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Improving Greek life requires more than a good reputation |
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Thursday, 29 March 2007 |
In a recent meeting of the Vice Chancellor’s Leadership Cabinet, Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock mentioned publicizing the service Greek organizations complete as a way to improve the Greek life reputation.
Although this is a noble suggestion, it’s just not enough.
If Appalachian State University students, faculty and staff cannot see the service fraternities and sororities perform on this campus, there does not seem to be much more that can be done to open their eyes.
Greek
organizations are often considered outlets for rich, white students to
meet other rich, white students who share a common passion for bars,
booze and boat shoes.
Perhaps it’s easier for those who aren’t a part of these organizations
to point out negative aspects than to credit active Greek students for
their part in community and campus development.
If positive things are not yet recognized, let’s move our focus from improving image to improving other facets of Greek life.
In the recent Student Government Association forum, President Forrest
S. Gilliam listed housing as an improvement he would like to see for
Greek life.
Although the Quality Inn turned Appalachian Panhellenic Hall is a great
solution for Greek housing, it is also a temporary and exclusive one.
Only Panhellenic sororities were offered spots in the newly renovated residence hall.
This presents two problems in this solution.
First, National Panhellenic sororities, which are traditionally black,
were left out when organizations were asked to move onto the hall.
Their invitation came only after too few people moved onto the APH to fill all of the spaces.
Additionally, campus fraternities still do not have on-campus housing.
These are, however, more long-term goals for Appalachian Greek life.
Panhellenic Council, in an effort to bring in more participants and to improve recruitment, presented the
idea of ending deferred rush.
Formal recruitment was approved March 19 and goes into effect Fall 2007.
If Peacock would like Greek service to be publicized, there are more than enough opportunities for this to happen.
Take Kappa Delta’s pancake dinner, for instance.
This fundraiser raises the most money of any student-led and student-organized event.
Delta Tau Delta Fraternity recently led a spring break trip to work with Hurricane Katrina destruction.
Delta Zeta’s Turtle Trot, a 5K race, brought over 150 runners and
around $3,000 for the Appalachian State University Communication
Disorders Clinic and The Delta Zeta Foundation.
Tau Kappa Epsilon collects toys for underprivileged children in their Toys for Tots campaign.
Delta Sigma Theta participates in Trick or Treat for UNICEF, raising money for the United Nation’s Children Fund.
Saying that Greek life’s good points should be brought to the forefront is a great suggestion, but it is also a cop-out.
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