[81alum]

I looked for a university that was not heavily influenced by the Greek system, and in 1977 chose Stanford.  At that time I found the whole idea of exclusive clubs of any kind revolting--and especially so clubs that had a reputation for being all-white, wealthy, and filled with kids who saw college primarily as a place to network.  (As a grad student I had the same reaction to Princeton's eating clubs.  They were much worse, though, given that virtually everyone who was a member was white, and nearly all the employees were Black.  The one time I was invited to attend dinner I was appalled.  Rich white kids in designer clothes bossing around poor black waiters and maids.  And the "clubs" were in mansions that looked like Tara.  It was a little bit of antebellum America.)  Perhaps my perception of fraternities  was unjust, but that is what I thought at the time.  I convinced myself that Stanford was more egalitarian than the Ivies--there was some evidence to think so, given that it refused to give preference to legacies, it had the best middle-class financial aid, and it had a very small Greek system that was kept on a short leash.  (My future wife actually lived in the Delt house--the year after the Delts were kicked off campus and their house confiscated and turned back into general use.)  So Stanford's lack of a Greek system was a real attraction to me--and I know other students who felt the same way. 

As far as drinking, yes there was drinking.  Then again, my home state's drinking age was 18 at that time.  But I do not remember much binge drinking.  My roommates had a liquor cabinet but it was more for show than for consumption.  The frats seemed to be fairly sedate--then again I only saw the inside of them on Casino night.  Perhaps the crackdown on the Delts provoked more responsible behavior.

So, my question is whether there has been a shift at Stanford (nationally?) toward more of a binge-drinking frat culture?  Has the frat system strengthened over the decades, and has the drinking culture worsened?  Or are things about the same, except that our attention has focused on an old problem because of the Brock Turner case?

[81alum]

I looked for a university that was not heavily influenced by the Greek system, and in 1977 chose Stanford.  At that time I found the whole idea of exclusive clubs of any kind revolting--and especially so clubs that had a reputation for being all-white, wealthy, and filled with kids who saw college primarily as a place to network.  (As a grad student I had the same reaction to Princeton's eating clubs.  They were much worse, though, given that virtually everyone who was a member was white, and nearly all the employees were Black.  The one time I was invited to attend dinner I was appalled.  Rich white kids in designer clothes bossing around poor black waiters and maids.  And the "clubs" were in mansions that looked like Tara.  It was a little bit of antebellum America.)  Perhaps my perception of fraternities  was unjust, but that is what I thought at the time.  I convinced myself that Stanford was more egalitarian than the Ivies--there was some evidence to think so, given that it refused to give preference to legacies, it had the best middle-class financial aid, and it had a very small Greek system that was kept on a short leash.  (My future wife actually lived in the Delt house--the year after the Delts were kicked off campus and their house confiscated and turned back into general use.)  So Stanford's lack of a Greek system was a real attraction to me--and I know other students who felt the same way. 

As far as drinking, yes there was drinking.  Then again, my home state's drinking age was 18 at that time.  But I do not remember much binge drinking.  My roommates had a liquor cabinet but it was more for show than for consumption.  The frats seemed to be fairly sedate--then again I only saw the inside of them on Casino night.  Perhaps the crackdown on the Delts provoked more responsible behavior.

So, my question is whether there has been a shift at Stanford (nationally?) toward more of a binge-drinking frat culture?  Has the frat system strengthened over the decades, and has the drinking culture worsened?  Or are things about the same, except that our attention has focused on an old problem because of the Brock Turner case?