A new semester brings new activities for thousands of fraternity and sorority members on college campuses across the nation – and opportunity for untold others to join their ranks.
Although camaraderie, leadership opportunities and service projects are a big part of Greek-letter life, nothing gets their names in the news faster than a scandal. And there have been more in the media lately, ranging from pranks gone awry and sexual assaults to hazing and death. Students from at least five schools – Pennsylvania State University, Louisiana State University, Florida State University, Texas State University and the University of Nevada – died in 2017 at or after fraternity-related events, and the tragedies usually involved pledges and alcohol.
Schools have responded with actions ranging from restrictions on recruiting to suspension of social events to indefinite bans on all activities, as was the case at LSU and Florida State last year following the death of a fraternity pledge at each school. Ohio State and Texas State took the same action after incidents involving egregious behavior.
Some organizations have begun to proactively self-police. At Indiana University, for example, the Interfraternity Council voted unanimously in December to have a blanket suspension of all social and new-member activities for all fraternities at the Bloomington campus. The umbrella organization said the action was not in response to any problem on campus but in the interest of re-examining things in light of highly publicized, negative events making national news at other schools.
Meanwhile, in light of the rise in depression and suicide among college students, some fraternities and sororities at the corporate level are supporting health and wellness efforts of local chapters. For example, New York City-based company TalkSpace began partnering with Greek-letter organizations three years ago to offer virtual counseling for members nationwide, potentially reaching hundreds of thousands of students.
Alpha Tau Omega was the first to sign on in 2016, providing access to about 10,000 frat members – two years after the organization was rocked by the suicides of two members at different schools. It’s an attractive alternative to students who may feel more comfortable with a virtual encounter through a digital app than seeking help in person.
TalkSpace also has partnerships with Delta Tau Delta and Sigma Kappa, potentially reaching 40,000 undergraduates and on track to double that number by the end of the school year as discussions continue with more fraternities and sororities, said Lynn Hamilton, TalkSpace’s chief commercial officer.
