What separates AKPsi from other frats?
Source: Wix Images
Source: Wix Images
Source: Wix Images
Separating From Negative Stigmas
“Leader[ship] behaviors that complement, rather than offset, the structure of the system may yield high satisfaction” (Osborn 734). This summary of my source’s findings deal with satisfaction of those involved in frats; that is, what they prefer and disagree with in regards to the way the community is conducted. This source provides an excellent point regarding one of the main topics I will be focusing on: negative stereotypes associated with fraternities. Are frats committing heinous crimes behind-the-scenes, and what sort of characters would willingly participate in such corrupt actions?
According to one of my sources, fraternities “were born not only of a natural instinct for companionship and social intercourse but of an equally natural desire for an opportunity to formulate and to express the idealism which is so characteristic of young men” (Duerr 17). Clearly, I will interpret this quote to cover both men and women, seeing as Alpha Kappa Psi is co-ed. Diving into this quote, it appears as though Duerr is stating fraternities are the result of naturalistic instincts of expressing opinions and building ones’ character.
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There are two sources that question the morals and actions of these fraternity members, who are much more notorious for having sex and partying then they are for being “men of character” (Duerr 18). The main stereotype affiliated heavily with Greek Life is the environment’s infatuation with binge drinking alcohol. Respondents to the study discussed in “Liquor before beer, you're in the clear” reflected that those in frats and sororities are much more likely to binge drink. Not to mention, those drinking individuals were noticeably more likely to engage in violence, be injured, drive drunk, and perpetrate or fall victim to sexual assault (Ragsdale).
The article written by Ragsdale is not the only one that touches upon unwanted sexual advances in fraternities. The author of “Fraternities and Rape on Campus” conclusively reports that “unless fraternities' composition, goals, structures, and practices change in fundamental ways, women on campus will continue to be sexual prey for fraternity” (Martin 471). Martin’s findings on rape in fraternities were recorded nearly thirty years ago, in 1989, while Ragsdale’s evidence of binge drinking, violence, and sexual abuse were recorded as recently as 2011.
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It is important to emphasize the purpose and goal of fraternities, which contrast the abuse that has historically and currently gone on in Greek Life organizations. This is especially exemplified as recently as this past fall semester, seeing as Florida State University’s president, John Thrasher, suspended all Greek Life activities over the death of a pledge. Thrasher would arguable agree that fraternities need to focus more on discipline and character and less on partying, as he commented on the issue saying “there must be a new culture, and our students must be full participants in creating it” (Haag). On that note, rush AKPsi!
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2013 Fall Rush video by AKPsi. Exemplifies the qualities that are embedded in its' members.
2014 Spring Rush video by AKPsi. Shows the thrill of rushing the frat in an exciting, upbeat video.
Ladies and Gentleman
One of the other main issues amongst the average fraternity is their treatment of women, as touched upon above. Stombler outwardly calls out fraternities for appearing to include women as “little sisters” for their organizations, while simultaneously not treating these said women as equals to the brothers. She continues, arguing that women “struggle to save their individual sexual reputation” when affiliating themselves with a frat (Stombler 298). It is important to note that, according to this source, the common fraternity does not fully respect women, and certainly does not view them as equals within the organization.
Another important factor to keep in mind is that these characters involved in Greek Life are students first, and both the men and women involved pride themselves on maintaining academic success while simultaneously being active in Greek Life. One of my sources studied the effects of being in a fraternity on a students’ GPA, concluding that men would see a recurring decline in GPA after one semester in a frat. However, while fraternity men may be prejudice towards women joining, they may be surprised to find out “there [is] no significant difference between GPA's of the women's groups [after being in a fraternity for one] semester” (Bradshaw 62). Therefore, I would confidently make the claim that women, on average, are better multi-taskers in this scenario, and the median GPA of Alpha Kappa Psi’s members would be higher than the other fraternities at Florida State.
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Alpha Kappa Psi values character and accepts members regardless of gender.