"anti-Greek" student govn't

MooseGirl · #1 03-12-2002, 07:40 PM

Hey there,

here's the problem: the past two years our university's student government has not wanted Greeks to be recognized on campus any longer. We are barely recognized as it is. Our IFSC is a club and all the GLOs fall under the club status. The school has a regulation that no student is to pay more than $5 for membership to a club...that's fine for IFSC, but of course not the separate GLOs.

The past two years we've had members of Greek orgs on executive council (this year the vp finance was, year before the president was one). Next year there'll be no greeks on council and the president is strongly anti-greek (i've heard this before, and one of my sisters told me about her conversatin with him).

We are all getting worried since without even club status we have nowhere to hold meetings (no sororities have houses, and a couple of the frats occassionally use rooms on campus too). As well, we'll have nowhere to promote ourselves (i.e club days, and putting up posters).

The Student govn't may think we're not important since only approx. 1% of students are greek, but we do a lot on campus. Our groups have been in our campus newspaper at least 3 times this year, once on the front page(Pi Lam's homeless for the homeless) and the Sigma Chi's were club of the year last year; they helped organize one of the school's biggest events (CMN danceathon).

There's just no need for them to want us off campus and we think they're finding it tough to come up with a better reason than dues being too high.

any ideas? any suggestions?

BrianMUDU · #2 03-12-2002, 08:18 PM

First thing that popped into my head was alumni support. I know at Miami, some of the "best" alumni donors to the school are Greek. Alumni, depending on who they are, can be very influential. But that may be different in your case since you say only 1% of the student body is Greek. I'm not sure if it has always been that way, but that's the first thing I thought of. I'm sure others have some ideas that will enable you and other students to help out the situation.....

Siobhan · #3 03-12-2002, 08:21 PM

Moose Girl,

You aren't alone, I think this is a problem many greeks across Canada have faced. Even UBC has had it's share of student gov't not liking greeks, but at the same time many people on the AMS are greek including 2 presidents in the past 5 years. AT UBC we have to pay dues to our student gov't and even if we didn't pay fees we are still students of that university and therefore have the same rights as all the other students, greek or not. As far as meeting places go, you and the other greek orgs should be able to book conferences or classrooms. Currently UBC sororities don't have housing and we meet in classrooms and book them for recruitment as well.

At UBC during election time the candidates usually have forums to answer questions - maybe you could use this or an opportunity like this to question them. Get all your greek orgs together with some tough questions and point out the great contributions you have made to your campus (U of Windor I'm assuming) and community. The new student gov't can not stop you from participating in club days or advertising on campus. I'm not sure where your university stands on greek issues, but like it or not, they have to treat you with equal respect.

cherub · #4 03-12-2002, 08:42 PM

I understand where you're coming from. I went to Guelph and currently there is only one fraternity and us (Pi Phi). Our CSA is totally against us AND we don't have club status. Yet we're still managing ok.

What we do is have our chapter meetings in a classroom in the liberal arts building, since there's always an empty one. We're always on the third floor, and usually the same room year after year. For advertising we put ads for our info nights in the classified section of the student newspaper, paint the cannon (sounding board) on campus and chalk the chalkboards in classrooms.

The past two years we have had an average pledge class of 6 women...not bad considering we can't poster in the student centre or in residences.

So, if they do close you off from campus, there is hope.

In terms of convincing them to let you remain "above ground" the GLOs need to convince the admin that you are vital to campus life. Gather an official spokesperson team (maybe your panhellenic delegates or chapter presidents) and ask for a meeting with the campus government. Present your reasons why GLOs are of value. Leadership, scholarship, philanthropy etc. Suggest that the school create a faculty position to oversee the GLOs b/c the incoming pres probably buys into the stererotype of GLOs. Point out the similarities between joining a varsity team and belonging to a GLO. See if there is a faculty or admin member who is an alum of a GLO who would be willing to help you out...I have a ton of other suggestions but don't want this post to get too long.
A good place to get positive Canadian greek info is off the Wilfred Laurier greek student site. Also canadiangreeks.com

Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss this more...I've been dealing with something similar to this at Guelph for the past three years.

Hope this helps!

Fraternally,
cherub

James · #5 03-12-2002, 09:18 PM

Moose Girl, how many people at your school? And how many voted in the last Student Government election?

LeslieAGD · #6 03-12-2002, 10:08 PM

Do you have a greek advisor or any kind of faculty that would support you? I know our Dean of Students makes an effort to support the Greek community, which helps us a lot. As mentioned, get alumni support as well.

Lil_G · #7 03-12-2002, 10:31 PM

...your situation sounds almost exactly the same as ours...the only difference is that we (the glos) are starting to work together now as well there is increased student gov't-receptiveness. I'm not sure what to tell you except to re-iterate what Siobhan and cherub said, campus administration can't deny you basic rights. I'm sure your IFSC is the largest club on campus (like ours) and as such has more sway than anyother....here's a tip (since Rez Association won't let us post there as well), sneak into the rez and post rush fliers on the back of stalls in the washrooms.

Hootie · #8 03-12-2002, 11:15 PM

Sounds like you need to start a Pro-Greek Campaign on your campus. Enlighten the campus and the student government what you all have done. Don't throw it down their throats like "HERE WE ARE...GOTTA LOVE US." Instead go to their meetings, take note of what they think, get Greeks to run for offices more often, and perhaps start getting your accomplishments published more.

I came from a commuter campus but our Student Government was primarily made up of Greeks. Why? Because we cared and because so many of those over achievers just happened to be in GLO's (including myself and MANY of my sisters)!

It's hard enough to have the faculty against Greeks, but to have other students including your own government against you is worse. Try to build those bridges and perhaps in your Panhellenic/IFC groups create a board to take the initiative! This is your chance to bond together as Greeks!

GO FOR IT!

Hootie

ADPiSweety · #9 03-12-2002, 11:29 PM

Wow, I'm sorry that your student governments feel that way. Mine here at UNLV is made up of almost all greeks. Our Student Body President is a Phi Delt, my president of my chapter is running for student body pres, almost everyone who works up in student gov. is in a glo and its way cool. I don't know what positions they have, but I know we have a Delta Chi, Sigma Kappa, and a Sigma Chi in office too.

I hope everything works out and your student government changes!

chopper816 · #10 03-13-2002, 02:37 AM

Sorry I cant relate! I go to the same school as hootie did and greeks have a clear majority of the student government. my fraternity alone has 5 senators (im one of them!)

and there are several other members that are greek. The top two positions, the vp and president/regent are greek. I would say the best idea is what someone posted earlier, go to the alumni. Ive heard stories of how the university wanted to do something but either a wealthy alum or a group of them said "go ahead with the plan, but dont expect a check from us anymore" and that seems to stop whatever action was going to take place.

madmax · #11 03-13-2002, 02:03 PM

simple... take over the student government. a few years ago my chapter had 10 members run for senate and 3 for exec board(Pres, Treasurer, Secretary). We had a clean sweep. Voter turnout on most campuses is so low that getting elected is a piece of cake. If you teamed up with all the greeks you could easily take over.

On most campuses the real power is with the CGA. CGA has a multi million dollar budget while the IFC budget is peanuts. CGA actually writes rules and distributes money while the IFC is just an administration puppet.

AlphaGam1019 · #12 03-13-2002, 02:48 PM

We "fixed" our anti-greek SGA by voting in greeks

Lil_G · #13 03-13-2002, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by madmax
simple... take over the student government. a few years ago my chapter had 10 members run for senate and 3 for exec board(Pres, Treasurer, Secretary). We had a clean sweep. Voter turnout on most campuses is so low that getting elected is a piece of cake. If you teamed up with all the greeks you could easily take over.

easier said than done, champ...think about it, we have much much lower numbers - 1% of the student body, the greek system is so small there simply is not enough willing candidates to do that.

madmax · #14 03-13-2002, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lil_G

easier said than done, champ...think about it, we have much much lower numbers - 1% of the student body, the greek system is so small there simply is not enough willing candidates to do that.

no, its not that tough, champ.... In the US less than 50% of elegible voters turnout for the Presidential elections. Do you think campus elections are any different? The voter turnout in campus elections is closer to 0 % than 100%.

Your 1 % is 1% more than than anyone else has and if you figure in the fact that voter turnout is so damn low you wont have any problem. On my campus senators have actually been elected with only 1 vote. The voter turnout on my campus is usually only a single digit percentage of the total. Last year our President was elected with about 3 % of our total student body population.

MooseGirl · #15 03-13-2002, 05:20 PM

a couple of years ago the idea was for greeks to run for office. The Sigma Chis have been on council for a long time, but not next year. Within my dept I was a student rep, but i didn't get to sit on student council(i worked mainly within the dept) I don't know what voter turn out is like, but i know from the girls in my chapter it was pretty low.

The thing is if we lose club status we have to PAY to use rooms and all posters have to be approved by their staff. As well, this year the university created a no poster rule for anywhere outside of certain areas in certain buildings, ie no lamp posts, no walls, no benches etc...

I like the alum idea...I'm sure we could scrounge up some influential alum to help us out. I know we just celebrated 20 yrs on campus, and delta chi 30 yrs, so they're out there somewhere...