With the unofficial requirement of pre- freshman viewing of "Animal House", the incoming classes begin their time here at Dartmouth with the impression that the Greek system is an unregulated, uncontrolled alcohol haven. It's as if they expect to walk into a Dartmouth fraternity or sorority on a given Friday night to find John Belushi in a toga downing beer by the keg-full or throwing furniture out windows. The problem isn't that students have this preconceived image but, rather, that for some students this impression isn't being refuted during their Dartmouth experience. So why is it that so many people see and remember our social alcoholic events and yet our community service, our speakers, our intercultural events remain less visible? Perhaps it is the difficulty of overturning a long-held reputation of "The Greeks," or maybe it's because we're just not doing enough! The Greek system is at a crossroads and it's time for some self-criticism, self-reflection, and move towards change. So where do we go from here?
The Greek system is an invaluable resource at Dartmouth. Over 50 percent of the student body is willing to pay dues, go through new member education, and attend events held by one particular organization. Each organization individually and, even more so as part of an extensive system, represents an opportunity for change. It is this commitment, enthusiasm, and willingness to get involved which we must tap into to bring about the most effective means of change for our system and the community at large. Yet all too often our energies are put towards activities which might benefit only a limited interest group. This is not to suggest the demise of social alcoholic events. Rather, it is to suggest the potential for more social options for the entire campus by utilizing the system itself more efficiently.
While these may seem like vague, even idealistic notions, we truly believe the Greek system as a whole is committed to this move towards change and improving social options on campus. The CFSC, the governing body for the Greek system, has made these ideas its goals for the upcoming terms and intends to work hard towards their realization.
An initial step will be the revision of Programming Standards for all houses to emphasize more diversity and community focus. The Programming Standard, at present, requires houses to do very little by the way of contributing to Dartmouth as a whole. Membership incentives are still important, but incentives for active participation in programming events should be equally emphasized. We would like to see a Standard in which over 50 percent of students are motivated towards making this community a better place for more diverse types of interactions. It is only through this interaction that stereotypes of our houses may be dispelled or that we can work to improve student life at Dartmouth. For all too long, the Greek system has isolated itself from the rest of campus for various reasons. The time has come to make this a true Dartmouth community.
