of the Greek system, but you're right, that's a discussion for a different thread and not the one we're discussing here.
It's absolutely a discussion for this thread.
The Greek system fosters this kind of behavior. I don't believe these guys, jackasses as they are, would act this way alone or in a small group. The system breeds herd mentality.
Granted, this is definitely not tolerated by even a small of Greeks, but I've been disappointed in many in this thread and elsewhere seem very concerned that other fraternities or chapters may be negatively affected by this.
Yeah, this is absolutely the thread to deal with this stupidity. First of all I'm going to assume that you and cartier are talking about different things because he said greek organizations and you are talking about the greek system. When I was in college I was in a social greek fraternity that was a men's organization. I was also a member of a greek service fraternity that was a coed organization. I attempted to get into an academic honor fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa, but unfortunately I did not get in. I would think that attending a four year college one would know the variety and differences in greek organizations and not group them all together as if they are some homogeneous unit. Asking why greek organizations exist is why asking why there is the need for all groups and clubs, its absolutely a stupid premise.
Now if we want to take the narrow approach and ask about why social fraternities exist, I'd have the same objections but at least I can have something to focus on. Generally if someone is asking why there is a need for social greek organizations they are, whether they want to admit it or not, have some sort of bias they are working from that they can't get past. Social greek organizations in college exist for the same reasons as any other group does. Basically they are at a minimum a peer group. You can get more out of them, hell you can get less, it's what you make of it. How is a fraternity any different that a floor of a resident hall that is really organized? There are some differences (structured philanthropy, grade requirements, community dining, historical belonging) but literally all of them slant favorably towards social greek organizations. The social fraternity and the community service fraternity shared many things within the history, mission of the organizations, traditions, and how the leadership viewed the role of the organization within the larger framework of the community. The purpose of why all greek organizations cannot be explained any differently than what the purpose of all student organizations are. It's not for you? Fine move on, there aren't thousands of people on the Ultimate Frisbee Club, multicultural student senate doesn't have a waiting list, the College Republicans don't have to explain why they can't draw more Liberals, not every freshman woman dreams of living in Smurthwaite. They all have their lane and all have the right to exist without explanation. Greek social organizations should get the same deal, they all have different missions, and purposes for existing and shouldn't have to justify why they exist because of the ill-advised, dated, and silly preconceived notions of others.
And rusty, you're absolutely right to be disappointed by myself and others who have wondered how this coming to light at OU effects other fraternities and sororities. If people are stupid enough to delineate anything larger about greek organizations from this, their opinions should absolutely be dismissed instantly.
