I went to SMU a very long time ago and found that at that time, greek life on campus was very powerful. I have heard that many fraternities that existed in the 90’s are no longer on campus due to severe hazing/bad behavior (KA, Lambda Chi, ATO) and that the Theta sorority got thrown off campus too. What is going on down there? My son is impressed with the school but I don’t want him walking into a toxic situation wherein entitled kids behave badly and there are few consequences.
I don’t think this has anything to do with entitlement but more about the overall culture. Stories like this are coming out of colleges like the College of Charleston and state flagships too. There was a recent incident at the University of Virginia and the University of Maryland recently stopped all Greek activities for a certain amount of time due to potential hazing.
As a former participant in Greek life myself, I never endured any hazing, but it appears as if the legacy of hazing has continued, especially in fraternities. I know that SMU has taken a very hard stance on hazing. I think the dismantling of Theta at SMU sent a very strong message.
Sadly, the culture of hazing is alive and well and fraternities, and I think it exits on every college campus that has Greek life.
DD24 is currently in the pre-rush stage and is meeting with numerous sororities and she is interviewing them as they are her. She is asking specifically about the culture of hazing at her school and at every sorority she is speaking with.
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First, good for your daughter! I feel like so much of hazing has to do with power dynamics and her asking those questions is evidence of her character and lets them know who she is. Second, yes, I know it’s everywhere but schools like SMU seem to have always had some toxicity around their houses. I remember when I was there, the Thetas were just mean and had terrible manners. I remember seeing better dynamics with some of the other sororities, esp DG.
I think one thing about SMU - and they aren’t the only - but they are a rich person’s school.
When 523 kids of 1592 are getting any need based aid - well, you have a wealthy clientele.
That alone doesn’t make people rowdy, etc. but there probably is something to that - vs a school that’s more economically diversified.
Of course, we say atrocious behavior at many many many schools - and not all with a necessarily rich clientele (which is what students are to these schools).
I absolutely agree with you. I think the school has tried very hard to get away from that reputation, but it’s still very present. I know when I went to SMU, I was flabbergasted with the level of wealth that was around me. I grew up probably upper middle class and thought, I was pretty lucky until I got there and saw Chanel bags and Porsches lined up like Toyotas somewhere else. And I do think there’s something to the idea that some of these students may well have had parents who insulated them and protected them, even when they did something wrong— a sense of entitlement, a sense of “untouchableness” if that’s a word! And when their parents couldn’t do it anymore, they had the money to hire attorneys who could. I think about some of the students from other universities who have been hauled into court for various infractions, including sexual assault, and their defense is usually something like, “ Don’t ruin this young man’s life based on one hard night.” Judges have even said things like that! So, I agree with you.
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I’m still stuck on Eric Dickerson and the times back then - and I am SHOCKED and can’t believe girls could be coerced into that - but they were.
It’s still what I think about with SMU 40 years later.
If the school administration and leaders are sanctioning and leading - and the athletic department is the school administration - well -
Just crazy stuff that will stick with me forever.
Reminds me of the recalled judge in the Stanford swimmer rape case.
The SMU culture is still one of significant wealth.
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My daughter and son attend SMU. Daughter is a member of a sorority and will graduate in four years. She lives in the house two years. Son is a sophomore and lives in a Christian fraternity house vacated by KA years ago. Roughly 35% of the women and 25% of men are in Greek organizations. The university is increasingly diverse and people find friends all over.
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yes, that is there case I was specifically thinking of .