Some provisions in the rough draft of the Greek Life Steering Committee's report -- especially a proposed rule that students must have a minimum GPA of 2.3 to rush a house -- have sparked criticism among members of the committee.
Although the report has not been completely finalized yet, some committee members complained about the report's compilation process and expressed concern that the committee did not have enough time to thoroughly review and study the report.
While he praised some aspects of the report, Committee member and Coed Fraternity Sorority Council President Shihwan Chung '02 explained that, since the committee has met in subcommittees charged with preparing specific sections of the report for the last several months, the committee has not spent enough time reviewing the report as a whole.
"I'm afraid we're going to submit a report that hasn't been fully discussed," Chung said.
Fellow committee member Ryan Clark '01 echoed Chung's concerns.
He said that the committee spent much time during Fall term debating abstract questions about the future of the Greek system. "We spent more time talking about theoretical, rather than practical concerns," he Clark said.
Thus There was not enough time during Winter term to discuss the actual specifics contained in the report, he said.
For example, Clark and Vanessa Green '02 both said that the provision in the report that students must have a minimum 2.3 GPA to rush a house received some criticism from members.
Green said that some committee members opposed this measure on the grounds that a student whose GPA is strong enough to remain at the College ought to be able to participate in Greek life.
"It raises the question, 'Should the Greek system hold itself to a higher standard than the rest of the College?'" Green said.
Clark said that he thought that the committee had decided against the minimum GPA provision, and was puzzled to learn that it had been included in the report.
He believes that it would be helpful to spend more time threshing out such issues in committee, he said.
Committee member Maggie Shnayerson '03, who is also a member of The Dartmouth staff, said she found the report too vague.
"It doesn't pack as much punch as it should," Shnayerson said. "It's unfortunate, because the committee has worked so hard on this report."
Vanessa Green '02 said that she also found that the report was rather vague, but she added that some members of the committee wanted to make sure the report was unspecific enough to allow individual houses room to determine how they would reach the goals outlined in the report.
Dean of Residential Life Martin Redman said the report will be reviewed and revised a few times before it before it is made public. Cassie Barnhardt, Assistant Dean of Residential Life, will review changes to the report that committee members have recommended before the document is finally submitted to Dean of the College James Larimore.
Barnhardt, Redman and members of the committee said that they were unsure whether the committee would continue meeting after the report's release.
