Greek problems at Duquesne University

[DUGreek90]

Hello everyone. Contrary to popular belief, Duquesne is not killing the Greek system, and Father Hogan does not hate Greek Life, nor has this new director made a mess of things...AT ALL.

The groups that have been removed from this campus, even the groups that have recently been removed, have only themselves to blame. The same goes fro the chapters who have lost their wings.

I have been my chapter president for the past two years, and the wing requirement, which mandated that a certain percentage of the chapter lives on the wing-which would eventually reach 100%, was always communicated from Father Hogan and Residence Life. The problem was that every chapter thought it was a joke, and then when it came time to actually enforce the policy, everyone blamed Father or someone else.

Granted our chapter here at Duquesne will be keeping our wing, but only because we took what was told to us YEARS ago seriously. From what I have heard many people have complained about towers, and that is why the wing is being taken away. There were situations were chapters only had 5 members living a wing that had 26 beds. Is that fair to call that a Fraternity/Sorority wing when only 5 of 26 beds are filled by Greeks?

If a group of independents want a wing, they need to fill it at 100%. That is where the requirement came in, and so many kids would rather live other places than towers. When students do not want to live in towers, which many do not given the other housing options on campus and near by, and on top of that, the incoming freshman classes are so big now that freshman need to live in towers, it only makes sense to take away what isnt being used...the wings. If groups want the wings, members just need to live there.

Also, the notion that the new director of Greek Life is making a mess of things is absolutely absurd. She has been amazing, and the hard work she is putting in is only going to make our Greek System stronger. Our previous Director was very good as well, however what separates the new director is her ability to connect with the students. She connects much more with us, and has a better understanding of what we are going through, and what it is that can make out groups successful.

Working very closely with the new director and Father Hogan, have allowed me to see how much this school NEEDS greek life and also the appreciation for what the Greeks on this campus do. From the money raised, to the philanthropic events around the campus and the communities around Duquesne, so much of what Duquesne stands for is found within the Greek Community.

Have groups made mistakes, of course. Everyone makes mistakes, but if Duquesne wanted the Greek Life gone so bad, why haven't they pulled the trigger yet??? If they are so tired of dealing with us from housing etc, then any error made a Greek group should be enough to push the administration over the edge...

The Greek System is going to be fine. I would not be the same person I am today without the DUQUESNE Greek System. I have met some of the most amazing people through this experience, from faculty and staff, to other Greeks from fraternities and sororities.

There is a lot be proud of here, and alumni should be involved, because we all took a lifetime obligation, not one that lasts four years. That is the only way to stay connected, and simply relying on what others report back to you, without being involved is not helping anything.

I look forward to seeing the CONTINUED SUCCESS of the Greek Community here at Duquesne.

DAMN PROUD

[DUgrad]

DU Greek:

Wow...no wonder my collegiate sisters felt it necessary to reach out to alum. As a teacher my professors at DU were awesome. My peers as well as professors critiqued my lessons plans and my teaching style. It made me a better teacher all around.

My grandmother used to say, "He/she has a chip on their shoulder." If you have to defend the greek community to the general public "every day" then maybe you need to take some anger management courses.

I will continue to speak for my collegiate sisters as they are obviously intimidated by you and others on the campus of Duquesne.

[gina342]

I would like to respond to the "Greek Problems at Duquesne University" thread that was started a few weeks ago.

I don't believe in hiding my name. This is the first and last response to this chat site that I will make.

I can fully understand the frustration of DUgrad and others. There are major greek problems happening at Duquesne and everyone needs to sit down at a board table and work towards solutions. What the chat site did was bring to the forefront these issues and DUgrad you had every right to do so.

But, this is a national chat site and the answers to these issues do not lie here. What is happening is that our university is being placed in a very bad light and solving the problems cannot be done here, in this forum.

I would encourage everyone who has visited this site to get in touch with their local advisers, alumnae organizations, and national officers if you need to and then reach out to Craig at the Greek Alumni Council to ask for support.

Please stop the postings and actively look for the solutions. We can, as a greek community, start to fix these issues.

Gina Ehrhart
AGD/Alpha Omega Chapter

[MsDGP007]

Wow...I actually read through this whole thread. I really hope that the situation improves at Duquesne.

Also I would not say Greek life is "suffering" in Pittsburgh....although it may not be as big as it once was. Pitt and CMU seem to be doing pretty well Greek life wise...and didn't some nationals recently colonize at Robert Morris?

[DUgrad]

DU Greek and others:

My sisters made a suggestion about housing. Why not move all greek housing to Brottier?

Since others on this chat disagree with you about Towers and it does appear to be now a freshman and sophomore dorm, why can't Brottier now be the center for greek housing?

[DUgrad]

DU Greek:

Sorry, my cats needed to be put out. Anyway, my sisters suggestions were to move all greek groups to Brottier and put them, floor by floor, in that type of group housing. Recruitment numbers would go up as they others would be excited about liviing in Brottier over Towers.

Its a suggestion and certainly not a negative post as you have pointed out in numerous postings.

[DU Greek]

DU Grad,

This is certainly your first positive posting. Thank you.

The Brottier Hall would make an excellent all-Greek dorm. But as you certainly know, when the University bought Citiline Towers, it had students living in it from other schools, especially Robert Morris's downtown campus and a few of the culinary/medical/business schools in town. It wasn't until Fall of 2007 that the building had all Duquesne students in it. Currently, the idea to create Greek housing in Brottier is on the table, but due to the shortages of housing on the entire campus, it hasn't been able to occur yet.

But this idea is certainly a valid one and holds strong potential for the future.

But don't forget that every time a new building gets built, students are going to rush to move into it. We can't keep asking for Greek Housing to continuously get moved to the newest available dorm. Until Vickroy was built in my Freshman year (1997) at Duquesne, Towers was THE place to be Greek. It was tremendous. Every chapter had a wing and everyone was happy.

So we have to decide if moving into Brottier is going to be the long-term solution. If it is, then everyone has to be prepared to keep quiet when new housing becomes available. Will YOUR sisters be proud to live in Brottier for the next 25-30 years even in the face of new dorm housing options??

HOWEVER, this may not be an option soon because plans are in place to tear down one of the dorm buildings between Vickroy and Mercy for a new dorm. This could increase the stress on campus housing until the new place is ready.

FURTHER, the University has made and is making acquisitions of property along the Fifth/Forbes corridor between the University and the new hockey arena. These plans are also viable options for Greek Housing.

This is why the Greek Alumni Council is the resource you need to use to get information about what's going on in Greek Life at Duquesne. While I have been accused of "drinking the hater-ade," I certainly have more of the information that will help us all make a mutually beneficial decision than the nameless, faceless complainer who accused me of such.

There are representatives from each chapter, both active and inactive, who come to the Greek Alumni Council meetings where this information is discussed. You should find out who your GAC rep is and ask for a recap after our semesterly meetings.

Thank you again for your positive posting.

Craig

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DU Greek

This is why the Greek Alumni Council is the resource you need to use to get information about what's going on in Greek Life at Duquesne. While I have been accused of "drinking the hater-ade," I certainly have more of the information that will help us all make a mutually beneficial decision than the nameless, faceless complainer who accused me of such.

That comment was in response to the rude and offensive things you said regarding local fraternities and sororities. It had NOTHING to do with the housing issue. I would say the same to anyone who dismissed locals across the board in such an uncouth manner.

And when you say things like that, it seriously damages your credibility on other matters. Just consider it a lesson learned.

[DUgrad]

DU Greek:

THANK YOU for Hearing what my sisters have had to say. It is only when people listen and then look for a way to fix things that issues are resolved.

Maybe we can start to work together!

[RedRover]

DU Greek which old dormitory is the university thinking of tearing down -- Assumption, St. Martin's or St. Ann'?

[Xidelt]

Hey Otis, If recruitment is down nationally, then why did 6 state schools in my area open up for extension this year?

[OtisAllan]

FYI...I found this from a colleage today.....its from the "Center for the study of the College Fraternity"...

www.indiana.edu/~sao/cscfsite.com

this shows the exact recruitment trend I am speaking off

[MaggieXi]

Your research seems to be coming from a majority of Northern schools and IFC. I suggest that you do some research regarding Panhellenic Sororities in the South before you make blanket statements regarding all of Greek Life.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by MaggieXi

Your research seems to be coming from a majority of Northern schools and IFC. I suggest that you do some research regarding Panhellenic Sororities in the South before you make blanket statements regarding all of Greek Life.

With all due respect, OtisAllan did not post that recruitment was down at every chapter, or at every campus, or in every conference/council, or in every region. He said "nationally". And while I know some of my fellow Southerners may not like to admit it, "nationally" includes the South. And all GLOs for that matter.

[perdido88]

this is exactly what I talked about in the other post, where I asked about the fraternities Kappa Sigma Phi and Beta Pi Sigma at Duquesne? I will post more answers tomorrow.. as for the sycophants in this thread, there are more reasons than you claim to admit. take the veil off your eyes.. Duquesne student 1988-1992.. GDI (non-Greek).. for the latecomers, that meant "goddamned independent"...
Red Rover.. what's up?! here we go again!!!

perdido88