On college campuses across the country, high-risk drinking and the associated negative consequences have become a national concern. As colleges strive to find appropriate and effective approaches to deal with this issue, social norms theory provides a coherent framework for interventions that are relevant and positive. Small Group Social Norms…

Analyzing interviews with 18 Asian American female undergraduates, this study seeks to understand how participants viewed the sorority system at a predominantly White institution in the Southeastern United States. Drawing from critical race theory, I argue that the ways in which women perceived and experienced both acceptance and marginalization…

Previous research published in this journal found broad-based negative effects of Greek affiliation on standardized measures of cognitive development after 1 year of college. Following the same sample, and employing essentially the same research design and analytic model, the present study found that the negative effects of Greek affiliation were…

First-year men at a midsized public university either saw a rape prevention program or were in a control group and were asked to complete attitude and behavior surveys at the beginning and end of an academic year. Participants were also asked whether they joined fraternities during that year. With 90% of first-year men participating throughout the…

The purpose of this study is to compare the drinking and associated behavior of fraternity and sorority members to that of nonmembers. The project is national in scope, and its results can help determine whether public perceptions of alcohol use by students affiliated with Greek social organizations are warranted. This study will also lend some…

Examined attitudes toward fraternities and sororities held by 310 college students, 91.1 percent of whom had never belonged to such organizations. Findings revealed that both members and nonmembers saw certain advantages in belonging to fraternities and sororities. Respondents also mentioned negative aspects of Greek life which focused on…

Building on the promise of interactive, multimedia education, this evaluation study examines an alcohol abuse prevention program, AlcoholEdu, delivered through an interactive Web-based format for the purpose of reducing the harm associated with student alcohol abuse. The study uses a clustered, randomly assigned post-test only evaluation design…

Argues that "Animal House" characterization of fraternity life may have become popular because people lost sight of why fraternities and sororities were founded--to promote the ideals of community, of brotherhood and sisterhood, and to support educational and spiritual objectives. Warns that fraternities and sororities must make concerted renewal…

Shares observations on role of fraternities and sororities at colleges and universities that provide unusually rich out-of-class learning and personal development opportunities for undergraduate students. Examines information from College Experiences Study, 1988-89 study undertaken to identify institutional factors and conditions promoting student…

Examined experiences of members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations at one university. Data from interviews with 22 students who were members of 6 NPHC fraternities and sororities revealed several themes or patterns: bonding, service projects, role modeling, and cooperation. Findings have implications for student affairs…

Assessed academic attitudes, intellectual values, family socioeconomic status, and financial concerns of Black and White Greek organizations (fraternities and sororities). Found many more differences than similarities between Black and White Greeks, with Blacks from a lower socioeconomic background, more academically motivated, more liberal, more…

Discusses previous research that found broad-based negative effects of Greek affiliation on standardized measures of cognitive development after one year of college. Following the same sample, the present study found that the negative effects of Greek affiliation were much less pronounced during the second or third years of college. (Contains 32…

Focuses on the current issues confronting traditional fraternities and sororities, highlighting developmental theory and research with direct implications for the Greek experience. Offers practical suggestions for student personnel generalists who work with fraternities and sororities as one portion of their responsibilities. (Author/NB)

Explains how institutions can clarify their relationships with student organizations through development and implementation of contracted independent organization agreements. Contends that formal statement of a university's relationship with student organizations can be beneficial and foster student organization development and that, by clarifying…

Examined correlates of pledging fraternities or sororities and academic performance in one introductory biology course over a nine-year period. Data from 1,147 students, 243 of whom were pledges and 904 of whom were nonpledges revealed that nonpledges performed better than pledges on biology tests, including test administered prior to pledging.…