The Future of Greek Life

[Kevin]

As a whole, I think Greek orgs may be stumbling, but I think they'll regain their footing. I think we need to be diverse and inclusive, but at the same time, not cave or cower to these external forces asking for changes against our best interests or demanding that we disband. Our groups need to be more vocal about our right to exist, our years of tradition, the services we provide, etc. We need to be much more vocal.

We need to do a much better job holding members accountable, owning our bad actions and cooperating with schools in ensuring the bad choices of members are not the bad choices of our organizations, i.e., let's collectively avoid responding to RM infractions as the UTenn Pikes responded to that whole butt chugging incident--years ago, but what a literal shitshow. We should look at that incident as a case study of exactly how not to respond to an incident.

We have to walk the tightrope of not giving up what we are while remaining relevant.

[carnation]

Okay, I want someone to tell me exactly what they mean by diversity and inclusiveness. I know racial diversity, but what else? And I feel like some people think it means we should pledge anyone who wanders up even if they're seriously disturbed or a total social media risk or they have a 1.2 GPA.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by carnation

Okay, I want someone to tell me exactly what they mean by diversity and inclusiveness. I know racial diversity, but what else? And I feel like some people think it means we should pledge anyone who wanders up even if they're seriously disturbed or a total social media risk or they have a 1.2 GPA.

I think you can judge whether someone has the character befitting a member who would be an asset of the organization without taking race or sex into account. I think the gender question is a seriously thorny issue we're not going to work out on a forum anytime soon, but I'm comfortable initiating anyone into my organization who has the character befitting a member and who would be an asset who identifies as male. Of course, that's easy for me because our chapter plant doesn't have communal bathrooms, so I'm not sure the issue would be so simple for other groups.

[NoID]

Originally Posted by Kevin

As a whole, I think Greek orgs may be stumbling, but I think they'll regain their footing. I think we need to be diverse and inclusive, but at the same time, not cave or cower to these external forces asking for changes against our best interests or demanding that we disband. Our groups need to be more vocal about our right to exist, our years of tradition, the services we provide, etc. We need to be much more vocal.

We need to do a much better job holding members accountable, owning our bad actions and cooperating with schools in ensuring the bad choices of members are not the bad choices of our organizations, i.e., let's collectively avoid responding to RM infractions as the UTenn Pikes responded to that whole butt chugging incident--years ago, but what a literal shitshow. We should look at that incident as a case study of exactly how not to respond to an incident.

We have to walk the tightrope of not giving up what we are while remaining relevant.

This.

I believe some organizations are catering to a vocal minority who joined an organization for one reason and then want to change it because it's not what they were actually looking for.

MANY of the recalcitrant alumnae of NPC sororities say something like "Yeah, when the D9 includes whites ....". Makes me cringe. But we look at their purpose. Those organizations were formed with the intent of furthering non-white acceptance and networking. In other words, they have a racial component that the IFC and the NPC has only in tradition, not in purpose. We can change tradition without changing the purpose of the organization.

When an organization publicizes its desire to change its focus based on the calls from collegians to change tradition, they'll fail. When they change tradition to inclusivity - of all *viewpoints*, not all races, they'll find their footing again.