Housing Students: Fraternities and Residential Colleges

Many American campuses are dominated by their fraternities and sororities. Administrators are caught on the horns of a dilemma because the housing that these Greek letter societies offer would require an enormous capital investment to replace. Moreover, old graduates are often more devoted to their “frat” than to their alma mater. But there seems no end to the difficulties, including hazing, poor study habits, de facto segregation, and alcoholism, attributable to the fraternity system. The historical background dating back to the eighteenth century, the arcane rituals, and the future prospects of one of the most controversial aspects of college and university life are surveyed, along with the arguments of both enemies and friends.