In an open and candid presentation, "Dartmouth Sororities: A Look from Within," 10 sorority members spoke on a variety of issues, withholding nothing from their speeches and attempting to dispel stereotypes given to members of the Greek system.
In front of a diverse crowd that included Greeks, non-Greeks, '05s and administrators, the women addressed race, body image and the Greek/anti-Greek controversy that continues to rage on the Dartmouth campus.
Dara Adams '04, programming chair of the Panhellenic Council, was motivated to organize the event because, "the sorority system is representative of a huge number of women on campus and we don't get together enough to voice our opinions."
Jana Borg '02 addressed arguments that single-sex organizations are exclusionary and anti-feminist. She noted the many organizations are based on sexuality, ethnicity or being handicapped, saying that although she could technically make up a part of these other groups, "each experience I have had is as a woman."
"I'm going to fight for single-sex organizations. They are incredibly important for men and for women," Borg said. "I need that resource."
Farrar Evans '03 agreed that sororities form necessary support networks for women on campus.
"Dartmouth is a culture of perfection," she said. "I was constantly finding reasons to beat myself up -- a lot of it had to do with body image." Now Evans said she is comfortable with the person she is -- thanks, in part, to the sorority.
"I don't want to be cheesy or unrealistic, but my experience has been wonderful," she said. "The support to love yourself is the greatest resource you will ever find in your life."
Other panelists expressed feelings of anger towards stereotypes and felt that Dartmouth's Greek system doesn't fit those stereotypes that may be accurate on other college campuses.
"I'm kind of angry, actually," said Khristina Gonzalez '04, a member of Epsilon Kappa Theta sorority. "I am tired of assumptions ... and stereotypes." She said that her experience in a sorority has been positive apart from the labels she has received from non-Greeks.
Amanda Benjamin-Smith '03, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, an historically black sorority, was one of several to address the issue of race.
"How I am perceived as a black woman is very different from how I am perceived as a 'sorority girl,'" she said, describing the sorority girl perception as "ditzy ... a slut or whore" in contrast with the strong, liberated black woman that Alpha Kappa Alpha represents.
Other sisters spoke about the importance of having a supportive system of women that they could rely on.
Lois Schonberger '03 spoke about yet another issue -- being a homosexual sorority sister and the reactions surrounding it.
"Yes, I am the president of a sorority, and yes, I date women," she stated simply, citing people's reactions as the real issue.
"When I told my mom, she dropped a plate," Schonberger said, noting that her unaffiliated friends also show surprise.
Adams felt that the panel was a success and emphasized the event's focus, that "you can be a strong woman and still be a member of a sorority -- the two are not mutually exclusive."
