Greek community on social probation

In before “but we didn’t do anything wrong, don’t judge us”.

Two deaths, one month, all greek.

Again, emphasis on DEATH not just drinking.

A few students this year that were non-greek died from alcohol related incidents during tailgate, however, I don’t see anyone calling for the end of tailgating.

I agree with “?” There have been other deaths and incidents over this year and the past few that were all related to drinking. It is unfair to blame the Greek System for the loss of the lives of these two men. But I do support the social probation decision as wake up call, but it is the WHOLE student body that needs a wake up call, NOT just the Greeks.

to the first comment:
“Two deaths one month all greek”

As far as I know, the two deaths are unrelated. It just so happened that two were in frats. Last year, there was a string of MSU student deaths (one was techno music lover that had a stab wound in his chest, one never woke up and one accidentally drove offroad) and I don’t see anyone condemning their activities or groups they may belong in.

Between the 2 death, the reports of sexual assault, and the incident with the football team (not blaming the frat for that, but it as they say it takes two to tango), I think this is probably fair, even if it is punishing people who are only guilty by association

?:
Actually there are always people calling for the end of tailgate or for more rules. They actually get their way too.

MSU:
As if the first death wasn’t enough, a second one in the same month still doesn’t sell it to you? You do realize, DIEING while drinking is not a normal thing, right?

Contrary to popular greek belief, it is not “normal” for MSU students to just die while drinking. Nor is it nor should be acceptable when one of your own dies, regardless of circumstances. No one wants to see death story #3 when the new semester rolls around.

First of all, what “reports of sexual assault”? Second on all, both these “greek” deaths were by the Agricultural kinda sorta frat and the Jewish kinda sorta frat. So we are punishing the whole community because of 2 barely-greek fraternities? Kick both of them off campus, no one would even notice.

I think the system is using it as a way to make a point about responsible drinking, not to punish or put blame on the greek system. Since its such a closely organized and regulated system its much easier for them to put a stop to partying to make a point. Everyone on campus should take these deaths serious but the reality is there is no organization to stop partying in off campus housing…other than ELPD i guess.

Dear Greek?

First, your response is classic in the sense that you are attempting to feel better by distancing yourself from the problem. It is always easier to assume that the problems elsewhere, do not exist where we are. Labeling AEPi and AGR as barely Greek is done simply to make you feel better, but has not basis in fact. To be honest, these two fraternities, more than many others, have hung on to their cultural heritage, which is why many fraternities were founded.

I would like to applaud the IFC and PC for their actions. It speaks to their leadership, sense of personal responsibility for the lives of their members, and their understanding of their role within the Greek community. I am also please to see the responses from so many who seem to support this decision. My hope is that all members of the Greek family, and the MSU family, will take time this holiday season to reflect on the sanctity of life, the many blessings that we have, and the true meaning of being Greek.

Is overdrinking a MSU problem or a Greek problem?

This is an MSU problem. Yes, a lot of Greeks do to much drinking, but most students at this school drink too much (clearly the majority of overdrinkers are not Greek as over 85% of undergrad here are not Greek) Many of my non-Greek friends drink even more than my Greek ones.

The fact that both students were Greek is a coincidence (I am not opposed to the social probation though). Their circumstances were totally different (one was over 21, one was under, one was out of town, one was in his own room). The fact is, we all have friends who drink and/or do stupid things, and this could happen to anyone’s best friend, even yours.

Lets be honest,

Yes overdrinking at MSU is a problem, it has been for quite some time. I’m sure there are plenty of non-greeks who binge on a regular basis and maybe even do stupid things to boot.

The fact is, when two students die from a relatively small population, there is obviously something wrong in the social aspects of that group. It doesn’t matter where it happened, of age or not. They’re still with the same type of people, in house or not.

Greek-
Are you even Greek? All fraternities at one time long long ago were founded for cultural reasons. It was a way for individuals who had something in common to bond together. Although this has been lost in most fraternities and they are mostly used as a simple social network today, it seems both of these house at least have held onto their original founding fathers wishes that the members of this organization are bonded together by a common thread.

Anon-

Please learn to spell correctly and speak English correctly before you post comments on a newspaper website. (FYI “dying” is not spelled “dieing”).

Anon:

Like I said, both students just happened to be greek. Like I also said, if one or neither were greek, who would you blame? the entire MSU student body?

And wtf do you mean “their still with the same type of people”? Are greeks some type of mutants?

Oh, come on, everyone. Drinking at MSU is a huge problem and always has been. No, it’s not just the Greeks but fraternities have definitely made binge drinking and partying part of their culture. It was that way in the 1990s and still is today. I say get rid of the fraternities altogether. What are they good for? People to tailgate with when you’re 40 and want to recapture your youth?

“The fact is, when two students die from a relatively small population, there is obviously something wrong in the social aspects of that group.”

What population is that? They were not affiliated with the same orginizaion. “Greek” is not a student orginization, its a term used to encompass 30 seperate student groups. This is a tragic coincidence. The issue is binge drinking among college students in general, not greeks.

Rebecca-
You ask what are fraternities good for?

Are you completely clueless to all of the good things they do for their communities?
EVERY year the greeks on MSU’s campus raises $200,000 for cancer research. Does $200,000 replace a life? NO but it is niave and ignorant to say they are of no use to society. Do you know anyone that has cancer or is a breast cancer survivor?

AEPi’s not a Greek Fraternity? STFU.

-2009 Greek Week Champions
-2009 Greek Week 1st Place Songfest
-2009 Greek Week 2nd Place Barnight
-2009 Greek Week 1st Place Penny Wars
-2009 Greek Week 1st Place Field Events
-2009 Greek Week 2nd Place Relay for Life
-2009 Spring IFC Highest GPA
-2009 Fall IFC Highest GPA
-2009 National Fraternal Progress Award
-2009 National Fraternal Nomination: Edward Gold Jewish Activity Award
-2009 IM Basketball Semi-Finals
-2009 IM Broomball Champions

-2008 Spring IFC Highest GPA
-2008 Fall IFC Highest GPA
-2008 Greek Week Champions
-2008 Greek Week 2nd place Battle of the Bands
-2008 Greek Week 1st Place Field Events
=2008 IFC Membership Education Award
-2008 IFC Greek Academic Man of the Year

-2007 Spring IFC Highest GPA
-2007 Fall IFC Highest GPA
-2007 Phi Sigma Lieutenant Master Award
-2007 National Fraternity Outstanding Rush Results

-2006 Spring IFC Highest GPA
-2006 Fall IFC Highest GPA
-2006 National Fraternity Outstanding Rush Results
-2006 3rd Place Pi Phi Broomball Challenge

Not to mention they have the best house on campus.

OMG! 2006 3rd Place Pi Phi Broomball Challenge?? We were all so wrong about AEPi! You are a FRAT! YOU ARE!

I’m sure it hurts their feelings … like your well calculated insult. What I wonder is how someone could harbor such annomisity for a student group.

hate greek life for whatever reason you want.

but the fact is deaths such as these will ALWAYS occur with or without greek life.

I think we’re forgetting the fact that this probation is only a measure to teach responsibility to avoid such circumstances.

Greek life (and athletic teams as well) are usually scapegoats for events like this because these groups are so easy to target.

Thus being said, I can almost guarantee that these probation period will end by school year’s end.

BTW, Rob, $200,000 isn’t that much money given the number of frats on campus and the number of members. I’m sure dues paid to frats each year by members far exceed that. How about quitting your frat, taking that money and giving it to charity? A frat is really just a clubhouse for the insecure who also want easy access to a party. Plain and simple. I’ve never once talked to a frat guy who said he joined so that he’d have ways to donate to charity and help cure cancer.

insecurity is not a trate i generally observed in fraternity guys. And please show some respect, you could be lucky enough to be their target next time they go hoggin’

Rebecca,

You’re completely ignorant to say the least. Just because you might donate a sum of money to charity doesn’t mean that you’re better than being in a fraternity. People don’t just join a fraternity to party and drink some actually do it for ways to be involved in their school, to help out, and to make connections outside of school. Yes the GREEK community as a whole raises way over $200,000 thats just in one event (Greek Week) but the greek community raises even more than that with their philanthropies alone.