Stigma of Greek system decreases involvement

Friday, October 16, 1998

Stigma of Greek system decreases involvement

SORORITY: Once-active groups suffer from unfair stereotypes,
past injuries

By Heather Davey

With the end of another Fall rush here at UCLA, I find myself,
as a member of the Greek community, reflecting upon what has become
of us. I’m sure that we can all say rush was a success ­
sorority rush registration numbers were higher than they have been
in over six years, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) has rechartered
itself on campus with over 50 new members, reestablishing at UCLA
the strongest fraternal organization in the country. Spirits are
high and we are all optimistic, but it feels like we’re just going
through the motions, because we cannot escape the knowledge that
the Greek system at UCLA is only pale shadow of what it used to
be.

The Greek system has historically played an integral role at
American colleges and universities. Even here at UCLA, most chapter
charters date back to the 1920s, prior even to the building of our
current campus in Westwood. In meeting alumnae from my own chapter,
I’ve found myself humbled and somewhat embarrassed by the disparity
between their roles on campus and ours.

Members of my house had been Bruin Belles and participated
extensively in philanthropic work, organized Homecoming parades and
Spring Sing, had been elected to all positions on student
government, and were even counted amongst those who helped to move
our campus from the South Branch in the ’20s.

What has become of such Greek activism on our campus? I can
hardly preach about this problem, since I count myself as one of
the many that have not done a damn thing for UCLA outside of my
sorority activities ­ that is unless you count the measly five
hours of community service required to pass Biology 30. I’ve hardly
led a shallow college existence ­ through my chapter I have
participated in numerous philanthropic activities, specifically
through the Blind Children’s Center (which is our national
philanthropic venture) ­ but I definitely feel as if I, as
well as the rest of the Greek system, could be doing so much more
at UCLA. I consider our lack of campus involvement to be one of the
main reasons why the Greek system has been floundering over the
past years. We’ve turned within ourselves, back into our own
community, and partially shut out a huge part of campus life which
most students want to remain a part of. Our reclusiveness, however,
has not been unprovoked.

In 1982, over 1,300 women registered for sorority rush, pledging
in classes of 50 to 60 new members at the 16 chapters on UCLA’s
row. In reading old rush records, I’ve found that my own chapter
boasted a total membership of almost 200 women, a huge number
compared to the 115-member quota which Panhellenic now sets. The
Greek system was of massive proportions, and enjoyed what was to be
the peak of Greek life at UCLA, as well as across the country.

My knowledge about this time is about as limited as that of any
non-Greek since I was in preschool at the time ­ but as a part
of Generation X, I can attest to growing up watching ‘Animal House’
and ‘Revenge of the Nerds’. These were my, and the rest of the
country’s, images of Greek life ­ panty raids, uncontrollable
parties, literal torture of non-Greek students, and a corrupt
student government run by spoiled, cocky frat guys and ignorant,
blonde sorority girls.

If you think about it, the Greek system was an easy target for
the press. The secrecy and mystery that makes the system unique is
the very thing that allowed the media 1) to embellish and fabricate
their activities for entertainment value (‘Animal House’ is, for
all its blasphemy of fraternities and sororities, a truly classic
film), and 2) to reflect the very real discontent which was
breeding amongst non-Greeks on campuses across the nation.

Greek dominance on campus had become such that those uninvolved
were prepared to strike back ­ the Greek system became the
enemy overnight, after years as an inextricable part of college
campus life. Fraternity and sorority members had come to a breaking
point. They were so involved in campus activities that their very
visibility had become a stigma to non-Greeks who had grown tired of
Greek campus influence.

I find it completely understandable that students uninvolved in
the Greek system wanted a chance to be active on campus, but the
backlash that has followed has been harsh and swift. Not a single
Greek sits on ASUCLA student council, not for lack of candidates
but because campus mistrust of Greek intent in running.

In both of the campus elections that I have voted in, the Greek
candidates have been characterized and criticized not for their
political platform, but for their Greek affiliation. ‘Greeks in
sheep’s clothing’ is what I believe they were referred to in an
election several years ago. I can hardly blame non-Greeks for their
skepticism ­ I, too, would be suspicious of giving campus
influence to those who had monopolized it for so many years at
UCLA. But, Greek or not, we are students too and deserve to have
our voices heard on campus, to leave our mark upon UCLA.

I’m not placing blame on either faction ­ I feel this
matter has too much history and is far too complicated to blame on
anyone, since it is a collective campus problem. Sorority rush
registration numbers plainly show the effect this has had on the
Greek system ­ in a decade, they have dropped from 1300 to 350
rushees. Of the original 20 chapters on the row, only 10 remain
­ the most recent loss being Alpha Chi Omega in 1996.

I guess what I’m doing is issuing a challenge, not just to the
Greek community but to the campus as a whole. We are at a point
where change is possible ­ whatever wounds may have been
incurred by exclusion by and of both parties have hopefully faded,
so that we can work together and make campus unity a reality.

It may sound naively optimistic, but I honestly think that that
the Greek system wants to be a bigger part of campus life. It is in
our best interest to do so, as it only increases our own numbers
and allows the public to see more clearly all of the positive
things we are capable of. I also challenge non-Greeks to give us a
chance to prove ourselves, not that I think we should have to prove
ourselves, but to transcend all of the history that causes
skepticism of Greek motives on this campus.

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