Sexual Awareness through Greek Education and the Coed Fraternity Sorority Council co-sponsored the Greek system's first step of the new Freshmen Outreach Program last night in a meeting to inform members of the Class of 1999 about the Greek system.
Three panelists, Jess Adelman '96, Dani Brune '96, and Grier Laughlin '96 spoke about life in the Greek system to fewer than ten freshman women, although all members of the Class of 1999 were invited.
Jen Hill '97, co-chair of SAGE, said Outreach is an attempt to lessen division on campus between freshman and upperclassmen.
She said, in an interview with The Dartmouth before the meeting, the main point of last night's meeting was to discuss sexual awareness and gender issues.
The panelists focused on interaction between freshmen and upperclassmen and other facets of the Greek system, such as common stereotypes and negative misconceptions surrounding fraternity and sorority houses.
"There aren't opportunities for freshman and upperclassmen to exchange ideas," Hill said. "The dynamics of social relations change when you move to a house that is a single sex house."
"We want to bring freshmen into the Greek houses so they can see what membership in Greek houses is comprised of," Hill said.
Panelists said most students tend to see only one dimension of the fraternity system. Students do not visit houses on midweek afternoons so they do not see the more creative things that go on inside Greek houses.
The three panelists warned freshmen not to let Friday and Saturday night activities at Greek houses drive them away. Laughlin, a former social chair of Psi Upsilon fraternity, said the majority of people at a fraternity party are not members of the house.
Adelman, former president of Kappa Delta Epsilon, said sororities and fraternities often sponsor various events contrasting weekend parties, events ranging from faculty-house lunches to inter-Greek house discussions.
Brune, former president of the Panhellenic Council and a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, said the Greek system provides students with an opportunity to interact with other groups on campus about whom they would otherwise not know.
"If you are into community services," the Greek system holds a lot of opportunities, Brune said. "Something is planned every day of the week. Things you don't normally do in a dorm or other places."
Adelman called the constant abundance of events "a mix and mash."
Adelman, Brune and Laughlin said rather than limiting friendships, the Greek system has broadened their personal relationships. Laughlin said his fraternity activities have not hindered relations with people he knew from his freshman year.
Yet all three speakers emphasized the tension and stress experienced by some sophomore men during fall rush. Brune said the period was essentially a term of not seeing male friends.
A panelist said it was difficult to watch sophomore men going through rush, noting they look tired and "have to do obnoxious things."
But panelists said the new members will survive that Fall term, despite time and social pressures, and come to enjoy fraternity life.
Though the large time demand during pledge period can feel "exploitative," Laughlin said, "you meet a lot of great fellows."
Panelists also said the Greek system tends to foster group identity, driving students to a sense of security in numbers.
"It's a downside," Adelman said.
But Laughlin said the house does not override a student's identity.
All three panelists said the Greek system at Dartmouth is "much more laid back" than the systems at large public universities.
"It's a lazy person's dream," said Adelman.
She said the Dartmouth student tends to be overly self-involved and the Greek system offers an outlet through which a student can reach out and connect with other people. Adelman said the Greek system is a central force that brings people together.
Present members of the Class of 1999 voiced concerns that most freshmen did not know what most Greek houses were like.
"It's hearsay or nothing at all," an audience member said.
The panelists blamed the lack of exposure of the Greek system on the minimal interaction between freshmen and upperclassmen.
Brune said it is largely through the Greek system that interaction between different classes occurs.
The Freshmen Outreach Program is reminiscent of SAGE's New-Member Education session held last fall for new fraternity members, Hill said.
The previous program failed because "we were telling people stuff they already knew," she said. Hill said SAGE hopes to "start at an earlier stage" with the Outreach program.
