GUEST COLUMNIST: Learning from the Greek example

The Harvard study showed a strong tie between students who binge drink (defined as more than five drinks in a row for men and four for women) and students who were Caucasian, non-religious, residents of a fraternity or a sorority house, members of athletic teams and binge drinkers in high school. Even more interesting was the conclusion that the percentage of students who were binge drinkers was nearly uniform from freshman through senior year despite the fact that students under 21 cannot legally drink. The study found that frequent binge drinkers were seven to 16 times more likely than non-binge drinkers to have missed class, gotten behind in their school work, engaged in unplanned sexual activity, not have used protection when having sex, gotten into trouble with campus police, damaged property or been hurt or injured. The women and men of the Greek system form sisterhoods and brotherhoods; we care about making our community a better place; we support each other; and we are some of the most social students on campus. Thus there is alcohol present at certain events in fraternity houses and parties at off-campus restaurants, bars and nightclubs (alcohol is not permitted in sorority houses by law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania). And because of the alcohol presence at these events, the Panhellenic Council and the InterFraternity Council make a strong effort to educate our members about alcohol and drugs. Before any woman or man is initiated into a sorority or fraternity, s/he attends mandatory Drug and Alcohol Resource Team and Students Together Against Acquaintance Rape workshops run by Penn students. The University of Pennsylvania Greek System is one of the only universities who mandate this kind of training. The fraternities and sororities also have strong risk management programs in effect, which may explain why in the handful of students who were admitted to HUP in the last year for alcohol poisoning, none of them were members of the Greek system. The University of Pennsylvania is not an average university, and neither is our Greek System. We educate every single member about alcohol and encourage them to drink responsibly if they choose to drink. And contrary to the popular myth, not all students decide to drink, as University President Judith Rodin pointed out to the Class of 2002 at convocation last week. The Harvard study should alert the Penn community to the widening gap between students who drink excessively and students who decide to abstain from alcohol. The administration should carefully consider the study's findings about the benefits of alcohol education and the finding that students are three times as likely to binge drink in college if they also were binge drinkers in high school. The administration should examine the education the members of the Greek system receive and consider implementing a similar program for all Penn students. And the administration should consider the study's finding that education works better than heavy sanctions. By contrast, the Greek system uses the Judical Inquiry Board to sanction our own houses for violations of policies that could make events unsafe. With the new college house system, the newly formed dual degree programs, SCUE's preceptorials and the executive education and Wharton distance learning program, the University consistently receives national attention for innovative achievements in higher education. And from the 21st Century Report for Greek Life to our national awards for overall excellence to our mandatory alcohol education, the Greek system at Penn is no different in receiving attention for our innovation in continuing to make Greek life a rewarding, enriching and safe experience.