I was in the Hop one Tuesday afternoon, enjoying a rather tasty turkey club, when I overheard the beginnings of a conversation. Secure in my immorality, I listened in. Three students were talking about fraternities on campus, and what they thought of each frat. One of the girls proclaimed that, "... the Greek system here at Dartmouth is the single biggest reason racism, sexism, homophobia and hatred still exist on campus. When you get rid of those damn frats and those drunken brothers, 95% of the problems on campus will disappear!" To say I was shocked by what I heard would be a grand understatement.
I've been hearing this description of fraternities since my freshman fall. Is it true? Are the fraternities here on campus the gateway to hell? Can you see the fire and brimstone from Sigma Alpha Epsilon's basement? Are Alpha Delta's dogs really hell's hounds? Does Satan work the tap at Sigma Phi Epsilon? To hear some talk, you would think so.
A few days later, I was where most party- loving students are on a Friday night -- Psi Upsilon. With what seemed like the entire campus, I was in line to get a beer, when right in front of me I saw the very same girl who just a few days earlier maligned and denigrated the Greek system as the bastion of all that is evil. Ironically, she was doing everything in her power to get a beer. I believe I felt her elbow in my gut, and her foot land on mine as I tried to pass her a beer. Unscrupulous me, I stayed fairly close to her afterward. As I had suspected, once she was away from the bar, she continued trashing the Greek system that had just put a beer in her hand.
If there is one thing that I don't understand about Dartmouth, it's the constant beating that fraternities take in public opinion and debate. I'm always hearing complaints about what happened at some party, or some administrator spouting off about the many problems that fraternities still cause. Yes, the Greek system has its problems, and some of them are serious. But what institution doesn't? I would argue that Parkhurst has just as many problems as any fraternity, and I think most of us would rather spend our time in a frat basement than Parkhurst!
A week later, I again found myself at Psi U as a fight broke out. Four brothers promptly broke up the fight and got the two individuals outside. Later I learned that one of those brothers not only walked that person home, but made sure he got into bed. This brother went far beyond the call of duty, and yet I would be willing to bet that this behavior isn't only indicative of Psi U, but of almost any fraternity on campus.
What did you do this Carnival weekend? Did you go hear the speeches in front of the modified snow sculpture? Did you catch the Barbary Coast? Did you watch the ski races? Were you crazy enough to do the polar bear swim? I hope so, they're all part of Winter Carnival. But I would be willing to wager next term's tuition payment that most of us visited at least one fraternity over the weekend. Fraternities are a part of Carnival weekend -- what would Winter Carnival be without the keg jump?! The Greek system is a major part of the Dartmouth social scene, and most of us take full advantage of it.
I don't want to imply that the Greek system is the only social option open to students here in the frozen North. I have many friends who don't like going out to fraternities. Chi Gam certainly isn't the end-all-be-all of a Saturday night! They simply find something else to do.
If you think that brothers are just a bunch of guys who get drunk together, I would encourage you to stop by any fraternity after meetings on Wednesday nights. Yes, you will probably see some drunken brothers, but more than that, you will see a bunch of guys acting like brothers -- talking about politics, girls, and class, complaining about the midterm they just bombed, having a great time and solidifying friendships that will probably last for the rest of their lives. The idea that beer is the only thing that keeps the fraternity system going is archaic, stereotypical, and needs to be changed.
I may sound like just another brother defending a system he is a part of, but, I'm not a brother. I'm just a student who is tired of all the Greek-trashing.
Nor is this a massive endorsement of all things Greek. There are aspects of the fraternity system that I don't like. I've been to parties at "The Fraternity- Formerly- Known- As- Beta" where I don't think I enjoyed myself for one minute. Does that mean that I can't stand the entire fraternity system? Obviously not. I think most, if not all, of the Psi U brothers are quality individuals. I don't think I've ever had a bad time at Sig Ep. That doesn't mean I think the Greek system is perfect. Yes, there is a place for criticism. There are aspects of fraternity life that can be improved. But the type of criticism I've heard lately, and the general tone of the administration towards the Greek system, has been more adversarial than constructive.
So next weekend, I encourage you to go out and party on down, shake it like you just don't care and drink until your livers are just shallow, empty shells of their former selves. And as you battle your way towards the bar in whatever basement you may be in, take a moment to remember that the brothers you were trashing just a few days ago are paying for your weekend intoxication.
