Despite disciplinary actions taken by administrators of colleges and universities in the U.S., serious problems — including rioting, drunken orgies, suicides, rapes, and other mayhem — continue to plague fraternities and even sororities on Greek Row in or near the campuses.
However, I have another objection to college fraternities and sororities that I believe is far more serious, even though it is seldom acknowledged. They remain a symbol of special privilege, snobbery, elitism, and even racial and religious prejudice. For that reason, more than any other, I think it’s about time the colleges and universities banish fraternities and sororities from all campuses.
Greek Row no longer suits the demands of young people in the 21st Century. By their very nature, fraternities and sororities are prejudicial to fairness and equality in relationships on campus and off campus, as well. Through their selective process of accepting only those students who fit questionable requirements, they promote division in the student body.
State-operated universities and colleges, particularly, have no business sustaining such an inbred system of prejudice and special interest. It should be unlawful for publicly supported schools to provide the millions they allot annually to institutions that permit campus societies that are selective, prejudicial, racially motivated, and even specifically religious.
More than ever, young people today are insisting on a level playing field for everybody — and rules of behavior that apply to everyone. College fraternities and sororities are out of tune with the times. They should be deactivated.
When I brought up this issue in a TV commentary some years ago, a few callers took me to task, because, they said, I was tampering with a basic American freedom — the right to privacy and the right to join any organization citizens wished that obeyed the laws of their community.
The callers missed the point completely. Of course citizens have a right to join any lawful civic or social organizations they wish, but those organizations are not supported by tax funds from the public treasury.
Other dissenters said I had failed to include private colleges and universities among those schools that should ban fraternities and sororities. They had a point. I should have broadened my commentary to include colleges and universities that do accept federal and/or state tax funds — and that includes a great number of private institutions.
I add them now in this commentary. To wit: All colleges and universities, private or public, that accept tax funds to run their institutions should ban fraternities and sororities for the reasons already cited.