| Fraternity
Facts
* The
Greek system is the largest network of volunteers in the US, with
members donating over 10 million hours of
volunteer service each year.
* Every U.S. President and Vice President, except two in each office,
born since the first social fraternity was founded
in 1825 have been members of a fraternity.
* 76% of all Congressmen and Senators belong to a fraternity. 40
of 47 U.S. Supreme Court Justices since 1910 were
fraternity men. 71% of those listed in "Who's Who in America" belong
to a fraternity.
* There are 123 fraternities and sororities with 9 million members
total.
* Of the nation's 50 largest corporations, 43 are headed by fraternity
men.
* A U.S. Government study shows that over 70% of all those who join
a fraternity/sorority graduate, while under 50%
of all non-fraternity/sorority persons graduate.
* Less than 2% of an average college student's expenses go toward
fraternity/sorority dues.
* Over 85% of the student leaders on some 730 campuses are involved
in the Greek community.
2% = 80%??
The American college fraternity is one of the few institutions on
our higher educational structure which was invented
by us and not borrowed from European models. Not surprisingly, it
has been a symbol of American college student
independence, pride, and leadership.
Fraternity men represent about 2% of the male population of America.
What is happening to that 2% ? They are
leading this nation! Approximately 80% of the executives of the
500 largest corporations in America are fraternity
men. More than three fourths of our U .S. Senators are fraternity
men, as are a majority of the men listed in Who's
Who in America. Of the sixteen U.S. Presidents who had a chance
to join a college fraternity, thirteen took
advantage of the opportunity. So many college presidents have been
fraternity members that the total would run into
the thousands.
How and why are fraternities able to produce such a large percentage
of our nation's leaders? The easiest way to
answer this question is to examine just what happens in a fraternity.
A college fraternity provides a young man with the opportunity to
learn how to work together with people, whether it
be for the highest grades, the best homecoming float, a community
service project or merely to keep the house clean.
A fraternity provides a unique combination: family, home away from
home, social organization, business and
organization in which students can develop confidence as they acquire
competence. The opportunities for leadership
are unlimited and the most important thing is that the principles
of leadership are learned through experience.
This experience teaches fraternity men that success is not automatic,
but rather, that knowledge and performance
are what count most. A fraternity man learns how to develop sensitivity
regarding the desires, goals, and aspirations
of others; how to communicate, how to inspire, how to motivate;
the importance of setting an example; how to
delegate responsibility; and how to accept failure as well as success
and glory .He learns that a true leader must
have the courage to stand up for his beliefs, while also being attentive,
interested, and responsive to those who may
disagree.
Too many students come to college, sign up for classes, study from
test to test memorizing material and feeding it
back at test time. They may get good grades and graduate, but it
is surprising how many college graduates are
wandering around looking for jobs because they did not develop the
ability to work with people or the basic qualities
of leadership while they were in college. The qualities of leadership
must be tested and developed by each person
and a fraternity provides the opportunity for students for just
that. This is how 2% can equal 80%.
|