PASSHE Institutions Merging

[Fightingscot82]

Trying to get rid of Greek Life is kind of wild imo. Schools should lean into the Greek Life vibe a big harder imo. Students come to college for the experience, otherwise they would do online, and a part of that experience is parties and running amok with friends, both things that Greek Life is good at.

Bloomsburg had a death. I get the need for big action. But all the power he had was removing them from funding, campus room reservations, Homecoming, etc. First Amendment allows freedom of association and Bloomsburg is an extention of the government. He couldn't punish students for joining or other groups from doing things with Greek Life. A bunch of the national groups just kept operating off campus. Then when the merger happened, suddenly you have 2 of 3 campuses with Greek Life. Bloomsburg wasted almost $100k in consulting fees on how to eliminate Greek Life and how to bring it back.

[IUPNation]

Greek Life to me is paying for friends and living in a death trap frat house.

I didn’t see the point.

[Ship69]

Greek Life to me is paying for friends and living in a death trap frat house.

I didn’t see the point.

I'm old and have no idea about what the Greek experience is these days. When I was going to school there was a lot of hazing involved in pledging. I was an undersized and socially awkward guy my first couple of years in high school and took plenty of crap there, so I had no desire to take more b.s. in college. I couldn't care less if someone else wants to join a frat or sorority. It's up to them. It appears to work for some people, not so much for others. And when hazing gets to the point where people are actually being physically of psychologically harmed it needs to cease immediately.

[IUPNation]

I'm old and have no idea about what the Greek experience is these days. When I was going to school there was a lot of hazing involved in pledging. I was an undersized and socially awkward guy my first couple of years in high school and took plenty of crap there, so I had no desire to take more b.s. in college. I couldn't care less if someone else wants to join a frat or sorority. It's up to them. It appears to work for some people, not so much for others. And when hazing gets to the point where people are actually being physically of psychologically harmed it needs to cease immediately.

The IUP frat houses on Wayne Ave back in the day all looked like multiple code violations…almost unlivable.

The hazing is childish.

Again I saw no point….

[SecretlySavage]

The IUP frat houses on Wayne Ave back in the day all looked like multiple code violations…almost unlivable.

The hazing is childish.

Again I saw no point….

I agree with all of the above, but its also a fact of the matter that groups of young men that get into man made debauchery will create an atmosphere of parties and fun that college kids crave. Having an atmosphere that students like will grow the student body, which will in turn help these schools. So I do agree that Greek Life is one of the dumbest things a person can sign up for, but its no doubt that the parties you can go to are worth it. Not to mention that frats often go out to bars when they don't throw parties, keeping the bar scene active too. It just makes sense, you cant have a college without Greek Life.

[Fightingscot82]

My fraternity experience was life altering in a positive way. Yeah there was some stupid stuff and some regrets about things we did that didn't age well, but my fraternity was probably 80% good acts and 20% frat boy stupid stuff. Done by the book, there's not an experience like it at a college. But the lack of meaningful adult advisement and the 21 drinking age created a role for many fraternities to assume the role of speakeasy for 19 year olds. Fortunately hazing is illegal in PA and may soon be a federal crime. I think most people would be shocked at the formal behind the scenes (secret) stuff that's not really any different from the local fraternal lodge in most communities.

My wife's sorority experience was very different for different reasons.

[SecretlySavage]

My fraternity experience was life altering in a positive way. Yeah there was some stupid stuff and some regrets about things we did that didn't age well, but my fraternity was probably 80% good acts and 20% frat boy stupid stuff. Done by the book, there's not an experience like it at a college. But the lack of meaningful adult advisement and the 21 drinking age created a role for many fraternities to assume the role of speakeasy for 19 year olds. Fortunately hazing is illegal in PA and may soon be a federal crime. I think most people would be shocked at the formal behind the scenes (secret) stuff that's not really any different from the local fraternal lodge in most communities.

My wife's sorority experience was very different for different reasons.

I wasn't in a frat myself but many of my close friends were at Duquesne, Pitt, and Marietta. What goes on behind the scenes is crazy, especially at larger or more southern schools. My girlfriend is the President of her sorority at Clarion and its so much different from being in a frat. Being in a sorority sounds like hell tbqh. She runs everything so I hear everything, and its just piles and piles of drama mixed with lazy college girls who don't get the events and activities planned or set up. I cant tell you how many weekends Ive had to help her set up a sorority event that she wasn't supposed to have anything to do with because one of the girls on that activity committee was "feeling overwhelmed" or "had a bad week". Doesn't matter if that's the case, you gotta get it done either way, you signed up for it. Most of the time its not even true, they just didn't finish their homework or something.

Greek Life/parties at Clarion is dead because the frats are non existent, just 3 groups of 8 losers without a house to throw parties in. The sororities are boring, follow the book, and don't throw parties even though one of them has a huge house. Last year, a house full of guys tried to ignite the fire with a "fake frat" that got off the ground and people enjoyed it until the police shut down party after party after party and soon it was dead. Its just sad. If you want a real college experience, go to Pitt or Penn State.

[WarriorVoice]

I wasn't in a frat myself but many of my close friends were at Duquesne, Pitt, and Marietta. What goes on behind the scenes is crazy, especially at larger or more southern schools. My girlfriend is the President of her sorority at Clarion and its so much different from being in a frat. Being in a sorority sounds like hell tbqh. She runs everything so I hear everything, and its just piles and piles of drama mixed with lazy college girls who don't get the events and activities planned or set up. I cant tell you how many weekends Ive had to help her set up a sorority event that she wasn't supposed to have anything to do with because one of the girls on that activity committee was "feeling overwhelmed" or "had a bad week". Doesn't matter if that's the case, you gotta get it done either way, you signed up for it. Most of the time its not even true, they just didn't finish their homework or something.

Greek Life/parties at Clarion is dead because the frats are non existent, just 3 groups of 8 losers without a house to throw parties in. The sororities are boring, follow the book, and don't throw parties even though one of them has a huge house. Last year, a house full of guys tried to ignite the fire with a "fake frat" that got off the ground and people enjoyed it until the police shut down party after party after party and soon it was dead. Its just sad. If you want a real college experience, go to Pitt or Penn State.

These days the college experience is much more than Greek life. Student-athletes are becoming the largest fraternity on many campuses. At ESU student-athletes have a better GPA than the rest of the student population.

[Fightingscot82]

These days the college experience is much more than Greek life. Student-athletes are becoming the largest fraternity on many campuses. At ESU student-athletes have a better GPA than the rest of the student population.

Any group that has mandatory study halls tends to have above average GPAs. Also that whole 2.0 to play thing helps a lot.

[Ship69]

Any group that has mandatory study halls tends to have above average GPAs. Also that whole 2.0 to play thing helps a lot.

Grade inflation is a student;s friend these days. The most common grade given at colleges these days is an "A." Colleges today are in a death race to retain students. The last thing they want to do if they can help it is academically disqualify anyone. If you have half a brain and make any sort of effort, you're unlikely to flunk out of college once you're admitted.

It's a far cry from what I was told when I attended Ship freshman indoctrination in the '60s: "Look to the left of you, look to the right of you. One of those persons will not be here in four years." And that was pretty much true.

My 3.4 GPA at Ship put me into the top five percent of the class when I graduated then. I don't know if that would even be in the top half now.

[Fightingscot82]

Grade inflation is a student;s friend these days. The most common grade given at colleges these days is an "A." Colleges today are in a death race to retain students. The last thing they want to do if they can help it is academically disqualify anyone. If you have half a brain and make any sort of effort, you're unlikely to flunk out of college once you're admitted.

It's a far cry from what I was told when I attended Ship freshman indoctrination in the '60s: "Look to the left of you, look to the right of you. One of those persons will not be here in four years." And that was pretty much true.

My 3.4 GPA at Ship put me into the top five percent of the class when I graduated then. I don't know if that would even be in the top half now.

I wouldn't go that far but yeah it takes some effort to fail out anymore. Deliberate indifference and not going to class. Most kids leave PASSHE schools because of money. Failing out or giving up because of academic reasons is #3 after financial and transfer to another school.

[Ship69]

I wouldn't go that far but yeah it takes some effort to fail out anymore. Deliberate indifference and not going to class. Most kids leave PASSHE schools because of money. Failing out or giving up because of academic reasons is #3 after financial and transfer to another school.

Well, teach a course from high school on up these days and try to give a student a "C" grade or lower in anything, and see what happens. One of the problems is that a lot of kids coast through high school and arrive at college badly unprepared to do serious academic work. There's a reason you see first-year college adjustment courses at many schools today.

Of course in the '60s you were an idiot to be indifferent to your studies as a male student, because if you failed out the government might decide to plan an expenses-paid trip to a certain destination in Southeast Asia for you.

[Fightingscot82]

Well, teach a course from high school on up these days and try to give a student a "C" grade or lower in anything, and see what happens. One of the problems is that a lot of kids coast through high school and arrive at college badly unprepared to do serious academic work. There's a reason you see first-year college adjustment courses at many schools today.

Of course in the '60s you were an idiot to be indifferent to your studies as a male student, because if you failed out the government might decide to plan an expenses-paid trip to a certain destination in Southeast Asia for you.

The older I get the more I think a peacetime draft or compulsory military service for those able-bodied and not working or studying full-time would do our country good. The lack of self-discipline and life experience most 18-25 year olds have is staggering.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Well, teach a course from high school on up these days and try to give a student a "C" grade or lower in anything, and see what happens. One of the problems is that a lot of kids coast through high school and arrive at college badly unprepared to do serious academic work. There's a reason you see first-year college adjustment courses at many schools today.

Of course in the '60s you were an idiot to be indifferent to your studies as a male student, because if you failed out the government might decide to plan an expenses-paid trip to a certain destination in Southeast Asia for you.

"We were always looking for some guy named Charlie. We never did find him."

Forrest Gump

[WarriorVoice]

The older I get the more I think a peacetime draft or compulsory military service for those able-bodied and not working or studying full-time would do our country good. The lack of self-discipline and life experience most 18-25 year olds have is staggering.

How much self-discipline and life experience did you have between 18 & 25?