Influencing Ethical Development in Greek Letter Organizations

Terms such as moral advancement, integrity, truth, goodness, social responsibility, sacred trust, and honor permeate fraternity and sorority creeds, mottoes, and purpose statements.

“In Earley's words,”

Fraternity and sorority mission statements infer a desire to elevate an ethical community.

“Interestingly, fraternity and sorority mission statements infer a desire to elevate an ethical community (Earley, 1998).”

Health is threatened by alcohol use and unhealthy sexual practices, integrity by cheating, trust by lack of support for honesty, and moral advancement by lack of desire or skill to hold peers accountable.

“Health is threatened by alcohol use and unhealthy sexual practices, integrity is threatened by cheating, trust is threatened by lack of support for honesty with others, and moral advancement is threatened by a lack of desire or skill to hold peers accountable (Earley, 1998;Eberhardt, Rice, & Smith, 2003;Patrick, Morgan, Maggs, & Lefkowitz, 2011; among many).”

Moral development research associated fraternity and sorority member participation with violent or virtuous acts.

“Moral development research associated fraternity and sorority member participation with violent or virtuous acts (Earley, 1998).”

Affiliated students are more likely to have been involved in other organizations and community service outside of their Greek organizations than non-affiliated students.

“Earley (1998) also found that affiliated students were more likely to have been involved in other organizations and community service outside of their Greek organizations than were non-affiliated students.”

Affiliation in Greek-lettered organizations provides an ideal framework for positive ethical development.

“Affiliation in Greek-lettered organizations is one of the most prestigious attachments that students can have while in college, providing an ideal framework for positive ethical development (Earley, 1998).”

The positive, holistic development of their members has always been an instrumental part of the mission of fraternities and sororities.

“The positive, holistic development of their members has always been an instrumental part of the mission of fraternities and sororities (Earley, 1998).”

Students interested in joining fraternal organizations are more likely to consume alcohol than students who are not interested in joining.

“The culture of Greek-lettered organizations seems to align with the belief that alcohol usage is meant to be a traditional element of the Greek experience because students who are interested in joining fraternal organizations are more likely to consume alcohol than are students who are not interested in joining (Earley, 1998).”