Mitchell, Elvis. “Critic’s Notebook; Revisiting Faber College (Toga, Toga, Toga!)” The New York Times. 2003. April 2008 .

    As opposed to the more commonly accepted notion of Animal House’s shameless vulgarity, Mitchell reveals the romanticized perspective though some of director John Landis’ thoughts. Perspective changes the entire feel of a film. Though Delta house is supposed to be the worst fraternity on Faber College’s campus, it possesses the best qualities of one. Landis gave the family aspect to Delta, and gave “all of the negatives, basically Nazis” to Omega. The trouble with Animal House is that the protagonists are revolting, but with the separation and highlight of qualities, the film depicts them as portraying the positive image.
    Landis says that he visited fraternities to study them when making the film. He comments that “the fraternity wasn’t dead, but it was dying.” Many people took Animal House as a bad influence to fraternities. Since movies like this emerged, college life became more dangerous and more associated with alcohol. However, before this, Landis was unimpressed, as he calls it, with fraternities. Perhaps Animal House improved college life in the sense that it reinforced the sense of camaraderie and personal expression and exploration between students. Landis “set out to make a fairly classic college comedy.” In the simplest form, this is depicted in the famous picture of John Belushi holding a bottle of Jack Daniels sporting a sweater that says “College.” In a deeper way, Landis may have done so by simply inspiring students to have a good time while they can.

Gumbel, Andrew. “Police raid the US student society that inspired Animal House.” The Independent. 2006. April 2008

    <http://proxy.library.upenn.edu:5591/us/lnacademic/returnTo.do?returnToKey=20_T3480786312>.

    There exists a fraternity called Alpha Delta Phi and there also exists the infamous Delta house. The latter is based on Alpha Delta Phi, but the real Dartmouth frat in turn takes on its fictional traditions, pride and notoriety. However, they disguise it as “leadership, scholarship, service and philanthropy, diversity, accountability and brotherhood.” Finally the frat brothers were caught after an investigation lasting almost two years. Their pranks are angrily blamed on Animal House.
    The ironic thing about Animal House is the source of Delta’s craziness. While Alpha Delta Phi’s mayhem supposedly comes from the made up Delta house, Delta house’s ideas come from Chris Miller’s (one of the writers’) college days at Dartmouth. So what exactly was Animal House’s role, other than simply putting a depiction on the big screen? Movies do give people expectations, sometimes false, or unrealistic standards. Animal House was an average college story to everyone who was already familiar with such college life. However, the film created a legend out of Delta Phi, and consequently impressions and reputations to live up to. These responsibilities already existed in the fraternity, just not publicly; these matters usually remain within the frat’s walls. The film was a catalyst, a cause, or an excuse. The only reason why it is viewed as such a problem is because Delta Phi became personally involved and invested. Films take on a new meaning when based on fact. Suddenly everything in it becomes possible. Perhaps there would have been a less extreme response if Delta Phi had not known about its relevance.

Elkins, Becky, Helms, Lelia B., and Pierson, Christopher T. “Greek-Letter Organizations, Alcohol, and the Courts: A Risky Mix?” Journal of College

    Student Development. 2003, American College Personnel Association. University of Pennsylvania. April 2008
    <http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/journal_of_college_student_development/v044/44.1elkins.html>.    

    Alcohol is obviously a problem in college Greek life. Not only are fraternities known for binge and underage drinking, but over the past few decades they have also brought alcohol to the courts. The article juxtaposes concern for legal matters with concern for the health and progress of students who engage in more alcohol-related activities than the average person. Heavy drinking has immediate and possible indirect consequences, such as unwanted sexual situations, fighting, drunk driving, and so on. These are the cases that lead to legal matters, some of which involve death. Students have gone to court for alcohol-related cases progressively more and more since the early 1980s. However, fraternity and sorority events still prosper because members admit that “partying and drinking [are] important to them.”
    Are films such as Animal House affecting this? They certainly exhibit it. Dean Wormer of Faber College enters the Delta house, and the members are caught with alcohol, despite the failed attempt to inconspicuously hide the beers. However, all Dean Wormer can throw at them are inventions such as double secret probation and empty threats. Delta house is a danger to Faber College’s reputation, but there is not enough authority to stop them from downing alcohol at every chance. The article recommends that the universities take action to protect them legally, but to not let this intrude on or dominate over “ethical obligations to teach students to behave responsibly.” This is where Dean Wormer fails and Delta house prevails. Universities learn from these mistakes, which is why modern institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania has programs such as Fling Safe and organizations such as the Vice Provost for University Life.