Yikes, that is a lot. I'd expect those numbers at Mason or Maryland, but not AU.

Mason has 26,000 undergrads with 15 IFC fraternities, 7 NPHC (3 fraternities, 4 sororities), 15 multicultural (5 fraternities, 8 sororities) and 8 NPC sororities. That's 45 groups but, according to the Greek Life office, only 1800+ students are members.

45?!?!?

https://media.giphy.com/media/PqcIFm93VxA8o/giphy.gif

I've been away from DC for too long. I had no idea.

Oops my math is a bit off. They have 13 multicultural frats and sororities, so the total is 43.

I have to admit I was surprised by how many Greek social orgs Mason has, but I was also surprised how low Greek participation is given the number of groups on campus. The university has definitely become more residential in the past 20 years, with lots of new residence halls being built and recruiting many students from other parts of the state (and the region). But there is still a high percentage of undergrads who are part-timers, commuters and older students, not to mention a large influx of juniors every year from the Northern Virginia Community College system.

"Why it’s so difficult to abolish sororities and fraternities"

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/214921...e-campus-covid

I'm sure that Taylor has already started showing his/her butt in Greek life at State and has been invited to leave. Unpleasant people are not welcome there.

And has the writer even heard of the NPHC?

This seems to be the trend with many of the articles I've seen on this subject - labeling and describing Greek life only in the context of historically white organizations. The Abolish Greek Life movement as a whole seems to dismiss the fact that there are organizations that are not historically white.

Oh, the irony.

I’m used to people not referencing our organizations in articles and conversations, so this doesn’t shock me.

Out of curiosity, I’ve looked at a few of the social media pages looking to abolish Greek Life. When people asked about the NPHC and other councils, the page managers stated they weren’t talking about our organizations.

To be honest, I’m not sure how many people in my council are even aware of this “movement.” The only reason I’m in the know is because of GC.

Who's enjoying Baked-In Harm again for dinner? ;)

It seems like the articles are running on a lather, rinse, repeat news cycle -- they're all quoting/retelling what's already happened. I keep reading the articles, thinking the movement has spread to new campuses, but it feels like the front has stalled. This Vox article was just a compilation of last week's news...nothing new to see here.

This, however, vexed me:

"...in the late 19th century, sororities were established as a sort of “sister” group that men socialized with."

Um, no, that's not why we were founded. :rolleyes:

Heck no! Especially those founded at WOMEN ONLY campuses.

And what is with student sources preferring to remain unnamed, or known only by their initial/first name, when being quoted for posterity? You dont see executives with NPC refusing to use their names/titles when stating their positions.

Psst. I tried to mention this on page 3 LOL. It got crickets.

But seriously, this is a general statement that I am making here Many times NPHC is not a consideration when the topic is “Greek Life”. And it can be seen “in poor taste”, gauche, or even aggressive to try and mention it when “obviously we are talking about NPC/IFC”.

I do think that many in the “abolish” movement are missing key pieces of information, but I also believe they feel justified and led by their higher mission. I just question how far that mission is from that of their sorority/fraternity. I have my guesses, but it’s curious how far both sides seem to be to reaching compromise or mutual understanding.

I read that article yesterday and saw that line. Immediate thought: "Lol - I'd love to know what the women of GC think about someone labeling the founding of their organizations like that."

A bit off topic but I'll say it nonetheless. This is my own personal experience and opinion, my mother is African-American and I easily pass for Caucasian but the fact of the matter is that I'm biracial, one would not think I have African-American heritage if one were to meet me. I'm only speaking on my personal experiences.

The accounts on Instagram @stripyourletters and a majority of the abolishgreeklife at (insert school name here) accounts are run by students who are Caucasian, the majority of women who have been dropping their sororities at Northwestern are also Caucasian, I've been thinking about this a lot and I've been speaking about it at length with my fellow Panhellenic friends. There's this movement that's sprung up and are some things valid? Yes, I do believe that the stories of attacks at fraternity parties do need to be told and I believe that if racist behavior is exhibited, it needs to be taken care of, but the majority of these pages are happy to ignore the fact that Greek Life isn't for everyone, those who make an effort to join a chapter and continue making an effort usually thrive and flourish and that those who don't make an effort usually don't reap the benefits of being in PHC/IFC and are the ones who drop and make a fuss. Going Greek is not for all.

I know quite a large number of women who've rushed NPC sororities who are African-American and they've never even considered leaving, I had a daughter and a stepdaughter go through recruitment this autumn who would never think of leaving their new chapters, and I have friends who had daughters go through recruitment this year and years ago who also would never leave the chapters they joined. From what I've seen and what I've heard, it's not the African American women in sororities who are demanding this change and who are demanding that Greek life be abolished, it's the Caucasian women within these chapters who are leading the charge and I think that it's to make themselves look and feel better. I have no qualms with this because I'm sure that they're sure that they're making a difference but the fact of the matter is that they think that they're being progressive and woke but they're really speaking over the women in their chapters who are perfectly happy to be a part of the organization they've chosen to be a part of.

I find it to be quite disheartening that instead of going out and tabling, recruiting, and making their chapters into the image that they desire, they choose to take the easy way out and shut down their chapter against the advice and without the permission of Nationals. I understand that they feel like there's a pressure on them to diversify from various voices on their campus but instead of being the sorority that capitulates, why would they not work to become the chapter they desire? I think it's quite lazy to just close doors instead of working through the issues the chapter faces and it's not like Nationals won't go in and reestablish the chapter after each girl has graduated, it's all for naught in the end.

I'll end with this, I wish it was like the old days when people understood that if they didn't want to be a part of Greek life they could simply drop and go, they didn't need to announce their departure or make movements to try and convince others to leave the chapter, they would just leave their badge on the mantle and get out. There's no need for them to attempt to ruin the experience that other people are having and that they're enjoying.

^^^ Yes!