Trinity College(CT) - All Greek Orgs Told to Go Co-ed

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

That residential aspect is not true of all fraternities and sororities, or of all campuses, though, so I don't know that that can be considered the "core" of the (social) Greek enterprise.

Would it be offensive to say it's the core of traditional Greek enterprise? You'd have to concede, your fraternity comes from a unique vantage.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Would it be offensive to say it's the core of traditional Greek enterprise? You'd have to concede, your fraternity comes from a unique vantage.

Sure, we do have a different vantage point on housing, as relatively few of our chapters are housed and nationally we don't encourage it.

And I wouldn't be offended by someone saying it's the core of the "traditional Greek experience" -- and I'll concede ours is not the "traditional Greek experience" -- but I would probably quibble a bit and ask "whose tradition?" My father was a Kappa Sig whose chapter had no house until he was a senior (and married), and my grandfather and uncle were Betas at a school with lodges but no houses, so none of them ever lived in a chapter house.

There's no doubt that in the minds of many Greeks and non-Greeks, chapter houses are synonymous with Greek life and are part of the "Greek experience" that many students seek. But when I quibble, I'm thinking of things like:

• Fraternities had been around for quite a while before chapter houses became a common feature of fraternity life;
• There are campuses that don't have fraternity and/or sorority housing, even among groups (primarily NIC or NPC) for whom housing is common;
• Even on campuses where houses are common, there are often unhoused chapters of (NIC and NPC) groups*;
• Many if not most housed chapters have members who don't live in house;
• Many housed chapters rent, either from their college or from someone else, so in those cases the housing has nothing to do with providing GLOs with money to re-invest in themselves; and
• Housing is not the norm for NPHC groups.

My quibble is that I don't think housing association aspects of Greek life can be considered "core" if the groups for whom it is common allow and support unhoused chapters. "Core" implies "at the heart of what we're about," so if housing is "core," then unhoused chapters can't live up to what is at the heart of what their orgs are about.

It seems to me that the "core" of the Greek enterprise is brotherhood/sisterhood based on shared allegiance to certain values, principles or ideals. Without a doubt, chapter housing can foster and support that brotherhood or sisterhood. But it can exist without it. That's what I was getting at.


* Granted, these chapters are often working toward housing, but while the lack of housing may affect their competitiveness, does it keep them from fully experiencing brotherhood or sisterhood?

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

* Granted, these chapters are often working toward housing, but while the lack of housing may affect their competitiveness, does it keep them from fully experiencing brotherhood or sisterhood?

Speaking from experience, I'd have to say yes. At least for me.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Speaking from experience, I'd have to say yes. At least for me.

Fair enough.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Speaking from experience, I'd have to say yes. At least for me.

Didn't you have members who lived together in apartments or dorms even before you had a house? I mean you had to know that in a colony it wasn't going to be the same as an established chapter, in many ways.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Didn't you have members who lived together in apartments or dorms even before you had a house?

With maybe one exception, that's what we did -- brothers roomed together in dorms, apartments or houses. One or two of the houses or apartments were standard social gathering places. I think that's pretty common in our chapters.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

When I think about what Greek orgs have that other groups don't, it's actually the membership selection process that seems most distinct.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

When I think about what Greek orgs have that other groups don't, it's actually the membership selection process that seems most distinct.

I agree. Add to that: being part of a larger org. I suppose students who joined clubs like Key Club (Golden Key?), NOW, NCNW or an org that has campus-based affiliations could say the same, but the selection process/criteria stands out/sets us apart.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Didn't you have members who lived together in apartments or dorms even before you had a house? I mean you had to know that in a colony it wasn't going to be the same as an established chapter, in many ways.

That's a damned good memory.

We kind of did, but it was never as central as a house. Our first small house really changed things. It only slept 3 and we're now looking at major expansion and investment. We don't get money from HQ and have to raise from alumni, so that's kind of limiting, but suffice to say, having a house is a key to our future plans.

[ibis]

Not much of a greek life at Trinity.
I imagine the couple of nationals on campus if forced to go coed may just pull off of campus.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Kevin

That's a damned good memory.

LOL not really, I just assumed that you did since that's what most colonies/chapters without a house do. I completely understand what you mean that having a house, no matter how small, makes things different.

The ASTs on my campus were in a dorm suite for years and were the last ones to give it up when the other groups were all getting houses. They REALLY struggled with getting to a cohesive point and finding a house that worked for them.

[badgeguy]

I am seeking any trinity students who may be connected with or knows about the IKA society located at the school.

Please PM me if you know someone or are someone connected with this society,

Thanks
badgeguy

[LaneSig]

Trinity President Decides To Drop Plan To Make Fraternities Coed

"After three years of attempting to carry out a plan forcing fraternities and sororities to go coed, Trinity College's president has decided to abandon that effort.

Joanne Berger-Sweeney, the college's president, said in an email to the college community Friday that after conversations with students, faculty, alumni and others during the 15 months since her appointment, "I have concluded that the coed mandate is unlikely to achieve its intended goal of gender equity." "

http://www.courant.com/news/connecti...904-story.html