Over the past week, the "Report of the Alumni Council Committee to Support Greek Letter Organizations" which was sponsored by the Alumni Council to examine Greek Life and offer suggestions for improvement has been a topic of discussion on the executive board of my own sorority and others on campus. The report highlights some of the biggest issues facing Greek houses and contains many thoughtful ideas for improving Greek life. Yet, along with my sisters and our female peers, I cannot help but feel left out by the report.
The current report focuses primarily on the physical plants of Greek houses a discussion largely centered on fraternity life. The entirety of the section titled "Challenges Facing GLOs" is devoted to how students abuse their physical plants, with comments clearly directed at fraternities: "The [Committee] reviewed numerous complaints by visiting alumni as to the shabby condition of (particularly) the all-male fraternities." In turn, large social problems in Greek culture are diminished to merely contributing factors of derelict houses. Binge drinking is clearly one of those larger problems and, as such a visible institution, it is time for the Greek community to discuss with alumni and the administration, and come up with solutions to a social atmosphere that many find intimidating, monolithic and, most unfortunately, potentially dangerous.
Unequivocally, this discussion must include the creation of more sororities and physical plants for them. Increased diversity in the social scene will help to reduce some of the issues mentioned above. The report definitely recognizes this need and the fact that the College has worked hard to provide sororities with houses. Yet, the situation on the ground is more desperate than the report, or its suggestions, realize. At the risk of sounding separatist, the issues of physical plants are very different for fraternities and sororities: the addition of new sororities and sorority houses is treated as a "Long Term Issue" and the report suggests the creation of a fund to which alumni could donate that would support both repairs and the acquisition of new houses.
Unfortunately, thinking about sororities in the long term will continue to push the need for more sororities and sorority houses to the backburner. Yet, this issue has immediate ramifications: next week, Greek women will welcome (and wonder how they'll get to know) a new class of up to 47 sophomores per house. More organizations for women would allow for smaller houses and tighter bonds between members; perhaps the size issues contribute to the lack of alumni involvement in sororities. The repair of fraternities and the addition of new sororities and sorority houses are equally urgent though separate concerns.
Furthermore, the report does not discuss the merits of local sororities, but rather states that some women prefer national sororities because the rules of their national organizations do not permit them have open houses or parties. Subsequently, national houses do not incur the wear and tear that the local sorority houses face. While this is true, it does not address the fact that there are women like yours truly who prefer the idea of being able to create a space that is available to campus and can serve as an alternative to all-male basements. It has been said many times (most recently by Brendan Woods '13 in Monday's "Short Answer"), but the creation of new local sororities, on which there is currently a ban, should be considered and discussed by students, administration and alumni.
Any of these changes, additions and refurbishments will require considerable funding. The report suggests that Greek organizations (particularly fraternities) that reach out to alumni can raise considerable funds for physical repairs. While this same course of action is not directly suggested for sororities, the idea that unaffiliated alumnae could "adopt" a sorority has potential, if not a hint of the paternal. More importantly, it highlights the fact that the women and men of the Greek community must take it upon themselves to achieve these goals. Students can take it upon themselves to create better alumni networks, to raise funds and work with the administration to improve Greek life on campus.
Essentially, that is the goal of the report helping us help ourselves. In this, it is largely successful. Yet, in its haste to improve fraternities physical plants, Greek women cannot help but feel that we are playing second fiddle. We promise, we'll keep our basement floors pee-free.
