Throughout their history, fraternities have taken many forms. They began as early-American literary societies, evolved into clubby training grounds for corporate leaders, and entered the 21st century hung over from the legacy of Animal House. They have always reflected the best and worst behaviors of college life, turning out student-government presidents and binge-drinkers alike. But today people are asking whether fraternities have fallen out of step with the times. A string of ugly incidents has reinforced the image of entitled white men egging each other on to behave badly: chanting racist songs, sharing pictures of incapacitated women, hazing their pledges. At their worst, fraternity houses have been the sites of sexual assaults and accidental deaths. So how did we get here? And is there a place for fraternities on the modern campus?

August 3, 2015 ・ From Chronicle of Higher Education