Quote:
Originally Posted by XiLove_Epsilon
If you are not willing to take a true look at what we could do to HELP instead of KILL a chapter, then I suggest that YOU take a look at what you pledged and your oath and consider why you exist in the greek community.
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You haven't been a member of your sorority long enough to observe this, but actually every one of the national organizations have ongoing meetings with individual chapters (IE: Traveling consultants, district workshops, advisers, etc.) to maintain good chapter health, and provide support to chapters (international directors, workshops, probationary terms to meet and paperwork to file) who have fallen off track in order to help lift them back up. Sometimes, despite everyone's best efforts, the chapter has been permanently derailed and cannot be helped. It is best for all those concerned, from the collegiate members of that chapter the parent organization and the university, for it to close. These ongoing touches also help ensure that members are safe, which means sometimes modifying traditions. A chapter is never arbitrarily closed. It is the result of when consistent activity and many, many opportunities and hands to help it back up have failed.
By all means, chapter business should remain chapter business. But one person's actions can and have brought down chapters before and will continue to do so. The consequences of your actions, good or bad, are felt by every member of your organization. This is the byproduct of becoming part of the organization and wearing the letters of which we are so very proud. One bad action can bring down everyone, which is why there are measures in place to protect these organizations from members who would otherwise seek to cling to "tradition." And as has been stated, if we are to survive as a Greek community we need to keep up with the times. Something that was tradition 10, 20 even 30 or as early as 5 years ago may now be an illegal act TODAY. And we must focus on today.
I know of no ritual which prevents members from keeping themselves clean... I wonder if perhaps you have been misled. The bottom line is that many of our organizations have existed for well over 100 years. We remain alive because we keep current with what is happening in the world. We are run by a dedicated and extensive team of alumni who in their real lives are working professionals and committed volunteers-- lawyers, doctors, teachers, accountants, consultants, you name it. They have seen the big picture and the big picture is that we will give the collegiate chapters the resources they need to succeed. But when the chapter continually snubs its nose at that help and acts like a spoiled child who disregards the rules, that chapter is a liability to the health of the rest of the chapters and it will not last very long. I am sure that if a chapter of your sorority on another campus acted in a manner that would threaten to close ALL chapters of your sorority, you would see it otherwise. This is a reality.
It isn't the media's fault that Greeks have a negative reputation. It is the insular ideas that an illegal act is just a harmless prank.
I encourage you to get involved with your sorority's leadership to see the big picture. Right now, you are looking through the perspective of a new member. There is a lot of good you can accomplish.
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