Princeton sends letter to parents regarding concerns about Greek Life

[KSigkid]

I think there was already a thread on this - anyway, this is something they do every year, and because they're Princeton they can do whatever they want. Greek life is great, but Princeton students will get some other pretty great experiences in their time at the school.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I think there was already a thread on this -

Princeton discourages freshman from joining fraternities and sororities

And yeah . . . it's Princeton.

[Munchkin03]

This comes up for discussion every year here, and the same issues are brought up:

• Greek Life is not recognized by the University; there are, however, several chapters that have been successful. The NPHC chapters, as an example, are a group where the lack of University endorsement has not posed a problem in terms of interest and numbers.
  
• Yes, there are eating clubs which serve similar purposes to fraternity and sorority houses. These clubs, however, are older than some national fraternities and their alumni are very active donors.
  
• The Princeton alumni network, and those of many prestigious private schools, is far more tight-knit and useful to its alumni than a Greek alumni network will ever be.
  
• The kids who will be part of Princeton's Class of 2013 are extremely well-resourced, either by their own hard work or socioeconomic privilege. I doubt very little will stop them if they really want to join a Greek organization.
  
• A good number of HS students pick Princeton because the Greek system is not dominant.
  
• President Tighlman is within her rights, as the president of a private university, to do this.This is also part of a larger trend of elite private universities pulling away from Greek Life (see Amherst, Middlebury, Williams, Dartmouth, etc., etc.)

So, why are we still bellyaching about this?

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

This comes up for discussion every year here, and the same issues are brought up:

• Greek Life is not recognized by the University; there are, however, several chapters that have been successful. The NPHC chapters, as an example, are a group where the lack of University endorsement has not posed a problem in terms of interest and numbers.
  
• Yes, there are eating clubs which serve similar purposes to fraternity and sorority houses. These clubs, however, are older than some national fraternities and their alumni are very active donors.
  
• The Princeton alumni network, and those of many prestigious private schools, is far more tight-knit and useful to its alumni than a Greek alumni network will ever be.
  
• The kids who will be part of Princeton's Class of 2013 are extremely well-resourced, either by their own hard work or socioeconomic privilege. I doubt very little will stop them if they really want to join a Greek organization.
  
• A good number of HS students pick Princeton because the Greek system is not dominant.
  
• President Tighlman is within her rights, as the president of a private university, to do this.This is also part of a larger trend of elite private universities pulling away from Greek Life (see Amherst, Middlebury, Williams, Dartmouth, etc., etc.)

So, why are we still bellyaching about this?

I guess I should go back to using my own search function This is the first year I have heard about it from Princeton.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

So, why are we still bellyaching about this?

If I was a student, I'd be plenty pissed off that my monies were going for something that 1) is so condescending and discriminatory and 2) obviously isn't working (or they wouldn't have to keep doing it every freaking year).

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by 33girl

If I was a student, I'd be plenty pissed off that my monies were going for something that 1) is so condescending and discriminatory and 2) obviously isn't working (or they wouldn't have to keep doing it every freaking year).

But comparatively it's such a small amount of money, per student, that goes to sending out these letters or incorporating this into the new student orientation.

I could see why they do it every year, so that they get the message across to the new students. It may sound like a broken record to the rest of us, but the incoming students (their intended audience) are hearing it for the first time. If I remember correctly it's something that's also mentioned during the interviews with the alumni volunteers (if it's brought up by the student).

Maybe I'm a bit biased because I went to a university that was anti-Greek, with an anti-Greek administration as well. It was frustrating sometimes, but at the end of the day it didn't make a lot of difference. I don't see it as condesending or discriminatory - every school makes choices about what groups and organizations it will welcome, and which ones it will resist. Princeton has just made the decision not to welcome Greek life.

ETA: When I was in college, I probably would have been a little more fired up about it. Now though, a few years out of it, I understand where Princeton Greeks would be frustrated. At the same time, I don't quite see it being as big of a deal as I would have when I was 18-21.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

[*]President Tighlman is within her rights, as the president of a private university, to do this.This is also part of a larger trend of elite private universities pulling away from Greek Life (see Amherst, Middlebury, Williams, Dartmouth, etc., etc.)[/LIST]

I think Wesleyan has gotten more like this over the years - from friends I've had who've attended, they've said that Greek life, while never a major part of campus, has gotten more and more marginalized.

[Imus]

I think it is all about eliminating the eating club's competition.