As I finish my first spring term here at Dartmouth, I am experiencing something that most members of the Class of 2017 can identify with (other than the realization that tender quesos do not, in fact, get old): the strange and exciting time that is pre-rush. It seems that every weekend is jammed packed with barbecues, info sessions and meet-and-greets. Being in a fraternity seems pretty fun, but is it worth dedicating hours and donning innumerable button-downs to impress people I don’t even know? I know a good number of ’17s who feel the same way; we have nothing against the Greek system, but we are just not that passionate about joining a house. Still, most of these people say they are going to rush somewhere, and almost all of them cite the fact that the stigma of not being affiliated is worse than being part of a system in which they do not necessarily want to participate.
There’s no arguing that the Dartmouth social scene is dominated by Greek life, but it is totally feasible for someone to be involved in that social scene without being affiliated with a specific house (see: “the Class of 2017”). Still, a school that strives for inclusivity is anything but when it comes to unaffiliated students. The exclusivity, however, is not born from the institution. It is rather an attitude that students perpetuate themselves. I have found that people assume that students who are unaffiliated have something “off” about them, some kind of weirdness or eccentricity that probably prevented them from getting a bid (because it isn’t like someone would choose not to be in a house, right?). I’ve even heard people tell stories about campus crushes that end abruptly with “but then I found out that he/she was unaffiliated.” Really? Although this is probably an extreme example, the fact that somebody does or does not own a sweatshirt with Greek letters on it should not be something that prevents people from wanting to get to know someone better.
I feel that this issue is especially prevalent for men who choose not to associate with any one house — of course, this could be because I have only experienced the social scene from the male perspective. Seeing as how most of the big social events take place at fraternities rather than sororities, there is usually not much protest when women show up, regardless of affiliation or lack thereof. However, guys who are not involved with the house can be treated like unwelcome guests imposing themselves on the brothers. This ends up putting considerable pressure on guys to find somewhere to rush. Even if we don’t like the Greek system, the possibility that we’ll be left out and left behind socially is scary enough to compel us to find somewhere to hang our tank tops.
As a ’17, perhaps my perception of Dartmouth’s social scene is shaped by the stereotypes to which I am constantly exposed. I do not know if my experience is extensive enough to draw sweeping conclusions about Dartmouth. What I do know is that I have felt very real pressure to associate myself with a Greek house. Though I have nothing against Greek houses and look forward to rushing, I think that my affiliation should be a minor part of who I am, an interesting tidbit that only slightly contributes to my overall identity. This stigma, like any prejudice that is integrated into the student body, does not have a feasible quick fix. Some argue for abolishing the Greek system, but I disagree. Rather, I say that we take the time to get to know people outside of Greek settings. Most of us are or will be associated with certain letters, but that should be one of the last things to define us — not the first.
