Phil,
You cast a broad cloth while invoking the name of some of the organizations above. You inference that:
“It was the big ones that were trouble; SAM, SAE, TEP, TKE, Pi Kapa Phi, SXE to name a few. Those were the guys fighting. Those were the guys hazing. Those were the guys making a bad name for the rest.”
Is borderline slanderous.
Do you have factual evidence that any or all the aformentioned organizations have broken the law or engaged in any unsavory activity?
Perhaps you may not realize that just one of the aforementioned organizations remained and still is recognized at the University at Albany (Tau Kappa Epsilon).
I had been at parties at Sigma Lambda Sigma at 666 State Street, as well as Pi Alpha Nu, in my collegiate days. Local or National- every group had their partes and drank their beer. But to infer that simply because a group was larger or Nationally chartered and thus part of the problem is ignorant.
I was a member of Greek Life at Albany. We enjoyed celebrating ritual and all of the things that separated us from the people who purported to be fraternities- including participating in student government, philanthropy and volunteerism. So, I respectfully contest your assessment of the culture.
Greek Life does offer excellent benefits of membership for those people who take advanatge of the experience and the programming.
When the school ‘punishes’ a group by yaking their recognition, they in turn push them underground. In doing so they lose control of said group. Half of the underground groups at UA were at one time recognized. However, unlike the groups that fought hard to retain their recognition, the independents are not required to maintain grades, meet with adminstration, satisfy requirements such as service and philanthrpy, and/ or carry certificates of insurance.
It would behoove the University to reward those who have been doing more good than not- and offer incentives such as special interest housing ON CAMPUS. Get them out of that wretched ghetto and put some oversight on their on campus presence.
That is just my 2 cents.