FACTORS THAT PROPEL MALE COLLEGE STUDENTS TOWARD OR AWAY FROM GREEK LIFE IN PARTICULAR UNIVERSITY SETTINGS

The purpose of this study was to identify influences which propel male college students toward or away from Greek organizations in particular university settings. The 1982 study data were elicited through the Greek Membership Opinionnaire (GMO), a 16-item survey tool developed for this study. Each item presents a factor, associated with influencing joining or not joining a college fraternity, cited in the literature. The GMO incorporates five Likert-type response alternatives, "negligible" to "very strong", for respondent use. The study population was composed of Greeks and Independents on four campuses: The American University, a private university; Frostburg State College, a coed liberal arts college; George Mason University, an "emerging" university; and Howard University, a predominately Black university. The study found that the major influences among the 16 presented on the GMO which propelled the 117 Greek pledge respondents to fraternity membership are: (1) "impressions of the present individual members," (2) "fraternities' potential to facilitate social relationships," (3) "social activities sponsored by Greek organizations," and (4) "leadership development opportunity offered by fraternities." The influences which the sample of 135 independents reported as most influential to their decision to remain independent are: (1) "impressions of the present individual members," (2) "time required to complete pledging," (3) the cost of fraternity membership," and (4) "social activities sponsored by Greek organizations." At specific campuses, excepting Howard University, a predominately Black campus, the responses of Greek and independent samples followed a similar pattern. Leadership development opportunities offered by fraternities was a more important reason for joining a fraternity among pledges on the predominately "Black" campus than among those on the predominately "white" campus. The study concluded that how current members are perceived by potential members is the key factor to recruitment. It is people who draw pledges to or propel independents away from Greek organizations. The factors that influence college males to not join a fraternity are somewhat similar despite the general type of institution they attend. At The American University, Frostburg State College, and George Mason University, the affiliation needs of freshmen who join fraternities for group social activities are strongest than those of freshmen who do not.