Arianna Piller

Mrs. Cramer
Comp 1 Pd. 7
4 Oct. 2018
Synthesis Essay Rough Draft
Are college fraternities causing severe bullying and exclusion throughout college?

Colleges have seen an increase in self harm and depression because of bullying within

fraternities. Bullying is becoming a serious issue that can have serious out comes. Bullying rates

have increased in high school all the way down to middle/elementary school, but it has strongly

increased in college settings where it sometimes can be put in the “dark”. Out of all college

students, bullying was more popular in students that were part of a college fraternity. Over one

hundred thousand students drop out of school every year or switch to online schooling because

of bullying, (according to a research project done by Buffalo State University of New York).

Bullying in colleges within fraternities have increased greatly because of hazing, cyber uprising,

and the exclusion of people (LQBTQ+) and misongy.

One reason why colleges have experienced bullying in fraternities is because of hazing.

Hazing is the practice and imposition of strenuous, sometimes humiliating, tasks and

performances that act as an initiation/entry of the fraternity. Fraternities are making students

complete extreme tasks that sometimes can result in injury or even death. This has become very

serious and has cost people's lives. Humiliation can come from these tasks from members of the

fraternities. Fraternities believe this is usual tradition, and believe it is used as a way to “earn”

your way into the group. They use intimidation tactics to persuade people to participate in

hazing. Many schools have set up rules and have programs with cops to reduce the practices of

hazing for safety and anti-bullying purposes. Some colleges even have punishment and
suspension for these practices. This is one reason why campuses are experiencing high amounts

of bullying within college fraternities.

Another reason why bullying within colleges has increased is because of cyber issues.

Everybody now a days is linked to technology in some way. Our whole world is ran by

technology. Although, technology is very beneficial, it can have some negative effects. Cyber

bullying is becoming a great problem in the us. Cyberbullying has also been linked to colleges

and fraternities. Cyber bullying is one of the most popular type of bullying as of two thousand

eighteen. It is easier for a high school/ college aged student to participate in cyber bulling

because it is hidden behind a screen and most of the time can become unnoticed, even when it

does the most damage. College fraternities have been linked to cyber bullying because of the

popular use of social media. Not only are members of fraternities bullying others, they

themselves are getting bullied. Cyber bullying has become a political issue and it is progressing

throughout high schools and colleges. That is one reason why bullying within college fraternities

is increasing and becoming more of an issue.

Lastly, bullying within colleges and bullying has increased because of the exclusion of

others. College fraternities exclude others making people feel left out. People of LGBTQ+ are

often left out or harassed by college students especially of college fraternities. Although colleges

are beginning to become more diverse between races, sex, and religion, there are still bullying

and harassment issues that continue. LGBTQ+, race, and religion has become a political topic

and has been very popular the past few years. Fraternities and sororities are gender based and can

be very diverse, but they sometimes tend to leave out and exclude anyone who is different than

“normal” (Simmons). Misongy is another example of exclusion throughout college fraternities.

Misongy is the practice of dislike, or ingrained prejudice against women. Women are often as
well excluded our harassed from/ by college fraternities. This is another reason why bullying has

been increasing throughout college fraternities.

In conclusion, the expanding internet and cyber issues, exclusion of LGBTQ+ students/

the practice of misongy, and the practice of hazing are causing bullying and harassment within

college fraternities to increase. This is causing colleges to completely ban fraternities all

together. Fraternities are a way to make new friends and socialize, but currently they are creating

more problems than benefits.