University of Pittsburgh reviewing greek life!

[SigEp42]

The University of Pittsburgh has commissioned a study/review of the Greek system. They say it’s to see if improvements to our Greek system or another Greek system would work better here. But none of the students I have talked to are confident they have our best interest at heart. Recently we had an open forum about the Greek system where we could ask questions and get answers. The only two people that were there had little or no experience with Greek life. One was the woman commissioned to write the review. Neither our temporary Greek advisor nor the dean of students was there. Our old Greek advisor just left. No other student activities or governance groups are being reviewed and they say it has nothing to do with our advisor leaving.
We were asked if we had any suggestions as to how to make our Greek system better. We gave some ideas but not knowing what’s other systems are like does anyone else have any ideas? Most of the ideas that we had were either questioned or attacked by one of the two people there. Hence why we aren’t confident with their intentions. Alums from Pitt any ideas? Any other students from Pitt? I want to meet with the woman writing the review if I get some good ideas, hopefully she will listen to someone one on one. Has this situation happened to any one before? What happened in the end?

Ps. please forgive any typos I have been writing term papers all day.

[greekalumna]

Perhaps a group of students could approach the administration and the Office of Greek Life about having a student advisory board working on the project. Pitch the idea as a way for a group of students -- both Greek (NIC, NPC, and NPHC) and nongreek (think student government leaders, etc.) -- to help bring positive changes from other campus's to your school. As much as possible, approach the administration and others involved with the review with a positive attitude -- that you think that the review is a great idea because it will help a good system become even stronger. If the committee members writing the review feel like they are being "attacked" they are more likely to become defensive and their attitude towards Greek life at Pittsburgh and the review will be more likely to be negative.
Hope this helps

[honeychile]

SigEp,
How many of the Greek Chapter Advisors are aware of this situation? If they haven't yet been told about this, they should be made aware of the situation immediately. Are they looking at the fraternities, the sororities, or both? From the point of housing, or the point of asset v. detriment to the University? These are all points that should be answered immediately, because without knowing the REAL agenda, you don't know how best to approach the situation.

Then, try to get the Advisors involved in a summit of sorts, and let them discuss the reasons why the presence of a Greek community is even questioned. Maybe they'll select a few people to sit down with the University officials and talk sense into them.

Start there. Stay calm, but focused. Try to have IFC and Panhel fully aware of the situation, and realize that y'all are under a magnifying glass right now (read: this isn't the time to do anything stupid!). Again, and I can't stress this enough, get your Advisors involved immediately.

Keep us posted!

honeychile

[33girl]

With what I've been reading about some of the changes in Student Life going on there I don't blame you for being wary of their intentions...

Why on earth would they have a forum on Greek activities without the Greek advisor there?? That's like a wedding without the bride. Who is the woman doing the review? Is she a Pitt employee?

I'm not sure what they mean as far as making the system "better" - do they mean numbers, risk mgmt, rush, housing, what? I would tell them that until you know what issues they want addressed, it will be hard to address them. Try talking to some advisors/students at W&J or (sorry for the heresy) Penn State - their systems are the closest and probably the most similar.

[dphies00]

This is the story that ran today in the Pitt News:

http://www.pittnews.com/vnews/displa.../3dc5f8945bb9a

[kddani]

I'm pretty wary of this whole thing, but at the same time, doubtful that they would get rid of the greek system.

For one, we really don't cause much trouble. Underage drinking is the only problem that we've had in recent memory that I can really think of, as well as what goes along with it (fights, etc.), which happen just as much, if not more, at off campus parties. We've actually gotten a lot of good press for the university, raising a hell of a lot of money for philanthropy.

Second, there are A LOT of greek alumni that they would be alienating. I remember working at the Capital Campaign Weekend ( a HUGE fundraising event that they had two years ago), and meeting incredible amounts of greek alumni. They would risk losing a TON of money from alumni- and you know Pitt is always on the lookout.

I do think that chapter advisors and national/international headquarters of the groups need to be advised that this is going on, because the manner in which they're going about doing it is very shady.

I'm wary, but hopeful that they're doing the right thing.

[fire1977]

I've known about this for a short time, we just have no other way to get into contact with the other sorority chapter advisors. Honeychile and KDdani, can you see if your respective chapter advisors have any of the emails that sharon sent out to all of the advisors during recruitment?(at least sorority chapter advisors?)I know it's a long shot but still.... In reality there is not much we can do as we are just alumna. I forwarded the article to Pitt's DPhiE chapter advisor a while ago. I'll see what she has to say about it.

As far as changes....hmmm, well first I have to agree with honeychile in that you all have to be very careful with your actions this year, including the greek week formal. If you really want to find out what other greek systems are like try contacting some other greeks at schools with similar demographics as you all. Urban Campus, small percentage of greeks,etc. I'll try to pm you with some of the stuff that really does need to change.

That lady's name sounds familiar. I used to work in the mailroom at towers and if its who i am thinking of she had something to do with safety. I could be wrong though, I know she did something with the pitt police.

Try not to be defensive about this whole review thing. I'm guessing that all of the fraternities and sororities heard review of greek system and started the rumor mill that pitt is trying to get rid of greek life, as they do every year when SGB holds elections. Think of it as a way to make positive changes. I agree that it's shady but you do have to make the best of it.

If you guys are frustrated with them not knowing remember that a) they can't keep track of EVERY student organization big or small and that b) someone needs to make sure that the higher ups know what you are doing.....they don't read the pitt news and I've never seen the chancellor strolling about club laga during greek week events.

In the meantime, keep us posted!!

[honeychile]

Fire1977 etal - I sent the link to two of our Executive Officers, both of whom I trust to take it to the best authorities. I would ask those on campus to keep your alumnae in the loop, so we can do the best we can!

honeychile

ps - If I ever refer to you as Fireluv, please don't be upset! It's the screen name of a friend on another message board!

[fire1977]

Time to revive an old thread...
Honeychile, does your chapter have a chapter advisor? Can you pm me with it.

SigEp42 same for you if you are still posting hear. I understand that one of your brothers is IFC rep too, can you get in contact with me??

Same for kddani and killarney if you ladies have the means of finding out!!!

[honeychile]

Fire1977, you are with pm!

honeychile

[Lil' Hannah]

I know University of Delaware and University of Maryland have implemented "guidelines" of sorts to keep Greek orgs truer to their missions and appease the university. Basically if they don't meet requirements then they lose social privileges, etc. Its a sort of happy medium for both parties, and it also gives Greek life a little more of a purpose.

[alpha_beta_nu]

I always worry when a college says they are going to have a "review" of the greek system to look for "improvements", but I really do not think they can just eliminate the whole greek system, or even individual frats. Unless greek life is really out of control at Pitt, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

[fire1977]

I wouldn't mind if they were reviewing ALL of the student organizations, but there really hasn't been anything too severe with the Greek organizations, in my opinion to warrant it. Are there things that could potentially be a problem yes, but again I think that a strong advisor could fix those problems.

Put it this way, if for an example you put expectations on the greek community for community service then it should apply to the other campus organizations...or at least it's my two cents.

Edited to add: I think our main concern is that the Greek Advisor position (who also advised a couple of other groups) isn't completed eliminated.

[honeychile]

Just thinking "out loud" - a few years back, Pitt was considering moving all of the sororities into house much like the fraternities, so they could use Amos Hall for other students. Do you think that's part of the "review"?

honeychile

[fire1977]

They were talking about putting 3 houses up on the hill where the stadium had been. Don't know what ever became of that. I know it was mentioned last year but the amount of money that had been stated was INSANE! but it was mentioned breifly and then we never heard of it again. Who knows, but that really shouldn't factor into the whole G.A. thing, you know??