Monday, April 21, 2014

Period 3 Blog Post due 4/25

http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/02/the-dark-power-of-fraternities/357580/

Consider the author's tone, structure of the article, validity of evidence, persuasive techniques, and your personal reaction.  
2. Please add an intelligent comment (minimum 5 sentences) in response to the linked articles from The Atlantic.  Be sure to use a minimum of one quote in your response.
3. Optional: Comment on a classmates post in a second post (minimum 3 sentences)
*Use only your first name, last initial and class period.

18 comments:

  1. I am completely shocked by the article on Frats. I was always aware of the dangers that they might entail, but I had no idea of the frequency that such events occurred. In the cases such as Andaverde and Jane Doe, despite being very different, it is obvious that the safety standards at such fraternities are extremely low and badly monitored. Everyone wants to have fun in college and enjoy themselves, and in most cases the new excess freedom proves to be lethal, so I believe that college campuses should provide a safer environment for the students who obviously might not be making the best decisions. In the article it refers to big name universities that have high standards for their students and are widely renowned throughout the country, but I definitely look at them differently after reading this article, even though I know the majority of colleges have the same problems. As a girl, it is a little concerning going to college so soon when you read articles such as this one, because it is possible for something similar to happen to you, and there is little you can do to prevent it other than maybe avoiding frats altogether. But then there goes your out of school life, your friends, and your social standings. I just cant fathom that schools that are making over 50 grand per student a year cant afford to build higher railings, install sprinkler, and have locked windows. Why instead have newspaper articles written about your school and how a young college student fell off a roof or deck plummeting to their death since the railing was too low. I don't know why any college would want to have that kind of reputation, especially when in most cases it is easily avoidable. A quote from the article states, "The organizations raise millions of dollars for worthy causes, contribute millions of hours in community service, and seek to steer young men toward lives of service and honorable action. They also have a long, dark history of violence against their own members and visitors to their houses, which makes them in many respects at odds with the core mission of college itself." This is so important because it mentions all the good that frats do, but also how it is used to cover up all the bad that comes from the societies. This article has persuaded me to look at the college deans differently for not taking action in such a significant issue on campus.
    Alyssa Case
    Period 3

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  2. Reading this article surprised me greatly to know the extent of dangers Frats can cause. I never knew that injuries and deaths associated to Frats were so common in America. The article says fraternities "are as old, almost, as the republic. In a sense, they are older: they emanated in part from the Freemasons, of which George Washington himself was a member. When arguments are made in their favor, they are arguments in defense of a foundational experience for millions of American young men, and of a system that helped build American higher education as we know it." They aren't something new, so in a lot of cases, frat houses hold a lot of power to colleges. This is a little scary to think about considering stories like Andaverde's, which was told in the article. Cook states, “Amanda rolled onto her shoulder toward the exterior wall, and suddenly, quickly, and unexpectedly dropped off Cook’s mattress into the open exterior window, falling from the third-floor ‘sleeping porch’ to the cement approximately 25 feet below.” These kind of stories that are associated with Frats are terrible to hear about. But, my honest conclusion to this all is that there is no getting rid of Frats. If they were to be banned, other groups would form and stupid college behavior will not go away. The Frats are a way to encourage senseless behavior, but even without Frats, dumb decisions would continue to occur.
    Claire Paterson
    Class 3

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  3. I personally wasn't as shocked to see the facts about fraternities while reading this article because I have known for a long time the strange initiations and other things that fraternities do. I've heard accounts of young men dying due to initiations into the fraternities by means of drowning, overdosing, drinking too much alcohol in a short period of time, breaking their spine, falling (such as the case with Amanda from the article where, in the text it says how she died, "...and suddenly, quickly, and unexpectedly dropped off Cook’s mattress into the open exterior window, falling from the third-floor ‘sleeping porch’ to the cement approximately 25 feet below.”)and etc., and I also heard of the extreme parties that go on in fraternities amongst other things. I've also even heard of extreme fraternities that are more cult-like than they are a house of young men in college. Such as the case with a supposed fraternity in Yale that included about 3 presidents, including George W. Bush, that did crazy things that I don't even care to remember. Not only do I believe that frats and sororities are extremely unnecessary and stupid and I know that I'll never be a part of one, but for the longest time I was afraid to go to college because I was afraid I was going to be forced into some sort of initiation event in which I'd get hurt in. To this day I still experience anxiety just thinking about it. I wish that colleges made an effort to eliminate all fraternities and sororities that do stupid things such as this and so no more young men and women have to die or be seriously injured from them.
    Megan Glynn Period 3

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  4. I was aware of many of the horror stories that take place at fraternities, however I didn't realize the extent of the issues. The article notes that since 2005, "more than 60 people- the majority of them students- have died in incidents linked to fraternities." Although these frats exist, I don't think they are going away anytime soon. It sounds like there is a long historical back round associated with Greek life. And even though there is a lot bad aspects of frats, there are also a lot of positive aspects of it. The article says, " The organizations raise millions of dollars for worthy causes, contribute millions of hours in community service, and seek to steer young men toward lives of service and honorable action." I think as a student entering college, it is a good idea to be aware of the dangers that exist around these fraternities and just to be cautious.

    Eleanor Hall
    Period 3

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  5. I was immensely surprised when reading this article. I also thought it was contradictory how the author stated that although fraternities are a bit crazy, fraternities can,"provide their members with matchless leadership training. While the system has produced its share of poets, aesthetes, and Henry James scholars, it is far more famous for its success in the powerhouse fraternity fields of business, law, and politics. An astonishing number of CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, congressmen and male senators, and American presidents have belonged to fraternities". I thought it was interesting how successful people can emerge from fraternities while others are lighting bottle rockets in their butts. I don't think fraternities should be ended in any way because no matter what, people of any age will find stupid things to do. But, there should be some form of restrictions on fraternities In order to secure safety.
    Gabby White
    Period 3

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  6. I knew fraternity existed and was concerned on but I had no clue the situation could have gone this far. I have heard stories but they weren’t as serious as these ones. It's hard to completely remove the unneeded behaviors but the article mentioned “...through service, leadership training, and accountability for mistakes, a brother can learn the valuable lessons he will need to become “a better dad, a better teacher, a better engineer, a better pilot, a better ‘insert career here.” It’s especially hard to change these behaviors because everyones’ young and wants to enjoy and all but they need to learn to take responsibility for their action. It’s unnecessary to have these group which causes more tension and acts as bad influence than good. The article makes me feel little uneasy and more concerned about the college and it’s environment that I will attend in the future. It makes me more aware.
    ~Shilpa R Period 3

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  7. Fraternities are known for their wild and crazy behavior. Many young men are overly excited to join brotherhoods and be apart of the madness. To me, the hazing of it all is not worth it. I've heard stories of people having to eat their own poop, and they did it. I've heard others of people being given so much alcohol that they black out, are placed in a neighboring town, and then have to find their way back. But these are just stupid things that can be funny but also dangerous and insane. Its not worth dying to be apart of a frat. And then when things happen like rape and people just look the other way, that's just sick. In the article it talked about the rape of a girl and when the frat heard word they tried to seem concerned. The frat's email, "Attesting to reports (plural) of sexual assaults at the fraternity house “during recent parties”; noting that these reports “renewed our concern” expressed in the e‑mail sent before Jane Doe’s enrollment; and strongly encouraging students to stay away from the house." They had a renewed interest? What is that? Did they forget that it happened or just think that people would forget and it would go back to the way it was. It's insane how cruel people can be. so the frats seem like they could be a good time but in reality you're better off making some good friends and making fools out yourselves for fun instead of for someone else's amusement.

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  8. Fraternities have always been something that have hard a bad rep. Mainly for the hazing that goes on during "rush." What I was not aware of is that hazing isnt even the worse thing that goes on in frat houses. I was shocked to read that "more than 60 people- the majority of them students- have died in incidents linked to fraternities." In the article a question was asked. "why dont they just get rid of these bad fraternities?" Although this might be able to stop some of the insanity it is very hard to do. Greek houses are historical and many times lead back to some pretty important people. If a house was ever shut down there would be an uproar from all of the alumni. Fraternities are going to continue to act this way if there arent consequences.
    Michaela S
    Period 3

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  9. To everyone going into college in the coming years the lesson this article is teaching is a very important one for young people to know. College frats have a dangerous side to them. This article was saying how although many great people in our society have attended frats during college years it does not make them great. The author pointed out that there is a dark side to fraternities although 18 of our presidents attended one. Examples of the dark side were told about such as the story of Amanda who," rolled onto her shoulder toward the exterior wall, and suddenly, quickly, and unexpectedly dropped off Cook’s mattress into the open exterior window, falling from the third-floor ‘sleeping porch’ to the cement approximately 25 feet below." This girl was visiting a friend one night and the unregulated conditions of the house resulted in permanent brain damage. What I also noted was the graph that was presented that showed the most common disorders at frat houses. What was shocking to me that the front runner was not hazing but it was assault and battery and second to that was sexual assault.This surprised me because when you think of frats you think of beer and hazing. This article definitely is an eye opener to the real dangers of an institution like a fraternity.
    Elena Muniz
    period 3

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  10. I've heard about the negative risks that come with fraternities (and sororities) in the past, so this article in general was not much of a shock, but some of the examples and statistics did surprise me. For instance, the article mentioned what happens when a member dies when it says, "At many fraternities, the protocol in the event of the death of a member advises brothers to leave family notification to the police, the university, or medical professionals; to lock the deceased's door; and to have boxes available for his family. " The fact that they have a "protocol" in place for death in the fraternity is a major signal to me that it's far more common than it should be. A former president of a fraternity said, in the article, that yes they are dangerous, but they are also incredibly fun. I think that fraternities should stay around because they can be a fun experience, but as soon as people's lives are at stake, something needs to be done.
    Jennifer G

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  11. When I think about college, fraternities and sororities are the 2 things that come to my kind as a social aspect. Mostly frats because I'm a guy. But I also knew that harassment and hazing was a regular occurrence when it came to frats. Stupid pranks, dumb tasks and idiots who think that the stuff they do is actually worth doing to become part of some frat. Iv seen movies, TV shows, and heard music that show what frats are about and why the dark side of frats are. My sister goes to a university where fraternities and sororities are a big part of the college life and a big experience in your life. Personally, I know people who are in frats and they have told me the stuff they have had to do. While I wouldn't say the stuff on here, I can tell you that the stuff they are doing aren't really things that make you worthy enough to be a part of a Frat. While I do agree that some things they do are too far and are done to an extent, I also agree that some of these experiences do help you learn life lessons and values. Not saying that putting a bottle rocket up your behind helps you learn what life is really about , but it makes you realize what you did, how stupid you were to do it and hopefully helps you learn from it. I understand completely that frats don't have the best reputation because of there assumed contact drugs, violence, and other frowned upon things. But overall, I think frats are a good way to build relationships with other members and let you feel like you a part of something. But on the other hand, it's disappointing to see of all the negative things about frats. I knew most of this stuff existed but I didn't think much of it. I guess I will never really know what Frats are really about until I go to college and make a decision on whether I want to be in one
    Dalton e
    Period 3

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  12. Fraternities have more power than most people realize on their college campuses. They are generally respected programs and large parts of why people choose to go to college. Fraternities can be a great experience and greatly add to the college experience. However there are dark sides of frats, where members are forced to gross acts, and commit unheard of activities. And they sometimes get involved in activities that get them in trouble and even suspended by their school. My cousin's frat recently was suspended because they committed an act of racial discrimination. They are now suspended indefinitely and the frat has been removed from the college. So while frats are fun I believe that they have to be just a club and organization and not a place where people feel as though these actions are okay.
    Mike B Per 3

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  13. Fraternities, according to the article, have been a part of college campuses since before the American Revolution. George Washington himself was a part of a fraternity in college, but fraternities have evolved a lot since then. Now, being a part of a fraternity is appealing to lots of incoming college students but there are many risks involved. College fraternities now are known for crazy ideas and alcohol. Many people each year are severely injured or are killed in incidents related to fraternities. For some, joining a fraternity is a must, but for others, fraternities give too much of a distraction for students. While in college there are many options for students and choosing the right fraternity can be a great decision but in some cases, fraternities are very dangerous and should be avoided if you are planning to stay focused on college work.
    Kevin Cox
    Period 3

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  14. I have heard a couple horror stories when it come to frats on different college campuses, but I didn't know how big the problem actually is. The article states, "since 2005, more than 60 people—the majority of them students—have died in incidents linked to fraternities". I don't think the extreme things some frats require for students to get in should be allowed. The frats should focus on the good they do, like raising money and doing community service. Because of the good things frats do, they probably will never go away. But, they should definitely be watched a little more closely to make sure people do not get hurt anymore.

    Emma S
    Period 3

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  15. I wasn't really surprised to read all about all the crazy things fraternity brothers are doing in colleges around the nation but I was astounded about the way frats handle death. The fact that many have a system in place on to how to approach the death of a frat member and that there are hotlines and a media persons and steps on what to do leads me to believe that deaths are a common occurrence and that's terrible. No one should die because of all the shenanigans fraternities get into. To quote Fierberg from the article, "(frats) are part of an industry that has tremendous risk and a tremendous history of rape, serious injury, and death, and the vast majority share common risk-management policies that are fundamentally flawed." While I do maintain that the fraternity system in the US needs some revision and oversight, I do believe that frats as a whole are an important social aspect of college. They have experiences to offer young men and actually do a lot of good work for the communities they live in. I don't believe that all fraternities are as bad as the article depicts.
    Justin Campos
    Period 3

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  16. Quite frankly, this article surprised me; I didn’t know the extent of havoc of which fraternities caused. All in all there were two things that shocked me the most: the actions of members of these fraternities and the death protocols some have in place. I think it’s important to note, however, that the article itself was very biased, but I’m basing my opinion off of the facts that were stated.
    First off, I think it’s worth mentioning some of the things in the reading that didn’t surprise me, to the slightest bit. For example, I was not surprised there were many incidents involving people falling off roofs or decks or anything of that sort, simply because people tend to do stupid things higher off the ground (I’m not sure why, that’s just how things work). Nor was I surprised at some of the examples of weird things fraternity brothers do (i.e. putting a bottle rocket up someone’s butt). What did surprise me however, was the mention of death protocols. It’s quite concerning to me that fraternities have a laid out plan for what to do when someone dies; this just signals to me it’s too much of a common occurrence. In the text it says, “In the case of the death of a guest or a member, fraternity brothers do not attempt direct contact with the deceased’s parents. This hideous task is to be left to the impersonal forces of the relevant professionals…If the dead person was a fraternity member who lived in the house, his brothers should return any borrowed items to his room and temporarily relocate his roommate, if he had one. Members may offer to pack up his belongings, but “it is more likely the family will want to do this themselves.” Several empty boxes might thoughtfully be left outside the room for this purpose.” Although I admit it is a good thing to have an IDEA of what to do when something happens, shouldn’t the fraternity be more focused on preventing deaths from happening than actually preparing a plan if something happens?
    This article also opened my eyes to how much power fraternities have, not only in what they can force people to do, but also in legal situations. Regardless of what power they may have, I greatly agree with one sentence in the article: “ When there is a common denominator among hundreds of such injuries and deaths, one that exists across all kinds of campuses, from private to public, prestigious to obscure, then it is more than newsworthy: it begins to approach a national scandal.” There is an issue here with deaths among students, but I wonder if it’s really the fraternity’s fault, or merely just the lack of control when consuming alcohol or drugs. Regardless, it should be the fraternity’s job to teach their members how to be safe when consuming such items, and to not make stupid decisions.
    I don’t think fraternities are all bad, because they do allow their members to become apart of something great and form friendships that can last a lifetime. However, there are certain issues that need to be dealt with, an it is important for the presidents of the fraternities to deal with them.

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  17. With every 'good' in the world, I believe that there is also an evil. Proponents of fraternities believe that it is an essential tradition of the American educational system and argue that many leaders, congressmen, scholars, poets, businessmen and many more have been engaged in frats. The article continues to state, "The organizations raise millions of dollars for worthy causes, contribute millions of hours in community service, and seek to steer young men toward lives of service and honorable action." Yes, there are clearly many benefits of being a part of fraternities, but with them are negative consequences. I truly believe that the consequences outweigh the benefits because the article, "The Dark Power of Fraternities" states, "there’s a complaint of manslaughter, rape, sexual torture, psychological trauma." The negative part of frats include sexual harassment, rape, underage drinking without adult supervision, hazing, and many other horrible crimes. The fact that as an American society we are approving of the reckless behavior of these young men that are being encouraged to join frats is shocking to me. If I were a parent, who was paying hundreds and thousands of dollars for my child to have an education in college, but figure out that they were drinking unsafely, engaging in violence and rape, I would be devastated. I believe that the first thing we need to change is our view of frats and stop encouraging these men to be 'social'. I believe that there is no justification of rape or sexual assault, no matter what the situation may be. We can not justify the actions of men who are in frats by saying it is just a 'college experience' and that they are just being 'social.' It is seriously hindering the educational system and causing harm to other individuals, who are not even associated with frats. There are other ways to accomplish and achieve volunteering service and education that don't involve death or permanent bodily injury, such as clubs, internships and study abroad programs. If getting rid of frats can make college a safer experience, then I believe that it should not be promoted today. I did generalize a lot about men in this commentary, and by no means am I saying that ALL men are harassing and bullying each other. In fact most men who do join these frats are harmless and have no intentions of being involved in violence or drinking, but the men who are involved in such crimes ruin the opportunities are others.
    Reitsuma Panta

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  18. I was aware that Frats included a lot of hazing and unnecessary behavior, but I didn't realize that grown men would feel it necessary to take it to such extremes. I understand that frats are all about feeling accepted and belonging to something, and I admire that aspect of it, I even enjoy the idea of initiating underclassmen and participating in funny, or maybe embarrassing rituals. However when it get to the point where up to 60 people have died, it has clearly lost the fun and embarrassment, so whats the need? That's taking it to far, and I can't really imagine what the activities were, or how pointless they really were because at that point incoming student should look to feel accepted elsewhere, where they aren't being expected to do dangerous things.
    Cara Broughal

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