Shaping Campus Drinking Habits: Social Fraternities and Beyond
College students’ indulgent relationship with alcohol is by no means a recent development. There is a notable increase in the amount of and frequency at which alcohol is consumed when students enter college. These increases are even greater for students who join Greek organizations. (Wechsler et al. 2009). Davidson has a unique social scene however, with social fraternities, but no social sororities. While Eating Houses, the Black Student Coalition, Union Board and other student-run organizations have their own respective agency over the matter, this research investigates the degree to which social fraternities dictate students’ alcohol consumption habits on campus. It also investigates the other policies and actors that intentionally attempt to reshape these habits. Lastly, it applies national models aimed at reducing risky drinking in tandem with theories on community and change in a proposal for Davidson College collaboration to promote healthy alcohol consumption among students.
