Possibility Of Healthy Competition Between Fraternities example essay topic

Any aspect of competition brings forth rivalries, but can there be such a thing as a healthy rivalry between college fraternities? Is it possible for a group of college, testosterone-fueled men to coincide in a competitive environment day in and day out? It may be or it may not. The possibility is definitely out there but the effort is what needs to be improved. Every university that has a stable Greek system knows what happens if massive rivalries break out, and it is in their best interest to keep this from happening. The possibility of healthy competition between fraternities should not be just a possibility, but rather a known fact that we as fraternities can coexist in a peaceful manner.

What fraternities have to offer Fraternities are more than just stereotypical party houses that drink too much beer and party all night. They are the closest group of guys you can find anywhere. They teach brotherhood, morals, truth, respect, and so much more. When it is all taken in by a member, there is no telling what they can accomplish.

Looking through our history you will find many great men that have a fraternity back ground. President George W. Bush himself was Greek while in college. An article in the "Economist" even credits much of his success in office due to his fraternity. Bush's character that has led us through many hard times was established due to his Greek society at Yale University. His competitive attitude against foreign terrorists is much like a fraternity attitude. It is more of a "we " re right and you " re wrong" outlook.

Also, George W. was not the only president that was in a fraternity in college. More than half of the U.S. presidents have a Greek background. There are also other people like Rick Callender who have been covered in newspapers around the world for paying tribute to their fraternity for their success in life. Rick says that without his brothers, he might not have had the chances he had in life. In addition to establishing his character, Rick made connections while in his Greek society. This is also a very big perk to the fraternity life.

Making connections that will help you in the future is a wonderful thing to achieve. In the modern job market, it starts to become who you know instead of what you know, and being in a fraternity automatically puts you as a brother to millions of employers out there you do not even know yet. Personally, I am a very competitive person who loves to win at anything I can. When I came to USM and learned more and more about each fraternity, I quickly found who was the best. I found a fraternity more interested in brotherhood than any other aspect, and with this strong bond came success.

I have been a part of one of the most successful fraternities at my school for only one school year, but what I have already learned will go with me forever. The competition The competitive nature that I have always had grows deeper when it comes to fraternity competition. Every fraternity views their house as the best organization and will defend that at any cost. This plays a little bit of a problem when you mix a variety of fraternities into competition.

The sad part is that there is almost nothing that can be kept from becoming a competition. If it is a philanthropy then one fraternity is going to try and outdo the other. It is a constant cycle that never stops. In Stephen Leavitt's writings he makes many points on fraternity competition. He says that the new found brotherhood creates a bond that makes the members feel superior to any other fraternity. As this feeling continues rivalries emerge.

A simple rivalry in flag football is something quite different from the type of rivalry that needs help. When two fraternities can not be in the same bar or club without fighting over who is the best then something needs to be done. I have witnessed many nights when members of two different fraternities have gotten kicked out of a bar for fighting and continued it back on campus. Violence on your school's campus is something that no administration will tolerate.

There definitely are good aspects to a heavy competition. Competition brings incentive to do better in whatever you wish to achieve. The thrill of success or the agony of defeat can make a person stronger and more dedicated in fulfilling that task when the next opportunity arrives. For instance, if a fraternity's philanthropy project was the biggest the campus had ever seen then they would want to keep that honor and outdo themselves the next time. Competition can be a wonderful jump start for success if it is applied correctly. As long as the competition stays to a gentlemanly test to see who will fulfill their goal everything will go smoothly.

How to get rid of the bad When competition goes too far then it can be a very bad thing. When the rivalries extend to more than just on the intramural fields something has to be done. All the fighting and belligerent acts toward another fraternity are child's play. We as educated men attend this fraternity to help us proceed in life with the means to achieve great things.

How does embarrassing the university with fraternity wars help us in the least? A university should be able to be proud of their Greek system instead of worrying who is going to get hurt in the next scuffle. Where does it say that you have to hate all other fraternities in your school? Instead of wasting all our time trying to be better than each other we need to come together and try and become a better university. We may all be a part of separate Greek societies but we are all a part of one school. I completely understand the feeling of superiority you get within a fraternity, but it is time to swallow our pride and extend a hand to all other organizations out there.

It starts when you start forgiving and forgetting and grudges held. We can coexist in a peaceful atmosphere and still keep the competition we have now. We just have to realize that competition is not war, but rather friends trying to better friends.

Bibliography

Bailey, Neal. web Economist vol. 361 issue 8253 p 28, "For Family and Fraternity" database: Academic Search Elite. Leavitt, Stephen C. Union College Student Field Notes: "Rivalries Among Groups: Fraternities, Sports, and Races" web Union College Student Field Notes: "Student's Attitudes Towards Greek Life". web Smith, Laura. Hot Shots Cover Story. Database: Newspaper Source Sultan, Aisha. The Tribune: "Greek Life Goes From 'Animal House' to Empty House as Membership Drops. 9/6/02. database: Newspaper Source. St. Louis Post dispatch: Sep 6, 2002. database: Academic Search Elite.