Being told not to join Greek Life

[shadokat]

Actually, it was a professor who wrote the letter, and they sent it out to the parents and also had it published in the student paper. It didn't affect recruitment...hazing the hell out of people is what makes their recruitment the way it is.

Originally posted by 33girl
There was a dean at Bloomsburg a couple years ago that (I think this was the story) put a letter advising people not to go Greek in his department's materials. However he wasn't so nice as to say it was about time commitment...he said Greeks had a negative social aspect and should be avoided!! He got his a$$ handed to him on a plate.

It's one thing if the dean says not to take on too many extracurriculars in a general sense...art school IS time consuming (per Mr. 33). However, if he/she is targeting Greek life, that's discriminatory and wrong. I would contact whoever their boss is and complain.

[33girl]

thanks H, I couldn't quite remember.

[dakareng]

As an incoming freshman pre-nursing major, I was told by my orientation leader and the academic advisor that "nursing majors don't pledge"-- since it was a competitive entry program (based upon your first year grades) and would be "too demanding" since our classes and clinicals were at the medical school, not on main campus. I've always been a very stubborn person, and if you tell me I can't do something, I'm likely to say "says who?" and do it anyway. Not only did I pledge, but I made it my mission thereafter to prove that one could be a nursing student, get good grades and be active in a GLO (served on the Executive Council 3 years). OK, so sleep was an optional experience my junior year (I paid for my dues by working 11-7 on weekends... didn't do much for the social life but the $$ was good).

In any event, I think there's a difference between laying out what a realistic time commitment for an academic program might be vs a blanket "thou shalt not pledge". When I was an orientation leader, I could honestly say how much time we spent in clinicals (time that at that time was not given academic credit so for a 5 credit hour course, we had 4 hours lecture, 4 hours lab and 8 hours at the hospital) and then let the student decide if they really could do it.

[Tom Earp]

Regardless or not, it is not up to this "Acadamian" Moron to make a decission for The Student in such Strident formanology!

So this little pip squek who thinks He Is Some One Important feels that He can Dictate, is the epidimidetimy of Stupidity!

My Chapters Advisor happens to be the Head of The Department of ! At Pittsburg State U.


So according to this moronic ass, Then the head of a Department knows nothing!?

OMG, I am probably older than he is!

He has beard, is very profound and an idiot!

Just Remember, there is now call for someones upbringing and education!

[sairose]

Originally posted by MysticCat81
I see what both you and docdaisy are saying, and I think you both make valid points. I might approach it a little differently.

In my experience and, from what I can tell, the experience of most brothers I have known from other chapters, Phi Mu Alpha took up just as much time as the NIC fraternities on campus. (At the risk of confirming my broken-record status, Phi Mu Alpha, while not in the NIC, is a social fraternity.) The difference was not in the time that being part of the Fraternity took but rather the reality that since most (though not all) brothers came from the music school/department, activities and responsibilities were organized in such a way as to fit with academic and musical demands rather than compete with them. This can be harder to do when brothers come from a wide variety of majors/departments/schools.

This situation is heavily dependent on an individual campus culture as well. Majoring in music at many colleges and universities (those that Munchkin03 describes as "devoted to the cause") takes a lot more time and effort than at some others that are, shall we say "less devoted." (Some might say "more sane.") At the same time, GLO involvement at some schools is a full-time job, while at other schools it is not.

All of that said, the Dean needs to be quiet and treat students like people who can think and decide for themselves how to balance the opportunities that college life offers.

Oops, Mysticcat! I'm so sorry. I knew PMA was social! I can't believe I typed otherwise in my post. LOL

Yeah, PMA is really involved on my campus too.

[absolutuscchick]

Originally posted by lilkel244
Its called multi-tasking and everyone can do it. I am not an over achiever or anything like that, but as a 20 year old I feel like people should be able to manage their time.

I personally find that statement offensive. Are you saying that you think that everyone should be able to do what you can do. Not to be a total b@tch or anything, but everyone has different abilities, and just because someone can't do the same as you doesn't make them less of a person than you.


--Sorry if I come across bitchy, but this just strikes a chord with me, and I think not everyone understands that people can have alot of other stuff going on in their life so they can't balance a thousand things like you.

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

Originally posted by absolutuscchick
... and I think not everyone understands that people can have alot of other stuff going on in their life so they can't balance a thousand things like you.

Wow, Rachel, I don't think that's what she was saying, actually.

I think what she was saying was, It's hard, but if you're willing to make the compromises you can do this.

Anytime someone says, "Thou shalt not pledge," I think it hurts greek life -- when you're putting down a blanket statement like that, it makes people think..... "wow, greek life must be a really bad decision for me if they come right out and FORBID it!"

Time management is a big skill you learn in college. But then so is prioritizing, and if you've got 2 little sisters at home you help take care of, a job that's putting you through school, and a boyfriend who's using up a lot of your emotional energy..... greek life might NOT be a good choice for you.

But if you're a good student, have a (little) extra time, and really are anxious to experience the bonds greek life can offer.... why the hell not? Just realize that for all greek life gives you -- and there is a LOT, as we all know -- it takes out, too. Namely from the sleep and money departments!

[absolutuscchick]

Originally posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu
Wow, Rachel, I don't think that's what she was saying, actually.

I'm sorry I'm just REALLY sensitive about stuff...

[kddani]

While I believe that if someone is organized enough they can properly balance their commitment, NOT everyone can do it. There are always a few of them in a chapter- they might be great girls (or guys), but they really and truly can't balance their time enough to be much of a contributing member of their GLO, and end up being more of a headache than anything else. (Funny thing is, they seem to make it to quite a few of the social events......)

Greek life isn't for everyone. Some people really can't balance their time efficiently enough. They're not bad people or anything silly like that, they just can't devote enough time to it. If you have 3 demanding majors, have to work 30 hours a week, have to take care of your younger siblings several nights, etc. etc. then you probably shoudn't join ANYTHING, let alone a GLO.

But to make a blanket statement to an entire portion of a school is wrong. Each individual and each individual's situation is different. Some can handle it, some can't.

[RACooper]

I hate to say it but what that Dean did happens all the time here on campus..... from councellors, to deans, to residence councils, to college student councils (aside from my college - I stacked the council with greeks, and they still maintain some power), to student clubs, to varsity sports..... in fact I'd be surprised if an endorsment of greek life had been given by any of the above in the last decade or two.....

[lilkel244]

oh gosh, I am really sorry for offending you. That really wasn't what I meant was that if someone can do it, they shouldn't be told then can. Yes I understand Greek Life isnt for everyone, its not for alot of people, but when someone makes a statement that you can't join greek life because of the time factor I get upset, because everyone can handle different loads. Maybe some people can't handle being an art major and being in greek life, but there are also plenty who can, and it isnt fair to tell those people no. Freshmen don't forget things like that, and when you say to them at the orentation "you cant join Greek Life." when it comes to be second semester and they have that choice, many think, well I want to, but the Dean said we can't.

[madmax]

Originally posted by navane
Okkkk......





That sounds really odd and dumb. Did the Dean *really* say that to the freshmen? Or, did s/he tell the students to be wise with their time management because the art programs require a lot of outside effort?

Of course he said it. Some Deans even do worse than that. What do you think the Deans at Alfred, Williams, Colby, Bowdoin were trying to say when they told students that pledging was no longer permitted and the school would expel anyone who pledged?

[sairose]

Originally posted by lilkel244
Maybe some people can't handle being an art major and being in greek life, but there are also plenty who can, and it isnt fair to tell those people no. Freshmen don't forget things like that, and when you say to them at the orentation "you cant join Greek Life." when it comes to be second semester and they have that choice, many think, well I want to, but the Dean said we can't.

I agree with you to a point...but if someone really wants to be Greek, I think they would pursue it anyways.

And I also agree that different people can handle different loads. People have told me they are amazed at what I can handle in a semester. This semester alone: I am taking 19 hours, I'm working 15 hours a week, I'm in 4 different ensembles as well as as the ASU Saxophone Quartet, and I am VP Membership for SAI. While I can balance all this stuff, not everybody can. And even *I* decided that an NPC sorority was out of the question for me...but for others, they can make it work.

The dean has the right to encourage freshman not to rush, IMO, but he should NOT strictly say not to!