“Greek Life Shown to Be Linked to Real-Life Happiness” (But What Is the Link?)

This is in today’s WSJ,

Greek Life Shown to Be Linked to Real-Life Happiness – WSJ.com.

Here is how I see it (which I put in a comment).

“Before jumping to conclusions about why students who were Greeks lead happier lives, everyone should read “Paying for the Party – How College Maintains Inequality” by Armstrong and Hamilton.

Professors Armstrong and Hamilton did an in depth study of students at an unnamed midwestern school. (I have no doubt it was Indiana.) From their book, I concluded that: (a) Greeks are much wealthier going in, and thus going out; (b) because of the wealth they bring in, the school caters to those students; and, (c) other students, most seeking a professional career, or upward mobility, suffer for the lack of resources allocated to them.

None of this should be a surprise. We just learned that state school presidents who allocate resources away from education and into money making enterprises make the most money.

I have seen this for years. I taught at an “elite” private school. There, students were not given an elite education (Many don’t really want that.); but they were given elite treatment”