Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Frats, n By MICHAEL FRITZ ^ DI.M **? *' uamcvucK ovitu writer Animosity between fraternities and students on the USC campus is partia ignorance, and partially because of the 1 fraternities themselves, the Inter-Frat advisor said. "Most people have a blind dislike for sor not educated about," advisor John Elkins would take the time to find out that frnt more than just go out and get drunk, they v they do a lot of things, like raising in excess year for the Columbia zoo." Elkins was combined effort by fraternities and soi Greek weeks of the past two years to rais Riverbsnks Zoo. ELKINS SAII) fraternities sometimes because they are an easy target. "It seems get zeroed in on simply because they because they are identifiable. They're rig! the quadrangle, physically. I think anyti some type of identity and you can emer going to take shots at you. I think thai nature, unfortunately." Elkins said during the spring a complain E. Toombs, director of USC Libraries re nity members' parking in library pai resulted in accusations that fraternit cessively. "This is strictly speculation, but what I was that he was so frustrated about his pa that he lashed out in other ways and s ? ?' - " ucuci uiiy uo is f>ei arunK and car Black f rats at (JSC sin< By SUSAN SHAW fratei Gamecock Staff Writer for til Black fraternities and GE sororities are a relative nom V o - . ,|V?v Uft *^U addition to the USC Greek white system. social The first black fraternity, "Whil Kappa Alpha Psi, appeared on have the USC campus in 1970. Since differ then, three more fraternities and Lizs three sororities have been Kapp? established at USC. sorori Black and white fraternities orient have few major differences. "It's Diff easier to identify pledges in black and w fraternities," said Masceo form< Deschamp, a member of Alpha Frate Phi Alpha. "We present our- fall c ^selves differently in black dressi Fraternitie The potential good of fraternities is unlimited according to Pearce, for example, when the whole Greek system got together for the Hiverbanks Zoo project. The Greeks sold zoo tickets to raise revenue and attendance for the zoo. Even though SPE is involved with campus and community services Pearce said he feels the fraternity could become more involved in community projects. PEARCE SAII) he gets disgusted with certain Greeks who balance "silver plattors" on thpir nncoc nnH aM lil*z% ..vww uuu uvi nrwv; mc)r dlC better than anyone else on campus. The majority of Greeks are not like this but instead are fine down-to-earth people, Pearce said. Pearce said he hopes Greeks receive more support from the new USC president than support rendered by the present administration. Judy Jennings, a Zeta Tau Alpha member, did not join a sorority her freshman year in order to see what other campus and community organizations were available. on-f rats c Elkins said that in an ? after the incident it campus-wide drinking pr< non-fraternity lly because of BESIDES INFORMING behavior of the and regulations, Elkins sai ernity Council IFC involved administerin one that has to go down an nething they're things." i said. "If they Elkins said inter-fratern: ernity boys do fraternities and give them wuld learn that I can't defend them." of $25,000 each "They fight between the referring to a and crazy. When you see rorities during intramural field, you coult e funds for the they're trying to win that fights occur for more reas< for the game." are criticized Elkins couldn't point to like the Greeks between certain fraternitie are organized, self-perpetuating. "It's lea it down there in told to hate certain frater ,...v ,uu vc &ui these fraternity people. It's ge, people are other fraternities. You onb t's just human lose strength." ELITISM ALSO weakei t from Kenneth "Some fraternities are look garding frater- kittle frats.' I see that as a t -king facilities like x{ That implies 'I'm 1 ies drink ex- Despite problems such fraternity system at USC is think happened as large as a lot of other uni rking situation, types of creative programi aid, 'All these bounds ahead of some othi ouse'." Elkins cited the First sororities 1 ATA .e i 7/u nities and put on functions fraternity," s; le ^vhole campus to see." In one insU had been KALI) MOSLEY, a member quadrangle b; ppa Alpha Psi, said he felt fraternities di fraternities were "more ticipate, but tl ily oriented," but added, the fees. "At tl le and black fraternities getting our mc more similarities than Mosley. ences." The advantf '.ie Reed, president of Alpha black frater a Alpha, agreed. "White depend on the ties seem to ho srviniiv? j jioivi niA/u, y\i ed." many fields," erences between the black dab, a membt hite fraternities caused the Alpha. jr to leave the Interrnity Council (IFC) in the IT HELPS i >f 1976. "IFC wasn't ad- by interacting ng itself to the needs of my diverse bac From page 3 1 A rising senior, Jennings said joining a sorority is a status symbol and makes the resume look good. Jennings said she did nol 1 join for this reason. She said she joined a sorority because she is service-oriented. JENNINGS SAID there is a miscon! /?ontinn ?1 f ^.luu niai um-c a meiiiuer oi me ureeK system, one becomes "sisterly" with all other members. Although Greeks have a better chance of developing numerous and good friendships, those friendships must be worked for, said Jennings. Although "sisterhood" is stressed during rush week there are not always sisterly relationships. Those who are more sisterly are the co-eds controlling the sororitv. shp said. Jennings said she wasn't able to attend many of the parties and because of this missed out on the sisterly relationships. There is psychological pressure once a member of a sorority to be an active member and to develop warm, sisterly relationships, said Jennings. : recite a idministrative meeting shortly conf ; out that perhaps there was a Sout )blem. #w?nn ~E1 1 fraternities of regular rules fratc id his position as advisor to the than ig disciplinary action. "I'm the aver d ream when they've done bad aver soroi ity fighting and elitism hurt the soroi bad publicity. "In those areas, 2.604 "E jmselves. I think it's ludicrous thou$ fistfights breaking out in the frate i say they're very spirited and alwa; trophy. But a lot of times fist- do." )ns than they're just peaked up "Tl of jus any causes for the hostility drink s, but described the fighting as fratei rned and passed on. A pledge is overa nitioc I . viw. * i^any n^iii inai wun natioi unfair to the pledge, and to the Elk / hurt yourselves because you an ac contn lis fraternities, Glkins said. a mar ed on as the 'big frats' and the grade ype of caste system and I don't goes i >etter than you'." Till as these, Elkins said the one th excellent. "Our system is not middl versities, but in terms of some it's no Tiing, I think we're leaps and educa er people." grade; Annual Smith Carolina av - - ? " ^ iraten added. "If yoi campus, there from another c close to you," s "A brother m; assistance in Deschamp said, chance to be 1 community and the group you lil aid Mosley. On campus, b ince, a keg party and sororities planned at the students enterta V IFO Th<* hlnnlz- -J , ? uanees. UII car idn't want to par- black students a ;?y sti'.i had to pay serve the comi le time, we weren't black fraternitie >ney's worth," said contribute to th College Fund, jges of being in a "Wekeepblacl nity or sorority of what goes c individual. "With munity," said Re ?u meet people of Kappa Alpha oi said Janice Syn- service in some ;r of Alpha Kappa T II K PAN Council, comp members grow up representatives f with others from seven charterer kgrounds, Reed nities and soror Mncl rif Innninrtc' ""* ' ...?/wv v/i uvuiiiu^O U It'll , Greeks although this is not a eritc friendship with her. JENNINGS SAII) she is impress< the business like functioning of Ze Alpha. During the spring Student Gove; elections the Greeks formed a bond t vote and elect Greeks to the major < Jennings said. Because Greeks have been neglec the past three years this bloc vo initiated to elect a Greek to a high SC and give Greeks "some pull relations," according to Jennings. Jennings said she was told to vote oreex candidates, but only voted f Greek. Wanda Hodge, Vice-President of Gamma Rho, a black sorority, said t no discrimination against a whit pledging to SGR. She said it would easier or harder for a white girl to | Hodge added there are white mc nationally, but none at USC. nimcsity erence, hosted by the USC IFC, and the first IFC heastern Greek superstars program. Both events rred during the past academic year. kins also pointed to figures showine that .u n v t4 TtllUIC mutes and sororities have higher grade point ratios non-fraternity members. The fraternity GPU age was 2.274, as opposed to the non-fraternity age of 2.245 and the all-men average of 2.246. The ity GPR average was 2.682, compared to the nonity average of 2.600 and the all-women's average of VEHYONE SAYS fraternities hurt your grades, even jh we have always said locally and nationally that rnities help your grades, and they do. Someone else ys says we're wrong. They don't have the proof; we le point is fraternities have always had the identity t getting the guy in who's the big, good looking, hard ing captain of the football team. We have several nities that are so very interested in keeping their 11 GPR good so they can compete for different lal and local awards. They want good students." ins admitted, however, that once a pledge becomes live member of a fraternity, there's no way to )1 his grades. "The only control a fraternitv has n??r .tn l - . o ?1 aiies is auring pledgeship. If he does not make J s, he does not go active. If his grades drop after he < ictive, it sure does hurt you." < SRE ARE myths about fraternities, Elkins said, and j tat disturbs him most is "that fraternities are the , b class brats that come to college to play, because 1 t true. They do a lot of good things; they get their ' tion and go out and prove themselves. Look at the , 5 and your leaders on campus. They're members of nities." * i go to another with the Afro American Student | will be someone Association this fall to plan ac- I hapter who'll be tivitioc it hoc k*? 1,0/^ .. . .*.ww. a v iiwu itWI 1 Ul UOVy iur j he added. one year, and its guidelines for < ay give you some the council are set by the ' getting a job," National Pan Hellenic Council. "It gives you a "It has final say-so over con>eneficial to the flicts," said Reed. IFC coorto socialize with dinates fraternity and sorority ce," Mosley said. activities, such as rush and fundlack fraternities raising projects. > offer black Fraternities and sororities are inment, such as seldom at odds with the Pan- < npus, they give Hellenic Council, and Reed said, n opportunity to "minor emblems nunity. All the Hell and a chapter will usually j s and sororities result in a compromise." ] e United Negro 1 "THE FRATERNITY has a t students aware positive direction," Deschamp i in in the com- said. "Some top men, such as j ed. "Also, Alpha Andrew Young, Associate Justice ^ fers a tutoring Thurgood Marshall and Martin 1 subjects." Luther King were Alphas." j The fundamental purpose of \ HELLENIC most black fraternities and ? osed of two sororities is scholarship and J rom each of the cnrvifo ? ? ?..vtu aaiu promoting ] I black frater- the stature of women" was an , ities, will work objective of her sorority I < ds are HODGK SAII) Sigma Gamma Rho ria for stresses individuality among its members SGR looks for intelligent, ambitious, creative, productive individuals who want to h1 with perform community services and are in ta Tau terested in scholastics, Hodge said There is a uniaueness ;?hnnt Qr:n rnment white fraternities do not possess and this is o bloc based on the black cultural ideal, she said Dffices, Hodge said the sorority takes pride and respect in themselves and therefore expects ted for respect from others, Hodge said. te was Sigma Gamma Rho is not as recognizable ' office as some of the other sororities at USC 'n SG because it is primarily a service and scholastic organization as opposed to a for the ?,eu,..buiiuii, iii/wp;*" or one BLACK GIRLS' parents generally are not supportive of joining a sorority because Sigma many were not associated with sororities if here is ^ey attended college, Hodge said. e Sammyette Wilson, President of Sigma ** no Gamma Rho and Hodge agreed that white )ledge. sororities and fraternities are more socially ;mbers oriented and not service oriented as are black sororities and fraternities.