Do members of the greek system drink more alcohol than other students?

According to a survey released by the Student Health Center, the answer is “yes.”

“There’s no denying that there was a higher percentage of greek students drinking than off-campus students,” said Linda Ciccone, coordinator of ISU’s Substance Abuse Program. “Their numbers may be a little higher, but the problem is campuswide.”

In its study, “The Myths and Realities of Alcohol Use,” the Student Health Center surveyed 524 Iowa State Students by phone in the fall of 1998. It categorized participants by residence, classification, gender and alcohol consumption.

Sixty-seven percent of greek participants said they have had five or more drinks on one occasion in the last two weeks, while 30 percent of residence hall students and 38 percent of off-campus students responded the same.

Two percent of greek students surveyed reported having abstained from alcohol use for 30 days, compared to 30 percent for students living in the dorms and 18 percent for off-campus students.

“It seems to be a national trend that isn’t unique to Iowa State,” Ciccone said. “No matter what campus you survey, there is a higher frequency of drinking [in the greek system].”

Efforts to increase alcohol awareness have been stepped up in recent years, said Steve Zizzo, associate executive vice president of the National Interfraternity Conference.

“Fraternities have been easily targeted, and that’s unfortunate because these fraternities stand for leadership, service, scholarship and brotherhood,” Zizzo said. “I think the greeks need to be applauded for the steps they’ve taken to combat the negative aspects of alcohol.”

Five of the 29 ISU fraternities are alcohol-free, and many of the local chapters are taking steps to educate members.

“I think drinking is a personal choice, but among our members we try to educate and promote a healthy lifestyle,” said Brooke Douglas, president of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, 318 Pearson Ave.

Douglas, senior in marketing, said although alcohol isn’t much of a concern in her sorority, alcohol-awareness programs are included in monthly meetings. The sorority also tries to hold alcohol-free events.

“It’s a concern, but it’s a concern everywhere. It’s something that we definitely try to prepare people for,” she said. “I think we’ve done a good job of it.”

Dan Brower, president of Alpha Tau Omega, said the survey is inconclusive.

“I think college students are going to have an access to alcohol regardless of whether they are in a residence hall, fraternity or off-campus,” said Brower, senior in political science and international studies.

Brower said he doesn’t feel alcohol is a larger part of greek life than of any other group, but often when fraternities and sororities get together it is in a social setting where alcohol is present.

“I think if people want to make judgments based on one or two examples, than that’s your right,” he said. “There isn’t really much we can do other than help people see the positive aspects of the greek system.”

Although there is no easy way to explain the increase in alcohol consumption between greek students and other students, Ciccone pointed to living arrangements and the distorted perception greeks have as to how much other people drink.

“One explanation is that you drink up to expectation,” she said. “If you think other people are drinking more, than you tend to drink more.”

The problem is complicated, and so is the solution, Ciccone said. The Student Health Center is beefing up the alcohol awareness campaign at ISU by increasing advertising, updating literature and designing a Web page.

The new Web page will post the survey results and have accurate information on alcohol use.

When discussing alcohol abuse, Ciccone said it’s important not to target the greek community.

“It’s easy to pick them out and say that’s our problem,” she said. “It’s not a greek problem; it’s a campus problem.”