Page 8 The Lion’s Eye Eve on CAIMDUS April 7, 2003 Survey finds sororities, fraternities drink more By COLLEEN FREYVOGEL Collegian staff wiiter Survey says: Fraternity and sorority members at Penn State drink more than non-greek students. A Penn State Pulse survey released at the end of February shows 94 percent of students in fraternities and sororities drink alcohol, compared with 81 percent of stu- dents who do not belong to a greek organ- ization. "The data shows that fraternity and ‘sorority members drink alcohol at a higher rate than independent students," said Linda LaSalle, a community health educator for University Health Services. "A big part of it is the fraternity and sorority culture. A big part of it is the parties and a lot of social activities revolve around drinking alcohol." The survey, which was started in 1995, has a 3 percent margin of error, said Betty Moore, senior research analyst at the Student Affairs Research and Assessment Office. Students questioned were random- ly chosen. According to the survey, students who belonged to social fraternities and sorori- ties were more likely to encounter "prob- lem behaviors," including being assaulted or humiliated, being in a serious argument or quarrel, or experiencing unwanted sex- ual advances. Moore said they have "consistently" found members of social sororities and fra- 3% of students WD drink % of stu missed clas dig something they later regres forgot where and what they dll ‘experienced Greek vs. non-greek drinking experiences Eras AbayTn ington fi) ternities drink more than the rest of Penn State. The survey showed only 2 percent of greek members consume one drink an hour and 8 percent consume non-alcoholic drinks as well as alcoholic drinks when socializing -- almost two times less than non-greek students. Mary Kaye Jacono, Panhellenic presi- dent, said she does not agree with the results of the survey. "It's completely not true," said Jacono. YOU "There's no facts to back that up." Interfraternity Council (IFC) president Steve DiOrio would not comment on the survey. Mike Sabol (senior-management sci- ence and information systems) said he is neither for nor against the findings of the survey. : "I wasn't in a fraternity for the first two years, but before I joined the frat, I proba- bly drank more," said Sabol, a member of the Phi Gamma Nu fraternity. " Now you go to a party and you go there just to drink, but I don't think I drank any less before I joined." Morgan Moran (sophomore-market- 1° ing), a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, said the amount of greek members that go to parties are miniscule compared to the thousands of non-greek freshmen who go to fraternity parties. "I think it seems like [greek members drink more] because, obviously the stereo- types, and they are always seen as provid- ing the alcohol. So it seems like they drink more," Moran said. "The whole thing is the Penn State greek community, especial- ly the fraternities, aren't exclusive, so the freshmen and sophomores go because older people go to apartment parties or bars." Although the number of non-greek members might sometimes outweigh the number of greek members at a party, the survey reported that 29 percent of mem- bers participate in drinking games, com- pared with 19 percent of non-greeks. The survey also reported that 32 per- cent of those who belong to a social greek fraternity or sorority engaged in unplanned sexual activities, compared to 19 percent of non-greeks. Nineteen percent of greeks did not-use protection when they had sex, compared with 10 percent of non-greeks. Story and graph reprinted with the per- mission of the Weekly Collegian, University Park, Pa. Next Year, Same Time We'll be here ... why don't you join us? The Lion's Eue is looking for people who like to write, meet people and have fun doing It. Be a member of the staff and get credits while you do it! Gall 610-892-1208.
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