By Briana Scalia

The only aspect of a fraternity that separates it from any other social organization is the implication that all members are treated as equals, and being in a fraternity implies a mutually beneficial relationship between you and your fellow members. Fraternities were originally created to discuss ideas and debate issues without the strict supervision of college authority. However, present day fraternities are surrounded by controversy. This controversy stems not only from rumors, but also from tragic and horrific incidents that several fraternities across the nation have participated in. People are left wondering whether the institutions should be abolished, or if these incidents are not part of a disturbing trend but are merely outliers.

If universities want to keep fraternities alive on campuses, they need to openly apologize instead of hiding things from students and the media.

A harrowing example is when earlier this school year, the University of Missouri took action against one of its fraternities, Delta Upsilon, for extreme forms of hazing on campus. Members of the frat were seen shouting racial and sexist slurs at black students. After complaints were filed from said harassed students, the university decided to temporarily suspend the fraternity from convening on campus. Not even a full month later, the fraternity was allowed access back on campus, only to be caught allegedly teaching their newer members ways to rape female students. Delta Upsilon has been suspended since Sept. 28 and is currently under a Title IX investigation into members’ alleged involvement in a Sept. 27-28 incident involving the Legion of Black Collegians and other MU students and a Student Conduct investigation into alcohol violations from a Sept. 16 event with two other fraternities.

A letter from Title IX Assistant Vice Chancellor Ellen Eardley found that, “active members of Delta Upsilon allegedly provided each new member with three pills and instructed them to drug women for the purpose of incapacitating them prior to engaging in sexual activity…in order to complete the initiation process.” The allegations that the fraternity members received pills to be used to incapacitate and rape women were rumors found to be unsubstantiated by the university, according to Ashley Martin, Director of Communications for Delta Upsilon. No formal charges were filed against the chapter, and there have not been any allegations of sexual assault.

Along with these terrifying accusations are reports of hazing new members. One pledge was found with a bloody hand, and though he refused to speak about it, in the reports the pledge claimed, “they made us fight each other.” Obviously this fraternity should be permanently suspended from campus, as both an example to other fraternities as well as a statement from the University of Missouri to show they will not stand for racism and sexism among students.

While this particular case may not have happened in other fraternities, colleges throughout the country are entirely too apologetic when assessing their fraternities’ scandals. Allowing certain fraternities to commit plainly illegal acts sets a bad example for all fraternities. Some fraternities are just gathering places for male students to hang out and have fun together, but they are grouped together with other frats that have no empathy for their fellow students. The problem is not the institution of fraternities, rather the colleges that allow these frats to commit such egregious acts.

The incidents at the University of Missouri could have been stopped in multiple ways, including the main one involving the institution of tightening restrictions and instituting more serious consequences for offending frats.

The solution is not to abolish fraternities, as they will most likely continue congregating without university supervision. Instead, colleges should keep a closer eye on their fraternities, to both ensure the safety and peace of mind of other students, while allowing harmless frats to continue to meet. Many individuals are starting to consider the possibility that fraternities are not only uncontrollable, but dangerous to allow on college campuses. Between the many cases pointing to this conclusion and the lack of consequences administered by the universities responsible for the frats, it would be alarming if people were not concerned.

However, most fraternities are not actually committing these serious crimes, but simply getting into trouble because of pranks that are not meant to harm others. If colleges in the country were to outlaw fraternities, they would still meet, albeit in secret. The only solution is for colleges to own up to their fraternities’ mistakes instead of sweeping the incidents under the rug to avoid media attention and correctly punish these young men for their actions.

Briana Scalia, FCRH ’20, is a journalism major from Long Island, New York.

(Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to include new information provided by the fraternity.)