Franklin & Marshall: Reversing the Trend

[PhiPsiRuss]

After WWII, no prestigous institution of higher learning banned a greek system until Williams College in 1968. Then there was a pause until the 1980s. Then its started; Amherst, Bowdoin, Colby, Franklin & Marshall, and others either banned their greek systems, or forced them to go co-ed or banned them outright.

The greek system at F&M never went away. The administration at F&M decided to act responsibly, and negotiate the rerecognition of their greek system with alumni and the faculty. Technically, this has not happened yet, but its as good as done.

Check out this job opening at F&M: http://www.fandm.edu/Departments/Per...DeanGreek.html
You don't create such a position for an unrecognized greek system.

[madmax]

So what? What is the benefit to the organizations? According to the press release the only reason the school wants to recognize the fraternities is so they can regulate them and have more control over them.

Is the school going to improve their housing, finances, or rush? Doubt it. A year from now the school will be telling the organizations who can pledge, when they can pledge and where they can pledge. The result will be less pledges and the orgs will have a tougher time filling their houses.

[NutBrnHair]

Hmmm...I, on the other hand, think it's a positive move by F&M

[33girl]

I doubt they will get the houses on campus that other private colleges in PA like Lehigh, Bucknell, W&J have, so that part IS kinda like "what's in it for us?" That is, other similar schools have that and they won't (DWAlphaGam or someone else, please correct me if I'm wrong).

The only way to know if this was a good idea will be to see if numbers increase due to the ability to gather on campus and such.

Edited to add that I'm curious as to how the chapters there have been performing as far as their nationals are concerned - i.e. if they are fulfilling their requirements re risk management, etc. If they've been doing a lot of this stuff anyway it might not be as big of a deal.

[madmax]

Originally posted by NutBrnHair
Hmmm...I, on the other hand, think it's a positive move by F&M

No, i'm just a realist. Im not a puppet like you. This is the same administration that tried to get rid of the fraternities.



Now answer my question. What is the school going to do for them?

[NutBrnHair]

Originally posted by madmax
Im not a puppet like you.

ouch.

[madmax]

Originally posted by 33girl

The only way to know if this was a good idea will be to see if numbers increase due to the ability to gather on campus and such.

That is a 50/50 shot. The numbers might go down.

Originally posted by 33girl



Edited to add that I'm curious as to how the chapters there have been performing as far as their nationals are concerned - i.e. if they are fulfilling their requirements re risk management, etc. If they've been doing a lot of this stuff anyway it might not be as big of a deal.

I don't think you are making the right comparison. It isn't fair to compare FM numbers to ACC, or Big 10 school. You should compare their numbers to when they were recognized by the school vs their numbers when they were not recognized. Some places it is an advantage to not be with the school. Sig Pi at UC Santa Clara (I think) went from 20 actives up to about 80 after the school banned the greek system.

[madmax]

Originally posted by NutBrnHair
ouch.

Are you going to answer the question?
What is the benefit to the fraternities?

You are probably a campus administrator. It is good because it is good.

[33girl]

Well, I'm kind of looking at it from a sorority point of view - things like are they hitting total, what their initiation/retention rate is etc, because apparently they have a functioning Panhel although KBG does not participate.

I don't mean that they should compare themselves to Penn State or Illinois, I'm wondering how they do compared w/ W&J & places like that. And as far as national sororities are concerned, when you get quota or are at total you are rewarded for that, even if the quota is 2 and total is 25 - as long as all the other sororities on campus are a comparable size.

Now from a guy perspective it's totally different.

[33girl]

Related thread

Another related thread

[NutBrnHair]

I just think it's a positive move and no, I'm not a campus administrator. I'm "just" a sorority alum who recognizes that our groups exist on college campuses and I think it's best when there is open dialogue between the institution and the GLO.

They are "our" members, but they are "their" students.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally posted by NutBrnHair
I just think it's a positive move and no, I'm not a campus administrator. I'm "just" a sorority alum who recognizes that our groups exist on college campuses and I think it's best when there is open dialogue between the institution and the GLO.

They are "our" members, but they are "their" students.

I think NutBrnHair said it best!

[Tom Earp]

While trying to understand this thread, It seems that some Schools F @ M who are a small school had locals just as Shorter College did, it was decided to try to attain International or National Greek Organizatiosn simply for the Fact of Hazing that the locals did. Why, because of the Law Suits.

That for The Most Part Internationsals have polocies in place about this is understandable. This does help releive The College of some responseability.

Therefore, it also falls on the Schools to do the same thing. How long are they or We going to put up with it because of what it costs for each Chapter?

Yes, they are the Colleges Students, but they are members of a specific Greek Organization and We do have a responsability for them as Alums and Avctives.

We as each Organization are either on campus or not.. If not, who does that help?

If F @ M decides to go With Greek Life good for them.

One must also remember Greek Alums from a school are a powerful group as can be seen in many sites of GC!

[pinkyphimu]

i think it is just the admins. way of regulating the greek system. the school is willing to recognize them...if they move to sophomore deferment. f & m is trying to move to a system that is place at bucknell, muhlenberg and other schools in the area. sophomore deferment is not working at those schools...and probably won't at f & m. my friend used to work there. i will see if she has any insight.

[Tom Earp]

Is it not so true! Other Schools look toward other like Schools for what The of the unknowing might want to try to do?

Is it The best, well maybe not, but they are trying to do what is a like kind, right or wrong.