California Greeks!

[LucyKKG]

The school is just really anti-Greek. Apparently, they sent out letters a few decades ago basically telling Greek orgs they weren't interested (Stay away!). Wtf? I guess the main reason is that UCSC isn't supportive of the Greek system. At least the didn't "phase it out" like Santa Clara! The fraternities and sororities there can't even write "Santa Clara University" on a shirt with their letters on it. Lame!

[bejazd]

Just a guess here, but cost and availablility of a property that is zoned for "multi-family" housing have got to be a major considerations. A fixer upper 3-4 bedroom house in Santa Cruz would cost a minimum of $500K, and come with a property tax bill of $5000 a year. It's probably not worth it.

Lucy, is Santa Cruz considered mostly a residential school or a commuter school?

[dukedg]

Originally Posted by LucyKKG

The school is just really anti-Greek. Apparently, they sent out letters a few decades ago basically telling Greek orgs they weren't interested (Stay away!). Wtf? I guess the main reason is that UCSC isn't supportive of the Greek system. At least the didn't "phase it out" like Santa Clara! The fraternities and sororities there can't even write "Santa Clara University" on a shirt with their letters on it. Lame!

I noticed that once Santa Clara stopped recognizing the sororities on campus, their numbers shot through the roof and they added another chapter. Not sure why, but it actually seemed to be a benefit there.

[XiButterfly]

Originally Posted by LucyKKG

The school is just really anti-Greek. Apparently, they sent out letters a few decades ago basically telling Greek orgs they weren't interested (Stay away!). Wtf? I guess the main reason is that UCSC isn't supportive of the Greek system. At least the didn't "phase it out" like Santa Clara! The fraternities and sororities there can't even write "Santa Clara University" on a shirt with their letters on it. Lame!

That was actually an area that was "hightlighted" to me when I took a tour there. They seemed super proud to not have a strong greek system. (they being UCSC) I found that a bit strange that it was a point mentioned on the tour.

Are there any Cal Greeks here? I've searched the board and I haven't found any

[oncegreek]

Many California campuses have great beach views. I am biased, but I think that UCSB's ocean views are beyond compare! The best views are from the 8th floor of the library, in my opinion. Any other UCSB grads or students out there? (the view from the 8th floor inspired my son, who had previously had his heart set on attending UCLA, change his mind. Now he wants to be gaucho, like his mom!....Dad is a bruin:

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by oncegreek

Many California campuses have great beach views. I am biased, but I think that UCSB's ocean views are beyond compare! The best views are from the 8th floor of the library, in my opinion. Any other UCSB grads or students out there? (the view from the 8th floor inspired my son, who had previously had his heart set on attending UCLA, change his mind. Now he wants to be gaucho, like his mom!....Dad is a bruin:

Well, we've talked about this a little in this thread, and I am biased, but I think Pepperdine's view is tops!

[LucyKKG]

Originally Posted by XiButterfly

That was actually an area that was "hightlighted" to me when I took a tour there. They seemed super proud to not have a strong greek system. (they being UCSC) I found that a bit strange that it was a point mentioned on the tour.

UGH that disgusts me! I seriously want to look into that. That's so wrong. I'm sure it was the individual tour guide who said that, and it wasn't part of their training.

[justabeachbrat]

Originally Posted by LucyKKG

UGH that disgusts me! I seriously want to look into that. That's so wrong. I'm sure it was the individual tour guide who said that, and it wasn't part of their training.

This is a place with a banana slug (or some like-sounding icky bug) as a mascot, the school thinks its clever, and no football team.

Another school where Greeks have almost totally fallen off the radar: Humboldt State, only a few houses left.
When I was looking at grad schools and for a student life activities internship I did a search within the university's website on Greek life. What came up was stunning. Several houses used to be there, it had a very active system, but wild parties and the like led the school and the city to basically shut the door.

[XiButterfly]

Originally Posted by LucyKKG

UGH that disgusts me! I seriously want to look into that. That's so wrong. I'm sure it was the individual tour guide who said that, and it wasn't part of their training.

It had to be just the individual tour guide who said that. I was kinda shocked at the crappiness of that statement. She said it when she saw some girls wearing their letters leaving the little student area with the student store and places to eat.

[LucyKKG]

Originally Posted by XiButterfly

It had to be just the individual tour guide who said that. I was kinda shocked at the crappiness of that statement. She said it when she saw some girls wearing their letters leaving the little student area with the student store and places to eat.

Ha, too bad that tour wasn't last week! I saw a tour last week go by all of the tabling for spring recruitment. That tour guide couldn't have said that amidst that scene!

[Jill1228]

Originally Posted by XiButterfly

That was actually an area that was "hightlighted" to me when I took a tour there. They seemed super proud to not have a strong greek system. (they being UCSC) I found that a bit strange that it was a point mentioned on the tour.

Are there any Cal Greeks here? I've searched the board and I haven't found any

As in Cal Greeks, are you talking Berkeley or California in particular?

[XiButterfly]

Originally Posted by Jill1228

As in Cal Greeks, are you talking Berkeley or California in particular?

Like Cal as in UC Berkeley

[SoCalGirl]

Originally Posted by Jill1228

As in Cal Greeks, are you talking Berkeley or California in particular?

Originally Posted by XiButterfly

Like Cal as in UC Berkeley

This reminds me of a conversation I had with an old supervisor. She was from Texas so I had to give her some slack. (And a near identical conversation with a coworker who should have known better.)

Supe: Where's Cal? Is that Cal Lutheran?

Me: Berkeley is Cal.

Supe: Berkeley is in California. But what's Cal.

Me: Cal is Berkeley. Berkeley is Cal. University of California

Supe: So Cal is the University of California? So UCSD is Cal?

Me: No! Berkeley is Cal. Cal is Berkeley. Berkeley is UC Berkeley. Berkeley was the first UC.

Supe: Huh?

Me: **walked away**

[KyleMcGuire1983]

Yeah California's establishment is pretty against Greeks. They (administrators and legislators) see Greeks as elitist, snobby, rich, and into hazing.

Our school is pretty neutral towards Greeks (until it's time to ask for donations from alumni) but they are adding more and more ridiculous regulations regarding parties (hiring more cops ($100 an hour per cop), hiring fire marshals at $300 an hour), grades, and faculty advisors. I guess the grades and faculty advisors are really that ridiculous.

I think Greek life exists in California...it's just subdued and having letters doesn't make you automatically awesome like it seems to in the South.

Oh well still love California anyway

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by KyleMcGuire1983

Yeah California's establishment is pretty against Greeks. They (administrators and legislators) see Greeks as elitist, snobby, rich, and into hazing.

Our school is pretty neutral towards Greeks (until it's time to ask for donations from alumni) but they are adding more and more ridiculous regulations regarding parties (hiring more cops ($100 an hour per cop), hiring fire marshals at $300 an hour), grades, and faculty advisors. I guess the grades and faculty advisors are really that ridiculous.

I think Greek life exists in California...it's just subdued and having letters doesn't make you automatically awesome like it seems to in the South.

Oh well still love California anyway

San Jose State - another anti-greek administration, from what I've heard. So that's YOUR experience...there are certainly several schools in Calif. with greek systems that are supported by the administration, and where joining a GLO IS the way to go.