Fraternities and Sororities

By Yu Rong (Age 15, Hong Kong International School)

Fraternities and sororities have been part of the college system for many years as an effective way to develop friendship, housing, fun, and networks. Students are encouraged to join fraternities and sororities in college if they study at a large campus because it is easier to assimilate into college life. Although some believe fraternity/sorority fees are pointless, these fees may be put to good use. People may use the fees to improve their living environment by upgrading their houses and to pay for productive social events that lead to helpful networking. On the other hand, not all members of fraternities/sororities live together. Some are just social groups similar to clubs that meet up on special days to make environmental and social contributions like beach clean-ups and volunteering to help animal pounds and homeless shelters. College campuses should not ban fraternities and sororities because they are vital to a student's building of friendship, networking, and social contributions.

Joining a college is a brand new experience for some people. It is a turning point in life where you have the opportunity to gain an entirely new social experience and build new friendships. In freshman year of college, some students may know few people. It is important to enjoy college life and make friends, and an easy way to make new friends is to join a fraternity or sorority. When you join a fraternity/sorority, you tend to become really close to the other members, and they are almost like your family in college. Having friends is important because friends will always lend a caring hand when you are in a bad circumstance, and they give you good advice. Friends can also provide you with new knowledge and open you to new opportunities.

Another reason why students should join fraternities and sororities is because they are great for social networking. In most large colleges, there are many students, and they all take different courses and classes. If one student needed information that required knowledge that is studied in another course, that student may find a fraternity brother or sorority sister who takes that other course to provide the needed information. Another example is that people who are in your fraternity/sorority can introduce you to others who may be useful in your business life after you graduate, since you most likely will keep in touch with your brothers and sisters.

Despite the two more popular reasons to join a fraternity/sorority - to make more friends and build more networks - some students join a fraternity/sorority because they have the same interest in making environmental and social contributions. The benefit of joining a fraternity/sorority that specializes in these types of contributions is that they have a lot more people to do the job. A forty person beach clean up job takes less time and effort compared to a fifteen person beach clean up job, but provides the same results. Another point is that joining a fraternity/sorority gives students a larger voice in comparison to an unofficial school group. Fraternities and sororities are more closely affliated with the school board because they have to go through a very official procedure before they are formed.

Although some may choose not to be affiliated with a fraternity or sorority, those who choose to be affiliated have many benefits. Benefits are effective ways in creating friendship, networks, finding housing and leisure fun. There are many different reasons one may choose to join a fraternity/sorority, and they play a large role in college life. Students should be encouraged to make their own choice whether they want or not to be affiliated with fraternities/sororities; therefore, fraternities and sororities should be not be banned.