Navigating morality in fraternity culture

Content warning: This article contains mentions of sexual violence and death.

When someone joins a fraternity, it can be argued that they forfeit some of their morals by participating in a flawed, dangerous system. Conversely, wanting to join a fraternity doesn’t mean that you’re inherently a bad person — it’s understandable when considering the benefits that come with pledging one.

Advantages include networking, leadership opportunities, academic support and brotherhood, all of which compel many students to join. Moreover, being in a fraternity doesn’t just help its members; service and philanthropy play a significant role in Greek life.

USC’s chapter of Phi Delta Theta hosts events to raise money for the LiveLikeLou Foundation, which researches and supports people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Similarly, USC’s chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa raises money and awareness for A Path 2 Courage, a community organization founded by a USC student that promotes education about sexual violence.

While there are respectable parts of joining fraternities, there are also objectionable characteristics. The cost of joining a fraternity is around $2,900, which can create a socioeconomically exclusive culture. Not only that, but fraternities are also predominantly made up of white, heterosexual men, furthering the chasm of diversity.

Additionally, hazing especially has come to the forefront of university and parental concern, and for good reason: Research from the University of Maryland found that since 1970, hazing deaths on college campuses have occurred every year — with 82% of them being alcohol related. At USC, Pi Kappa Phi, Phi Kappa Psi and Theta Xi officially lost University recognition after investigations found evidence of hazing in 2018 and 2019.

Sexual assault and drugging is another huge issue in Greek Life. Our Wave, an organization dedicated to empowering survivors of sexual assault, harassment and abuse, found research that discovered that men in fraternities are three times more likely to sexually assault a woman than their unaffiliated counterparts. In 2021, USC’s Sigma Nu faced multiple allegations of drugging and sexual assault during its parties, temporarily suspending that chapter. 

Joining a frat does not automatically link you to the negative stigma surrounding frat life, such as sexual assault and drug abuse. However, participating in frat life can continue to perpetuate the problems that create these negative stereotypes. You can be a good person and do nothing wrong during your time in a frat, but that doesn’t mean you’re fixing the problem, either. Participating in and exploiting a culture that has historically caused harm does not make you an innocent bystander. 

As a collective, frat members should try to create a new environment that actively tries to end these issues. Members need to take reports about dangerous events, such as sexual assault, seriously, rather than sweep them under the rug or defer blame solely to leadership. By taking responsibility, frats can eliminate the cynical stigmas and stereotypes that surround them.