The Traditionalist: Greek Life: there's much more to it than debauchery

The Traditionalist: Greek Life: there's much more to it than debauchery


Greeks can make it easy to dislike them, as their motives often seem to be pompously driven.

Although their constant fight against stereotypes of binge-drinking, affluence and autocratic, self-concerned socialites may be rightfully earned, Greek Life does contain a value in its existence and an irreplaceable role in collegiate society.

Behind the vendetta against cargo shorts and the affinity for debauchery, Greek Life’s more obvious and primary role as a support system is established through philanthropy and charity. Philanthropy is highly prioritized within Greek organizations, and the results are apparent.

Greek Life at LSU reports that more than 50,000 hours of community service and $250,000 were given in philanthropic efforts in the 2011-2012 school year. On the national scene, the Greek system represents the largest network of volunteers in the U.S., offering some 10 million hours of community service along with donating another $7 million a year.

That’s quite a contradiction to the public opinion’s vanity-stricken Greeks.

Other than just working on “chill-to-pull” ratios or hoping Reagan will resurrect to restore political and economical order in the country, Greeks learn to have pride in being a part of something greater than the individual. They learn not only to have pride in their letters, but also in their university’s letters — sometimes even greater pride.

Greeks are renowned for school spirit, exercising their patriotic support for their university just about as much as they do their livers and kidneys. That may have some correlation, though without Greek Life, I don’t find that our fall Saturdays would have evolved to be as exciting as they are today.

The Greek organizations on campus lead the participation in homecoming activities and are notorious tailgaters that frequently play host to independents.

And when sports other than football are in need of fan support, coaches and players typically go to the Greeks, who always enjoy an opportunity to get rowdy in the name of the University and prefer to travel in ensemble.

But, maybe Greek Life’s largest contribution isn’t so much tangible, but rather conceptual.

In such progressive times like today, Greek Life stands as a pillar of old tradition. Tradition is the core of fraternities and sororities, as they all were founded with a set of values that were keynoted with an objective. Through belief in the values their rituals hold and respect of their founders, Greek Life endorses respect for those who have gone before us — a trait seemingly absent today.

Not only does Greek Life support tradition, it has largely through the myths and legends of Animal House-type antics, become an American tradition. Kind of like the Wild West, though maybe not as romantic, Greek Life is an experience that is entirely American.

There are other undeniable facts that attest to the Greeks’ contributions to society other than vomit and Mrs. degrees.

Greeks largely comprise federal government. Fraternities have produced 40 of 47 U.S. Supreme Court Justices since 1910, along with 76 percent of all Senators and Congressman.

In addition, since the inception of the social fraternity in 1825, every U.S. president, save two, belonged to a fraternity.

As it may be that some see Greek Life as an evil, for them I sympathize with their headaches or sour sentiments that those frat-swooped, friend-purchasing conformists may have caused.

Call it evil if you will, but it’s necessary.