On fraternities

For some time now two fraternities in Cebu have drawn the attention of the public for the violent incidents associated with them. Alpha Kappa Rho and Tau Gamma Phi - the very names conjure conflicts and mayhem. Whatever the reasons, an ongoing feud exists between these groups that have triggered sporadic incidents resulting in injuries and fatalities. So serious were these happenings that one police official proposed that these fraternities be declared as criminal groups, and should therefore be disbanded.

Fraternities (and sororities) are generally a phenomenon among students in colleges and universities. Normally, they are founded to achieve certain objectives related to students' in-campus life. Most have academic oriented thrusts and school authorities have looked with favor on their presence. From time to time hazing incidents do occur but these are isolated cases and usually only few students are involved.

Unlike other student organizations, a fraternity is more closely constituted. It has its own by-laws where the objectives are spelled out along with the roles of the members and the norms of behavior. Membership is limited only to those who qualify with the group's standard. For this reason, membership is considered a badge of distinction, especially if the group is a reputable one. Reputation is based on achievements as well as on the values espoused by the group. If these values are socially accepted ones, such as camaraderie, positive personal qualities, community service and the like, the more a fraternity invests itself with an enviable name.

A fraternity's set of values determines its norms of behavior. Norms specify "what must or must not be done when", according to social psychologists. If its norms involve the pursuit of scholarship, the members tend to zero in their activities toward this end. Library work, research, conscientious study are therefore expected of them.

What impels an individual to join a fraternity? The desire to belong, which is instinctive, is one major factor. This factor is especially compelling among Filipinos in whose psyche operates strongly the values of social acceptance and smooth interpersonal relationship (or SIR to psychologists). Immersed in a group of close acquaintances, a Filipino is happy; apart from his group he is sad. There is an effort therefore to maintain a congenial relationship with everyone in the group, a tendency which drives the individual to perform even a socially reprehensible act if the group wants him to do so.

Deviant behavior by a group member is the effect of one's desire to please his group. More than this desire however is the fact that after a time, the individual's self-concept becomes submerged in the group whose collective mindset and world view become a driving force.

Inter-group rivalry is not uncommon among fraternities. This happens because of the existence groupthink in every group. This is a kind of group mind which prevails in the group somewhat similar to a sub-culture. Groupthink facilitates cohesive decision-making and is characterized by the following: An illusion of invulnerability, high degree of morality, agreement and unanimity all of which exert a strong pressure to members towards conformity and avoidance of disagreement.

Groupthink makes a group believe that it is superior to other groups. It fosters the conviction that the group is inherently good while other groups are decidedly bad. This explains the ongoing rivalry between Akhro and Tau Gamma, which has spawned a series of violent incidents. Had these fraternities been school-based it would not have been difficult to control their activities. But since these are extra-school organizations many of whose members are non-students and whose leadership, as reported, are not connected with the academe, their operations are therefore conducted on a free-for-all basis.

These questions are pertinent: Who should supervise these groups? Who should motivate them to come up with positive norms and socially accepted goals? Since the right to form associations or societies is guaranteed by the Constitution (provided their purposes are not contrary to law), can measures be taken to prevent the occurrence of more violence?

Unless something is done the feud between Akrho and Tau Gamma could escalate into a full-blown gang war, Chicago style.