WOW!!! Who would have guessed?? This is actually encouraging news. About time some fraternities got back to basics and tried to think about something else besides how drunk and stupid they're gonna get every night. There's way too many problems with alcoholism and binge drinking on campuses.. I have been saying for a LONG time that colleges need to take this more seriously and DO SOMETHING about it!
Although, this article is focusing more on the hazing problem than the alcohol problem... but,, it's a start!
FRATERNITIES MOVE AWAY FROM PARTY IMAGE
By ALAN SCHER ZAGIER, Associated Press Writer
Thu Oct 4, 6:16 AM ET
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The basement of the Sigma Phi Epsilon house at the University of Missouri-Columbia is filled with familiar fraternity icons like a well-worn pool table, stacks of violent films like "Kill Bill" on DVD, and of course, the stench of stale beer.
A closer look reveals a much different scene. With the soothing sounds of a "Zen Cafe" CD playing in the background, Sig Ep brothers listen raptly as a campus yoga instructor leads them through a series of contortionist poses during an 8 a.m. workout.
Early morning yoga is just one of the changes at the fraternity since the Missouri chapter adopted its "Balanced Man" program in 2006 — just a few years after the university punished the chapter for hazing.
Now, there are trips to the opera, wine tastings and documentary film screenings. And by eliminating the pledging system — a tradition of initiation critics say encourages hazing — new members are treated as equals from the start.
more at link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071004...raternities;_ylt=AuYyRC8ZpUe3XuLUCgtSsP1H2ocA
Although, this article is focusing more on the hazing problem than the alcohol problem... but,, it's a start!
FRATERNITIES MOVE AWAY FROM PARTY IMAGE
By ALAN SCHER ZAGIER, Associated Press Writer
Thu Oct 4, 6:16 AM ET
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The basement of the Sigma Phi Epsilon house at the University of Missouri-Columbia is filled with familiar fraternity icons like a well-worn pool table, stacks of violent films like "Kill Bill" on DVD, and of course, the stench of stale beer.
A closer look reveals a much different scene. With the soothing sounds of a "Zen Cafe" CD playing in the background, Sig Ep brothers listen raptly as a campus yoga instructor leads them through a series of contortionist poses during an 8 a.m. workout.
Early morning yoga is just one of the changes at the fraternity since the Missouri chapter adopted its "Balanced Man" program in 2006 — just a few years after the university punished the chapter for hazing.
Now, there are trips to the opera, wine tastings and documentary film screenings. And by eliminating the pledging system — a tradition of initiation critics say encourages hazing — new members are treated as equals from the start.
more at link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071004...raternities;_ylt=AuYyRC8ZpUe3XuLUCgtSsP1H2ocA