Fraternities Are a Cure for What Ails Higher Education

Greek culture stands for patriotism, civility and camaraderie, virtues embodied by the courageous young men who defended the flag at UNC.

Fraternities and sororities have long gotten a bad rap. Those who dislike Greek life would have the public believe that sordid stories of hazing are typical. In reality, the overwhelming majority of fraternity and sorority members are responsible students who seek friendship and personal growth by joining single-sex organizations.

That reality was on display last week when fraternity men at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill stood against a mob to defend the American flag. The same values were exhibited at Arizona State University, where fraternity members helped police officers remove a protest encampment. These scenes have captivated the country because they represent patriotism, civility and camaraderie, virtues once common in collegiate life.