"Fraternities"… an irony

Posted on June 22, 2006 - Filed Under Punch Forum |

Ms. Ric
22 June 2006


Is the idea of banning fraternities in high schools or even colleges really anti-democratic? Is the word “fraternities” being used loosely to mean any associations made up of any types of students? When I hear the word fraternity, Greek alphabets come to mind with a very select group of membership. If they are indeed segregated in any way, shape, or form, doesn’t this violate some kind of school policy? Doesn’t the right to assembly or association go hand in hand with indiscriminate acceptance of any, if not all types of members? The anti-hazing law (in 43 states) is very similar to that of the Phil. Rep. Act #8049, which vaguely defines the organization’s activities and participants and that any flagrant violation is punishable by some sort of fine or jail time, but like many enacted laws, in the US and Phil., there are loopholes in its definitions and wordings. To this day, kids continue to participate and often turn up hurt or even dead.

Definitions aside, exactly what benefits do these high school or college students get from these associations? Almost always their by-laws imply “good citizenship”, which is often synonymous to “good time” if you’ve ever been around frat rows. At least, it’s another money pit for parents just wanting a better future for their kids. (In the ‘80s, it was around $700/mo. to live in a frat house, wonder how much it is now.) At most, it’s nepotism at its finest. It is supposed to be a tool in opening doors to opportunity. Opportunity to what? Favoritism begets bigotry.

It sounds like this isn’t even the case, at least in Dagupan. Under the guise of fraternities, these students are nothing but thugs, bullies in the playground plain and simple. Their wanton disrespect for the law does not lend any semblance to any organized school groups. Questions also came up over which agency has jurisdiction as far as curving such acts. Let’s get this straight; these are notorious acts of violence aimed at the general public. The city government took a little while recognizing that indeed it is their shared responsibility as well as the school administrators’. Good for them. But did they really need Gonzalo Duque or anyone else for that matter to clarify this? Like many of the issues plaguing Dagupan, I guess, this too, is rocket science.

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