|
I guess what I fail to understand is why this is acceptable and why there is no one willing to try to change it. Of course, it will take years, maybe even decades of work, individuals skilled in marketing, and individuals with some strong values to lead the change. Maybe that's why it won't happen. It's just too much work for the few that are willing to do it.
It isn't though. Maybe as an alum I can help with that. I hope so. It's just extremely depressing how accepted this is. It is totally against what the organizations were founded for...and, like I said, despite my cynical distaste for Pledged, has made ME, already a Greek, believe it.
And no, it's not going to be one chapter that changes it. One chapter cannot take on a whole monster by itself. Especially if they are already tired and stressed out from constant recruiting battles. Nationals/internationals, for instance, sometimes help perpetuate this attitude. We saw it in the DePauw case. I've seen it myself...a chapter seemingly offered no help at ALL relevant to the campus it was on..."suggestions" based totally on a campus where Greek life is the norm. I haven't experienced it, but I don't doubt that my chapter might run into similar problems with officials if it found itself below on numbers. Maybe everyone just got too big for their britches, and that's a shame. It seems that those of us who became Greek on smaller campuses really got the sisterhood/brotherhood experience. It doesn't mean we don't have our issues or run into petty/superficial attitudes with both members and PNMs at times, but even based on just this thread there is a HUGE gap. I have little doubt that if the sisters at my chapter were presented with the decision to close and recolonize or totally exclude sisters for recruitment, they'd rather recolonize. And I really do think the others on campus would be the same way.
And I do agree with the point that once you have a reputation, it's near impossible to change it. Especially if it's a negative one. Think back to high school. Weren't the nerds nothing BUT nerds, even if they quit band and lost the braces? Teenagers have a tendency to be self centered. They aren't all completely STUPID and superficial as some keep saying, but in general...self centered...YES. It translates into their perceptions of others. BUT I think the talk with the council...both male AND female councils would be helpful. It isn't going to turn around the reputation, but it might SLOW the progression of nasty remarks. It would take some effort. For instance, having a Greek advisor on your side who would call a meeting of individuals in each organization who DO value sisterhood/brotherhood and are therefore likely to be more sympathetic to the plight of the struggling chapters. It is part of the fight to change the way things are. It's not going to happen overnight. That's just not possible. But if people put the EFFORT into it, it could be changed in a few years. Seems worth it to me...being Greek and an Alpha Gam is important to me...therefore making sure the reputation of neither is tarnished by this stuff is as well. Because to me, it's VERY tarnished.
|