Fraternities challenge stereotypes

With the increased sexual violence within Greek life, reports of rape and sexual assaults, these group’s activities have been cast into the spotlight. In an effort to combat the stereotypes NC State fraternities have created the organization Faternities 4 Family.

Fraternities 4 Family is a campaign to broaden awareness about domestic and sexual violence on campuses and communities and raises money for local domestic violence agencies that provide essential services to victims in their areas. 

“We see men and young women on campus are more conscious about this issue, and it’s a campus social issue and societal issue that’s much bigger than this campus,” said Interfraternity Council President, John Steward.

Charles Ullman, NC State alumnus, founded Fraternities 4 Family in 2013 and wanted the organization to teach and encourage first hand responses during a sexually violent situation. Instead of people standing by and take videos or pictures to prove it happened. 

 “When I was in school, they did not have men talking about domestic violence and what it was and what was not acceptable,” Ullman said. “In the next few years, we will see a change in perspective — that there is fault on both sides of the issue. We really have to take hold that it is our responsibility to do something about that.”

Fraternities 4 Family began to raise awareness by partnering with the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity last semester and screened the documentary, “The Hunting Ground,” which depicts the stories of several universities that failed to address and take action against reports of sexual violence on their campuses.

Phi Gamma Delta and the rest of the Greek community participated in a drive last semester collecting anything from teddy bears for child victims of sexual violence, to clothing and toiletries for those who have lost their homes due to domestic violence for the Durham Crisis Response Center.  In all, they collected more than 1,000 items for the Center, according to Steward. 

Ullman’s company, Ullman and Associates, sponsored a golf tournament last spring raising more than $600 for the Durham Crisis Response Center. Brothers of Phi Gamma Delta, Alpha Gamma Rho, Sigma Chi and Lambda Chi Alpha all participated and volunteered in the golf tournament. 

“I think sexual violence is a growing concern in the Greek community, and every fraternity has started moving toward doing more to raise awareness, specifically to Fraternities 4 Families,” said president of Phi Gamma Alpha, Mark Foley. “With how everything has been in the media and how everything has been lately, sexual assault has really been an eye-opener to not only the Greek community, but the student community as well.”

Ullman applauded the effort of fraternity brothers to combat sexual violence. 

“NC State has been the best by far with their fraternities in terms of fundraising and the amount of participation,” Ullman said. “Duke has done a good job, but NC State has knocked it out of the ballpark.”

Ullman hopes Fraternities 4 Family reaches more colleges and universities, but only if it maintains the stamina that it has had at NC State. 

“It would be great if everyone did [Fraternities 4 Family], but it’s a lot more important to make sure as many women coming out of the Durham Crisis Response Center get help as possible,” Ullman said. “This is a start-from-scratch thing that started at State, and it has put NC State on the map and now has state-wide and national interest.”