Fall semester of 2002 grades shows fraternity scholastic average to be below the all male average and the male non-Greek average.

In the past, a recruitment technique for going Greek was that the Greek male average was higher than the non-Greek average and the all male average. However, grades from this past fall semester show the male Greek average to be a 2.55 while the non Greek average was 2.59 and the all male average was 2.57.

Inter Fraternal Council (IFC) President Ryan Aziminia says that IFC is looking in to the situation. “It serves as a wake up call to fraternities and fraternity systems that we need to focus more on academics rather than just getting by.”

Seven out of the 10 fraternities on campus had grades below the all male average of 2.57. Fraternities from IFC that fell below this average were Sigma Alpha Epsilon (1.95), Phi Sigma Kappa (2.09), Alpha Tau Omega (2.45), and Pi Kappa Alpha (2.55). NPHC fraternities that fell below the all male average were Omega Psi Phi (1.22), Phi Beta Sigma (1.56), and Kappa Alpha Psi (2.13).

Three of these fraternities: Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Beta Sigma and Omega Psi Phi, had academic averages that were below the minimum GPA requirement to be in good academic standing with the university (2.0).

These averages are reflective of the fact that nine percent of male Greeks are on probation or suspension lists.

Only three fraternities scored above the all male average. Those fraternities were Kappa Alpha (2.59), Alpha Gamma Rho (3.01) and Sigma Phi Epsilon (3.05).

Sigma Phi Epsilon and Alpha Gamma Rho are the only IFC organizations to score above a 3.0.

Comparing statistics from fall 2001, three fraternities have increased their average. Pi Kappa Alpha has increased 1.9 points to an average of 2.55.

Kappa Alpha Psi has increased 1.0 points to an average of 2.13, while Sigma Phi Epsilon increased .03 points to an average of 3.05.

Aziminia seems to believe that something needs to change. “We recommend that the chapters take a pro-active approach in to helping those whose grades aren't what they should be, and help them get where they could be,” Aziminia said.

Denny Bubrig, coordinator of Greek life, says that the Greek system normally ranks above the all male average. “It's very disappointing to see the grades now, considering the recent successes the guys have had with academics,” Bubrig said.
For six semesters in a row the all fraternity average has went up. “We have to take a look at what went wrong, fix it, and get better. These guys are capable of much much more, and they've proven it,” Bubrig added.

Freshmen fraternity members had a lower GPA ranking than other students by class. “It seems like it may just be a perspective issue. The first couple of semesters set the tone for the rest of your academic career. Collectively, as a Greek system, we have to do a better job of emphasizing that,” Bubrig said.

Bubrig further stated that while the grades this year may look bad, it is nothing that can not be overcome.

“Being in a fraternity or sorority is a fun part of college, but you're here to get a degree, that's the bottom line.”