Greek Life in the cross-fire at Boston U

[adduncan]

Perhaps some fellow Terriers can provide some insight on this.

Evidently, a slate on the BU Student Gov't elections thinks that it would be a good idea to fund **certain activities** of GLOs at BU directly related to campus life, philanthropy, etc.

However Greek-bashers are coming out of the woodwork to oppose "funding Greek life". (FYI--no one is "funding Greek life at BU, it is certain campus-related activities)

Behold the following...................
http://www.dailyfreepress.com/news/407689.html

http://www.dailyfreepress.com/news/405925.html

http://www.dailyfreepress.com/news/405006.html

http://www.dailyfreepress.com/news/405009.html

http://www.dailyfreepress.com/news/403943.html

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)
(and I stand by my sig more than ever)

[moe.ron]

damn it, you go to register. too lazy to do it. can you give us summary of the articles?

[adduncan]

Oh shoot, sorry 'bout that.

These are all letters to the editor--I'll post one by one.

From today:

BU should not start funding Greek life

By Dennis Reardon, CAS '06
Recently, I have become aware that the current Student Union government and the “True 2” slate have been working to get greater funding for the Intra-Fraternity and Sorority Council. Though I must confess that I am ignorant of the specific workings of the council with regards to the specific fraternities, I have a few strong objections to such a move.

First of all, it seems completely irresponsible for a school and for the student body in general to support an organization or a group of organizations which participate in things like hazing. Hazing is officially outlawed; however, it’s fairly clear from evidence and stories of people who actually join these fraternities that it does happen. I don’t particularly care whether hazing goes on — after all, people who join fraternities know what they are getting into. What I object to is having our money go toward organizations where you must go through these weird rituals in order to join. Since every person pays the undergraduate student fee, the only things our money should go to are clubs and organizations where everyone can join without being intimidated by such hazing.

Supporters of financial backing for Greek life seem to insinuate that these fraternities and sororities help promote more of a community at Boston University. However, I would say it promotes exactly the opposite effect. In frats and sororities, people generally gravitate toward the same type of people, so it therefore discourages the sort of interaction you get in dorms and regular apartment housing. Also, I think an encouragement of Greek life will create greater division among the student body. First, there will be a general division between the fraternities and sororities. Second, there will be a division between those involved in fraternities and sororities and those who are not. Right now the problem is small because there are a small number of frats and sororities, but if their numbers increase, the problem will be more apparent. The solution to the lack of community at BU is not to encourage a system that neatly divides people up into small groups and creates an extra form of division between people at the university.

What I think we need to do at BU is focus our efforts more on improving the worthwhile clubs and organizations that are doing community service and bringing people at BU together with our undergraduate fee. What we should not do is promote hazing and division through this flawed system even if it does have some merits. We should therefore send a message to those who think that it is in the interest of BU to have institutionalized high school cliques funded with our money by voting down the “True 2” slate.

[adduncan]

Funding needs not Greek to 'True 2'

By Kerriann Murray, COM '03; President, Inter-Fraternity/Sorority Council
A few things might need to be cleared up, things that are clouding our campus’ view of “True 2.” One of the slate’s goals is to help the Inter-Fraternity/Sorority Council — the governing body of the Greek system — become eligible for funding from the Student Union Allocations Board, a goal that the system has been working to achieve all year.

This does not mean that the members of the slate will be taking money out of the accounts of other student organizations and placing it into the hands of the Greek system, with which they will do nothing but throw parties. It means that the IFSC — which is the largest student organization on campus — would have the power to do even more for the BU community than it already does, and, in case you hadn’t noticed, that is a lot.

Contrary to popular belief, being a part of Greek life is not just about partying; it’s about achieving a sense of community on this campus, and it’s about having the power to make campus events successful. Members of the Greek community have energy, enthusiasm and numbers; time after time, organizations on campus who have been looking to pack their events have come to the IFSC to ask for support — and we have delivered. In addition, Greek-sponsored events such as the fall Day of Service, the Dance Marathon, the Halloween Haunted House, retreats, penny drives, toy drives and much, much more are made possible because of the hard work of the Greek community.

The following is a statement I found on the website for the “URANUS” slate: “And finally, True 2 is dedicated to ‘ensuring funding for campus Greek Life.’ As you can probably imagine, URANUS is not. In fact, we’re throwing up all over ourselves right now at the idea of ENCOURAGING Greek Life on campus.”

If the members of a slate want to truly reflect the needs and wants of the students, understand that you cannot decide for them how they should spend their time. Whatever your personal opinions are, you need to understand that Greek life brings a great deal to the lives of its members — and the moment you can deny any of the philanthropy, service and community the Greek system has brought to this campus, then you have the right to deny the worth of the largest cohesive group of students on this campus.

The members of the “True 2” slate have already proven that they want to work with our community — with the administration, and with the students — to make BU a better place. If you have an issue you want to work out, they will listen to you — and the IFSC has proof. At every meeting we had with members of the administration this year, talking out our issues about not receiving funding, Ethan Clay was there, too. Thanks in part to the Union’s effort, the Greek system will receive some financial support from the administration next year.

The administration’s respect for this year’s Student Union’s approach to solving problems on this campus is tremendous — and if voting for “True 2” means that members of the executive board will wear suits, smile and work with the administration, rather than against it, then they are the slate that can make things happen on this campus.

[adduncan]

Get facts straight about Greek life

By Jasmine C. Marrero, CAS '04; VP of New Member Education, Sigma Kappa Sorority and Recording Secretar
After reading Richard Saunders letter on March 28, I was left very dismayed ("Union needs revolutionary slate," pg. 6). The "True 2" slate is not ignorant about Greek life, Mr. Saunders himself is.

First, "True 2" is not trying to get us more money. We don't receive any funding from the university. The money we use for events such as the Welcome Back BBQ are paid for by dues that each individual sorority and fraternity pays from their budgets. With funding from the university, we'd be more able to continue putting on events such as the Day of Service and The Welcome Back BBQ. I commend the "True 2" slate for seeing past our stereotypes and understanding our contribution to the Boston University community.

Secondly, Mr. Saunders is ignorant of the fact that Greeks were kicked off campus in the ’70s but were eventually allowed to return, and the Inter Fraternity-Sorority Council is now the largest student organization on campus. Did Mr. Saunders conveniently forget that we're one of the groups co-sponsoring this year's Dance Marathon? Not to mention all the other philanthropic projects that individual sororities and fraternities take on every semester.

And as for the "glorious Bacchanalian orgy of alcohol and Doric columns," this is just another unfair stereotype perpetuated against Greeks that doesn't deserve to be given a second thought. He also mentions that students chose to come here despite the lack of Greek life. First of all, there is Greek Life here, and though it may be different compared with that at large state schools, I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world. I would bet money on the fact that many of the Greeks here didn't come to BU with the intention of joining a fraternity or sorority. I know I didn't.

In conclusion, Mr. Saunders, if you have a problem with the Greek system here, that's your business, but next time do your homework before you go making weak arguments with no factual basis. A college senior should know better.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
'True 2' understands Greek life

By Shelby Ebert, SED '04; VP, Sigma Delta Tau
Mr. Saunders, I was wondering if you really go to Boston University, or if you just watch what goes on here from the little bubble you live in ("Union needs revolutionary slate," March 28, pg. 6). It concerns me that you are so behind in BU news; have you been quarantined or held captive for the past 20 years? If not, then you have no excuse to make such false comments regarding the Greek system or "True 2."

Though it is your belief that all that we do is drink, party and watch TV, you are sadly mistaken. If you can look around campus — yes, we were allowed back on campus nearly two decades ago — you will see all of the work the Greek system has done. Not only have we helped clean up BU, but we have raised money for battered women, AIDS research, cancer research, the soldiers' families that are impoverished ... need I say more? However, you continue to go on about your cable television and its importance. Well, Richard, cable TV is not actively helping the community raise money for causes, nor is it cleaning up the trash that covers the Charles River. And it is certainly is not dancing in the Dance Marathon, a Greek event for the BU community, not some all-Greek party. We, as a Greek community, have members who are active in student government, sports teams, mentoring programs, FYSOP and many more of the outlets BU has to offer.

So now can you see why "True 2" wants to give us money. It's because we are not lazy couch potatoes like yourself; we are actively making a difference. So stop your whining and recognize that "True 2" is capable of giving you your TV and giving us the money we ask for to help undo what people like you have caused. And just to let you know, Richard, if you took the time to read about "True 2," you would see that they want to bring educational cable into the residence halls. But then again, if you recognized that piece of their platform, you would have to be actively living on BU's campus, not in your bubble.

[adduncan]

(I love the last line. --ADD)

Greek stereotypes not comical

By Katie Hollencamp, SMG '05; VP of Foundation, Delta Gamma Sorority
Though most of Boston University may not have known, March 24-30 marked Greek Week for all campus fraternities and sororities. This week consisted of events hosted by each chapter in order to raise money for their philanthropies and bond the Greek system as a whole. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight all the good work for the community done by the Greek system, since your paper has seen fit to run comics that demoralize sororities with unfounded stereotypes, presuming we are all just like the girls you see on MTV’s “Sorority Life” (“Iggy and Rolf: 10 rules for dating a sorority girl,” March 27, pg. 7).

On Sunday, the Delta Gamma Sorority planned Anchor Bowl, an all-day football tournament for the fraternities, which was to be followed by a Powderpuff game among the sororities. Unfortunately, the city of Brookline closed the field due to rain, and the tournament was postponed. But ever-able to turn what could have been a bad day into a positive experience, members of the Greek community rallied to use this opportunity to help those in need. Two members of Delta Gamma, a friend from Kappa Sigma and their Greek advisor headed to Subway after the field was closed. They picked up over 30 feet in Subway sandwiches that were ordered for the tournament and drove them to The Pine Street Inn, a homeless shelter across town. These sandwiches were enough to feed more than 150 people.

This is one small example of how much the Greek community, the largest student-run organization on campus, has contributed this year. Over this semester, members of fraternities and sororities here have attended each other’s lip synchs, Greek god contests, Charles River clean-ups and canceled football tournaments in support of each other and in order to help several noble causes. Greeks are involved throughout campus, planning the Dance Marathon, acting in various theater groups and even participating in the Mr. and Ms. BU pageant. I write this so that instead of focusing on stereotypes illustrated by one unfair author, the student body can be fully aware of what the Greek system is really about: forming lasting friendships and working to benefit the community. So the next time you watch “Fraternity Life,” remember that it is just a TV show; it is not real life and does not dictate what Greek life is like on every campus. To judge sorority and fraternity members before you know them is to be guilty of stereotyping. Instead, why not give Greeks a chance?

[adduncan]

The letter to the editor that started the whole series:
The Daily Free Press 3/28/2003
------------------------------------------------
Union needs revolutionary slate
n Let me get this straight — Paul Jenkins has pledged his undying allegiance to the "True 2" slate because he feels it "will effectively represent the real needs of the students at Boston University" ("'True 2' slate truly best for Union," March 26, pg. 11). This slate will bring in "fresh, new ideas," "by picking up where [the current slate] has left off," says Jenkins. "True 2" will undertake the "awesome task" of "not [strewing] their platform with major projects," therefore being able to devote more time to "their campaign to create a more united and prideful campus at BU."

This staggering task will be twofold: first, they will actually take on the responsibility of recruiting and retaining minority students! Wow, so next time I'm strolling through the streets of Caucasia wondering who's to blame, I can ignore the little voice in my head suspecting the administration of racism and blame it on student apathy. Thanks, "True 2!" OK, so maybe "True 2" won't take over that responsibility ... after all, they don't want major projects. But I just can't see how they will accomplish that goal without devoting tremendous effort to changing the admissions process. Student lobbying will not change a mindset that has wrongly prevailed for such a long time. Enhancing the diversity of our campus is a long-term project that needs wide-scale organizing over an extended period of time, and since "True 2" is against a rape crisis center because, as Jenkins noted, it "would require much more planning time than that which the Student Union can give in a year," they most certainly won't be up to this task either.

The second part of "True 2"'s non-major project will be simple: give frats and sororities more money! These obviously buzzing centers of campus life (judging by the layers on the frat rock) will unite the student body in one big glorious Bacchanalian orgy of alcohol and Doric columns ... or one after every sporting event. This plan is admittedly sympathetic because of its naïve ignorance of the fact that Greek life was kicked OFF campus. Maybe "True 2" should give MIT frats some money. Regardless, "True 2" feels student pride and spirit revolve around school athletics and Greek life. Perhaps this would be true if we actually had either. The students currently enrolled chose to come here despite the lack of a large athletics program or Greek life. If "True 2" were truly concerned with student spirit and pride, they would recognize that hockey is the lifeblood of a BU sports fan and that most students here are quite happy with hitting up Beta Theta Pi and the other MIT frats on the weekends. "True 2" fails to recognize what BU kids really want: cable TV. Mr. Jenkins discusses "the cable debate that has risen to an absurd level of importance over the past few months." Maybe "True 2" hopes that we'll all be too drunk (in a "fun and safe way") to notice the lack of cable channels on the TVs in our brand-new, on-campus frat houses.

For my undergraduate student fee, I'd like to see a more revolutionary slate in office, one not afraid to take on difficult issues and challenges. And judging from "True 2"'s competition, it seems my wishes have come true. My vote will most certainly not be cast for "True 2" ... unless, of course, they find a backup dancer for next season. Female this time.



Richard Saunders

CAS ’03

[FuzzieAlum]

Wow ...

But I don't think GLOs should be getting university funding anyway.

[DeltaSigStan]

God Dammit

I'm sorry, I may be in a bad mood already, but reading this just made that worse. And I gotta speak.


I'm fucking tired of this shit. All these random fucks think we do is party and haze. Do they EVER stop to think of the good things we do? Do they ever look at the fact that most Greeks raise tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity, and that we actually ENJOYED DOING IT? Do they look at the hours and hours of community service that we, ON OUR OWN FREE WILL AND CHOICE, do? Do they look at all the national charities we are affiliated with ? I myself am proud that Delta Sig works in conjunction with the March of Dimes, and so are MoDimes themselves.

I see our apathetic, selfish generation, and I see that, on my campus and I KNOW on others, that the Greeks are the proudest members of their student body and provide the most spirirt of their school. At SDSU, no one cheers for our sports teams, no one has Aztec Pride. We're all wrapped up with other, REAL controversial groups that want to remove traditions and pride by removing things off like mascots. The biggest sense of pride I've seen for Aztecs, have been the Greeks.

No. All they see are seperate cases of hazing that a small microcosm of stupid greeks have done. They see Stupid shit like the crap on MTV and think that that is the TRUE greek life. These people only look at what they WANT to look at, and make generalizations about it. They'll group ALL GLOs together an d ASSume what they want (I remember a band dork talking about how all Kappa Kappa Psi does is party and haze!!!!!) They will NEVER, EVER, understand what we, as greeks, and I mean every single facet of greek life from IFC to NPHC to Service/Business GLOs to Music GLOs, are REALLY about. There is a kinship and a bond that I see in EVERY GLO that you couldn't get otherwise. There's a brotherhood/sisterhood that we all share that, unless you're a member, one will NEVER have the PRIVLEDGE to see.

So, you know, talk your crap, say what you want, assume what want to assume. But there's a reason all but 3 Presidents since the inception of fraternities have been Greek. There's a reason the majority of Fortune 500 members are Greek. There's a reason that the majority of the "Who's Who" lists I've read are Greek. There's a reason that you can name most almost any celebrity/athlete and they are Greek. There's a reason that, basically, EVERY walk of life has been touched by a greek. And you will never understand what we share.

I don't care if anyone reads this, I just needed to get this off my chest.

[moe.ron]

Feeling better Stan? It's good to let all of our annoyance out. BTW,

Arsenal 31 Games 66 Points
Manchester United 3

[DeltaSigStan]

I'm just gonna say, we're still in the thick of things in the EPL, plus we're on our way to another Champion's League title. What happened to Arsenal in the Second Phase?

[moe.ron]

I've herd that Owen might not be playing the Liverpoll - Man Utd game. I think it's going to be to the last match. Arsenal playing Villa, a pathetic team who somehow manage to stay in the EPL. Whereas Pool is a strong team who just need that one midfielder to complete their team. Going to beinteresting. Sorry for the annoyance thing. I was talking more in general about how it's healthy to get rid of all of your annoyance. Including these greek bashers.

[DeltaSigStan]

Oh ok, I edited that part.

in the EPl, I'm more worried about Newcastle. They have a fire in them that I think they use to topple both ManU and Arsenal. I think it's because of that year when they had that huge lead, and they chocked it to my Red Devils

Course, of all the misfortunes they've had, with that choke job and Ruud not being able to bring "sexy football" back to St. James' park, I'd love for Alan Shearer and his boys to enjoy some kind of success...

Just not at the expense of ManU lol

[Dianne]

At my school, the Student Government Association will give money to Greek organizations to help pay for events that are open to all students on campus, are alcohol-free, and require no admission. For example, Sigma Nu got money to sponsor the Ms. College of Charleston pageant, which raised money for the Special Olympics. So in the case of BU, I can only assume it would be kinda the same way. I don't think the True 2 slate wants to just randomly give Greeks money so they can all go out and buy themselves new house jerseys or something.

And yes, it's also very frustrating to hear over and over again people ignorantly perpetuating the negative Greek stereotypes. What can you do? Keep on keepin' on....

[moe.ron]

sorry about the thread hijacking everybody. now back to the original topic.