Stereotypes dampen frats' appeal

Six years ago, Cal State Long Beach had a fraternity system comprising 15 different fraternities with more than 110 members in each house. Today, only 10 fraternities remain and total membership is less than 400 in the entire fraternity system.

The cause, according to many fraternity members, is that in the past six years CSULB fraternities have allowed misperceptions, bad public relations and rumors dictate an overall anti-Greek attitude on campus.

"We have what businessmen call a perception problem," said one fraternity alumnus.

With tuition up six percent nationally (twice the rate of inflation), SAT scores at the highest level in over a decade and more students applying for financial aid than ever before, it is no great surprise that incoming freshmen are feeling the pressure, parental and otherwise, to concentrate on studies rather than social activities like fraternities.

"What we are finding out now (as CSULB Greeks) is that new students are more concerned with establishing a high grade point average as opposed to networking within the student community. This was not the case six or even five years ago," said Jason Kunce wicki, president of CSULB's Interfraternity Council.

In a 1994 survey incoming freshmen were asked if they thought fraternity association would negatively affect their grades. Three-fifths answered, "yes."

Fraternities, can in fact, help a freshman adjust to college, learn to study and get a higher grade point average.

"This is where we face the biggest challenge," Said Rick Spahn, IFC secretary. "Not only does IFC impose a mandatory grade point average upon every member of every house, but some (fraternities) require mandatory study hours for pledges."

Still, the fear of flunking out of school is not the biggest problems CSULB Greeks must overcome.

In the same survey, 91 percent of students believed all fraternities engage in hazing. Not true, said Stan Hadar, pledge educator for Sigma Chi fraternity. "Most students do not know that IFC prohibits any act of hazing," he said.

Many Greeks worry about the stereotypes of Greek life found in movies like "Animal House" and "The Revenge of the Nerds."

These stereotypes and misperceptions hurt the Greek community when it is time for Greek rush. Rush is a once-a-semester, week-long round of gatherings, after which fraternities invite students to join them by giving them "bids."

To respond to the new negative attitude and stereotypes, fraternities have begun to promote the positive aspects of networking, of finding a job after graduation with the help of fraternity alumni.