By Alana Roche | Staff Writer |
I believe that the media only focuses on negative Greek organization’s behaviors because those stories attract the most attention and that is what audiences desire.
However, I also believe that campus administrators should have stricter rules and guidelines preventing negative attitudes and actions.
I don’t know much about Greek life because I am not in a sorority or close to anybody that is in one, so I am writing from an outsider perspective, based on what I have witnessed.
My first encounter with Greek life has been on the CSUSB campus. From what I have seen in recruiting practices by sororities is that they have a huge focus on helping their chosen charities.
However, the media negatively stereotypes frats and sororities — you rarely see these organizations praised for doing well.
Negative behaviors, attitudes, and actions are prioritized, like hazing or partying. Yet from what I have seen on this campus, Greek life involved students don’t fit certain stereotypes.
Organizations like Alpha Delta Pi and Lambda Theta Phi are listed as supporting projects like the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House and the advancing of Latino education respectively on CSUSB’s Greek life website.
“I don’t agree because many of these organizations do have regulations for risk prevention and many members who violate them and get caught, do get punished,” said Jose Antunez.
I agree, when Greek organization regulations are violated there are repercussions enacted.
For instance, at the University of Connecticut (UConn) “the Sigma Chi fraternity, Delta Gamma, and Delta Zeta sororities lost their recognition at UConn early August following a months-long investigation, but the university has modified its decision for Delta Gamma’s fate in response to its appeal, UConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz confirmed,” according NBC Connecticut in 2014.
Other organizations have created such controversy that according to theindychannel.com, a branch of ABC, the University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel stated that he predicts a day when Greek life may no longer exist at the Michigan campus. Schlissel said this after a vulgar video of some fraternity members emerged.
I do agree with Schlissel, [to an extent], I see a day where certain harmful organizations will be banned from select campuses, but I don’t believe that all Greeks should have to deal with negative consequences.
UCLA was in the news recently because two of their Greek organizations, Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and Alpha Phi sorority, threw a “Kanye Western” party.
This party received a lot of back lash and even started a protest because of some students that decided to attend the party sported black face, according to Los Angeles Times.
In older times black face was used by non-black persons to portray black people, deemed patronizing according to the black community.
I believe that school administration should be involved more because these sororities and fraternities are a representation of the school they attend. If your school is allowing you to represent them, they should be able to set guidelines of how they want to be perceived by others.
CSUSB does have Greek policies. On the Office of Student Engagement website there are policies regarding alcohol, free speech, special events, and sexual discrimination that must be followed.
“Although some freedom should be given to the organization, regulation is helpful to create safe environments and fight against negative stereotypes,” said CSUSB sorority member Isabel Manookian.
I believe it’s unfair that there are mainly negative media bias and portrayal of Greek organizations.
My experience with these organizations have been positive and I believe that they send more of a positive message than a negative one on CSUSB campus.
However, I do believe that schools should be stricter on these organizations to ensure that negative acts won’t occur.
Leave a Reply