Survey says: Fraternity and sorority members at Penn State drink more than non-greek students.

A Penn State Pulse survey released at the end of February shows 94 percent of students in fraternities and sororities drink alcohol, compared with 81 percent of students who do not belong to a greek organization.

"The data shows that fraternity and sorority members drink alcohol at a higher rate than independent students," said Linda LaSalle, a community health educator for University Health Services. "A big part of it is the fraternity and sorority culture. A big part of it is the parties and a lot of social activities revolve around drinking alcohol."

The survey, which was started in 1995, has a 3 percent margin of error, said Betty Moore, senior research analyst at the Student Affairs Research and Assessment Office. Students questioned were randomly chosen.

According to the survey, students who belonged to social fraternities and sororities were more likely to encounter "problem behaviors," including being assaulted or humiliated, being in a serious argument or quarrel, or experiencing unwanted sexual advances.

Moore said they have "consistently" found members of social sororities and fraternities drink more than the rest of Penn State.

The survey showed only 2 percent of greek members consume one drink an hour and 8 percent consume non-alcoholic drinks as well as alcoholic drinks when socializing -- almost two times less than non-greek students.

Mary Kaye Jacono, Panhellenic president, said she does not agree with the results of the survey.

"It's completely not true," said Jacono. "There's no facts to back that up."

Interfraternity Council (IFC) president Steve DiOrio would not comment on the survey.

Mike Sabol (senior-management science and information systems) said he is neither for nor against the findings of the survey.

"I wasn't in a fraternity for the first two years, but before I joined the frat, I probably drank more," said Sabol, a member of the Chi Phi fraternity. "Now you go to a party and you go there just to drink, but I don't think I drank any less before I joined."

Morgan Moran (sophomore-marketing), a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, said the amount of greek members that go to parties are miniscule compared to the thousands of non-greek freshmen who go to fraternity parties.

"I think it seems like [greek members drink more] because, obviously the stereotypes, and they are always seen as providing the alcohol. So it seems like they drink more," Moran said. "The whole thing is the Penn State greek community, especially the fraternities, aren't exclusive, so the freshmen and sophomores go because older people go to apartment parties or bars."

Although the number of non-greek members might sometimes outweigh the number of greek members at a party, the survey reported that 29 percent of members participate in drinking games, compared with 19 percent of non-greeks.

The survey also reported that 32 percent of those who belong to a social greek fraternity or sorority engaged in unplanned sexual activities, compared to 19 percent of non-greeks. Nineteen percent of greeks did not use protection when they had sex, compared with 10 percent of non-greeks.