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| Students passing out club information in the West Mall |
Anyone who has
attended a four-year college is aware that there are different
groups/clubs/organizations offered at that university. Here at UT, it is nearly
impossible to walk through West Mall without someone shoving a flyer into your
hand advertising their next meeting, food scarcities in Africa, the evils of
capitalism, or a free condom. There are literally hundreds of different
organizations that you can choose to become involved in, or to not become
involved in. But why do students become involved in an organization? We aim to
discuss the significance of extracurricular involvement in college and how it
relates to conflict and/or functionalist theory.
Many college
students are involved in extracurricular activities. These activities range
from work, volunteering, campus organizations, Greek life, and sports. It is
generally known that group/organization involvement is healthy for one’s
academic career. In a study done by Christine Hegedus and Dr. James Knight, it
was found that involvement in activities outside of the classroom was more
likely to occur in younger, female students. They also found that reasons for
joining organizations centered around building leadership skills and making
resumes “look good” (2002). In addition,
students join organizations for friends and improving their communication
skills.
This is a good
example of functionalist theory. Students use these groups and organizations
for self-improvement, job opportunities and socialization. Many fraternities
and sororities focus on the networking that comes from Greek life. This would
also fit in the category of functionalism.
However, studies
have found that students often don’t have time for extracurricular activities
and this can cause them to feel “left out” or obligated to over extend
themselves. Kathleen McCann from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, found
that students who participated in extracurricular activities for 10 or more
hours per week were at a significantly higher risk for non-restorative sleep,
sleep deprivation and insomnia (2008). This is an example of organizations
operating under conflict theory. Another example of conflict theory comes from
a particularly embarrassing incident when UT students in the West campus area
(a notoriously Greek neighborhood), started ‘bleach bombing” minority students
(Permenter, 2012). This is an example of conflict theory because the people of
higher socioeconomic status were using their power to racially discriminate
against minorities.
Functionalism and
Conflict Theory Defined
As we have
learned in the class, functionalist theory is basically how a society or in our
case, an institution, functions by having each different process perform a
certain job in order to maintain equilibrium. Conflict theory on the other
hand, explains how society is made up of a power struggle between each class or
process in order to drive social change or power society as a whole. Since this
blog post mainly deals with both functionalism and conflict theory, we felt it
would be best to present an insight on both theories. In order to provide a
better understanding of both functionalist theory and conflict theory, we will
provide explanations from the scholarly article, “Sociology: A Multiple
Paradigm Science”.
“The structural-functionalist is concerned
with the relationship between structures, between institutions, and between
structures, and institutions” (Elster 159).
By understanding this quote, the structure-functionalist understands
that the individual’s decisions are influenced by external social facts
(159). Functionalists make clear that
society is orderly, shows how society keeps order, and see how society is held
together “by norms, values, and common morality” (160). Understanding this harmonious relationship
between man and institution as well as institution and society, the main focus
for functionalism is on the “functional relationship between behavior and changes
in the environment on the actor” (163). This “actor” is defined as “not simply
responding to stimuli, but interpreting these inputs and acting on the basis of
the way he defines them” (163). From the
article, it is understood that functionalism not only deals with the balance of
processes in society, but also how the individual is affected by these
processes.
Conflict theory
is seen as being the opposite of functionalist theory (159). According to Elster, “conflict theorists see
every society at every point subject to change” (160). Conflict theorists see every change in
society’s element creating contributions of dissolution, that society comes
from strong-arming from people in power, and they generally focus on social
facts (160). Unlike functionalism, the
power is not given to the individual; it is given to those that have authority
(160). This shows that power is not
divided up to create equilibrium, but it is a constant struggle in order to
keep society moving. In short, change is
key to conflict theory, while change might be unwanted for functionalism.
Now that an there
is understanding between both functionalist paradigm and conflict paradigm,
this blog can effectively show the relationships between the University,
student organizations, and how the student is affected in this environment.
The University of
Texas and Functionalist Theory
The University of
Texas at Austin itself tries to encourage all its students to join
organizations. Bealonghorn.com, the universities website for prospective
students, boasts that UT has over 900 student run organizations “from every
affiliation, orientation, and philosophy under the sun” (“Student
Organizations”, 2011). The university’s official YouTube page features videos
that promote clubs and activities for prospective students and for current
students. The one of the most persuasive is the video about an international
student who found her niche at the University of Texas at Austin by joining
clubs and organization. This video sends a message to other students and
aspiring students that if an international student, Ana Coronell, who has no
ties to the university, can find their home at the university, so can anyone
else.
Other videos that
promote clubs and organizations include the testimony of former UT student body
president, Keshav Rajagopalan (Utaustintexas, 2012), who “strived to connect
students with leadership opportunities in the numerous campus clubs and
organizations”, and Natalie Butler (Utaustintexas, 2011), a Plan II student
who attests that joining clubs and
organizations will make the campus appear smaller and “more beautiful”. The message of opportunities and becoming
fully integrated in university life shows Functionalism.
The University of
Texas and Conflict Theory
While the purpose
of clubs in the university is seen as a way to help its students, there are
times when the university has to condemn clubs when the behavior of club
participants conflicts with its designated purpose. The most prominent clubs
and organizations on campus, frats and sororities, are notorious for committing
acts of deviance by participating in hazing and racist acts.
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| Two party attendees at the "Fiesta Party" wearing racist costumes |
Recently,
fraternities and societies came under fire for hosting racially themed parties
and for throwing bleach bombs at minority students in West Campus. Victims of
the bleach bomb assaults have reported that “racial epithets” followed the
bleach bomb. Shortly before the news about the bleach bomb incidents University
of Texas sororities, Tri Delta and Zeta Tau Alpha, were accused of racially
themed fiesta party where attendees were seen wearing shirts that read
“Illegal” and “Border Patrol”. This was condemned by the university and the
sororities apologized soon afterwards (Permenter, 2012).
Acts like these
conflict with the image of clubs and organizations the university wants to
project. In both instances there is conflict between the members of the
fraternity in power and those seen to have less power than them. In the case of
hazing, the fraternity members use their power to humiliate pledges. In the
case of racism, the fraternities use their racial dominance (most sororities
and fraternities on campus are predominantly white) to belittle and harass
minorities.
A Student’s Perspective
With the purpose
of examining the relationships between the University of Texas, its student
organizations, and the students themselves, there needs to be evidence for
understanding these behaviors defined as functional paradigm or conflict
paradigm. In order to gather evidence
from the University of Texas, we interviewed several subjects in the from whom are given different names in order to protect their identity.
Students in major related clubs
Students in major related clubs
The first
subject, Bill, claimed that he joined the student-run radio station mainly for
meeting other students with similar interests.
Bill also claims that he felt no outside pressure whatsoever when it
came to joining clubs in college. Bill
is allegedly very involved in this student organization, and he helps out with
the radio station to simply stay involved and earn credentials for the real
world. Since Bill mainly just wants to help contribute to the equilibrium
within this club, shows that this specific occurrence can be understood through
the functional paradigm rather than by the conflict paradigm.
Darin also joined the student-run radio station, but his reasons prove to be different than Bill’s. Darin joined this organization for meeting new people with similar interests and considers himself very active, like Bill. Darin
went on to explain that he has felt outside pressures for joining a club, unlike Bill. Darin said that it was not just the University of Texas that made him feel like he had to join a club, but he had been hearing rumors since high school that he would need to join a student organization. Darin joined this club strictly for just helping out and being involved, yet he has competed for a head position in the past. This interview with Darin has both functionalism and conflict theory undertones. Once again, the pressures put on him “since high school” to join a club and him competing for a higher position shows features of conflict theory. On the other hand, Darin just wanting to stay involved and working with others in the radio station shows features of functionalism as well.
Darin also joined the student-run radio station, but his reasons prove to be different than Bill’s. Darin joined this organization for meeting new people with similar interests and considers himself very active, like Bill. Darin
went on to explain that he has felt outside pressures for joining a club, unlike Bill. Darin said that it was not just the University of Texas that made him feel like he had to join a club, but he had been hearing rumors since high school that he would need to join a student organization. Darin joined this club strictly for just helping out and being involved, yet he has competed for a head position in the past. This interview with Darin has both functionalism and conflict theory undertones. Once again, the pressures put on him “since high school” to join a club and him competing for a higher position shows features of conflict theory. On the other hand, Darin just wanting to stay involved and working with others in the radio station shows features of functionalism as well.
Mick had a somewhat different experience when it came to joining the
university’s film club. Mick originally
had a slight interest in joining this organization, but he did not join until
his adviser influenced him to join. The
subject also said that he felt pressure from the university that he needed to
be involved in some kind of club.
Although Mick is in this organization because he shows an appreciation
for film, he also admitted to wanting to eventually have a higher position such
as president over the club one day.
Mick’s experience with joining a club contrasts Bill’s experience; it
can be best seen through conflict paradigm due to the university pressuring
Mick and his urge to compete for power within the club.
Taylor, unlike the others above, joined NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers) solely to strengthen her resume rather than personal benefit. She states that if she knew she could get into the college of engineering without having to join a club related to that major, she wouldn't have. This best shows conflict theory because while she joined a club, she did not join it for "the right reasons" presented by the University.Students in social organizations
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| Forever Texas members |
Erica joined Forever Texas in order to gain friends. She was introduced by a friend of hers who said the organization was fun. She also stated she always has friends in this club she can hang out with outside club events, which shows the togetherness of this club. Erica experience reflects the functionalist paradigm because she is very active in the meetings, sisterhood events, and volunteer opportunities.
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| UT intramural volleyball game |
Tiana also joined her organization, intramural volleyball, in order to gain friends. While her organization is competitive, which reflects the conflict paradigm, Tiana's the main purpose for being in this organization is to have fun and be around people different than her. Tiana's experience reflects the functionalist theory because she joined the club for personal reasons and to form friendships.
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| Tri Delta members |
Sarah, on the other hand, was pressured by her parents to join a sorority so she would have a support system in college. She did garner a support system of friends that she can rely on, which does show functionalist theory. However, since she was pressured to join Tri Delta her experience leans more towards conflict theory rather than functionalist theory.
Students not in a club or organization
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| No club or organization |
Jasmine is not a club. She feels that she is a not a well-rounded student and by not being in a club, she gives off the appearance of being a “nerd” who is only focused on the academic aspects of college. She feels that not taking advantages of being in a club is like "shooting yourself in the foot". She also feels pressure from both the university and the students. This pressure to join a club and the fact that she is not in a club shows the conflict paradigm.
Interview reflection
From comparing
these subjects, it is understood that there is no right or wrong
interpretation of sociological paradigms.
We are also convinced that functionalism and conflict theory are not
opposites; both theories can technically go hand in hand because they are based
on interpretation. While we can see
points of conflict such as wanting more power or providing pressure to join groups,
there is also somewhat of a harmony between multiple organizations and the
social roles of the individuals within them based on the evidence provided.
