Almost everyone reading this sentence can name at least one person who no longer rows for the Dartmouth crew team. Or no longer performs with the Chamber Singers. Or no longer writes for The Dartmouth. This college is a place that offers many opportunities to its students and thus enables them to develop different interests throughout their four years in Hanover. The ability to engage in various activities is an integral part of the college experience, but academic demands often force students to focus only on those activities that are most important to them at any given time. Students' decisions to disassociate themselves from particular activities do not necessarily reflect the organizations to which they belonged; rather, their decisions mirror their changing priorities. This same principle also applies to those who depledge Greek institutions.
The article by Rachel Osterman in Monday's edition of The Dartmouth unfairly represents the Greek system and Alpha Xi Delta in particular. If "it is likely that around ten students depledge in a typical year," why were the only two identified females mentioned in the article from the same sorority? This emphasis on Alpha Xi Delta suggests that their reasons for depledging derived from problems inherent in the house rather than their changing interests. While we recognize that individuals deserve to express their opinions freely, we, as members of Alpha Xi Delta, do not appreciate the implied negativity that resulted from the singling out of our house amidst many other organizations with similar concerns.
Some aspects of the article exaggerate the severity of issues, such as alcohol and dues (which, incidentally, are not specific to Alpha Xi Delta). Since our house, both the national establishment and the physical plant, is dry, our programming council goes to great lengths to provide members with a variety of nonalcoholic events. Our dual DJ dance party, our Friday night coffeehouses and our sister retreats provide a few examples of such activities. Furthermore, it is our house policy that financial constraints will not deny any woman a place in our membership. Alpha Xi Delta provides scholarships based on financial needs, thereby ensuring equal opportunity to all members, present and future.
By nature of the D-Plan and the many opportunities available here, Dartmouth promotes personal change and growth. During this journey through college, some people discover that being a member of a Greek organization does not fit their needs. Most people, however, find strength and support in their houses and look to their sisters and brothers for security in an environment that changes every term. As seniors looking back on our time in college, we cannot imagine Dartmouth without the friendship and stability we found in Alpha Xi Delta.
