It seems Americans have become very polarized. Or maybe it’s just because social media has provided a very large stage to pontificate. When someone we dislike/disagree with/despise does or says something which we do not agree with, it’s a major transgression and a cause for swift punishment. When someone we like/agree with/admire does something of equal weight, there is a tendency to offer leniency or some slack/understanding/empathy because their “intentions were good.”
The Greek-letter organization (GLO) world is one in which there are polar opposite views with little ground for those in the middle. It seems that GLOs are either loved or despised. Click on the comment section of any internet article having to do with fraternities or sororities (never mind that the articles are usually negative in themselves). It’s hard to believe the amount of hatred for our organizations which is spewed in those comments. There are those who believe that if our organizations were banned from every college campus, collegiate life would be absolutely rosy and perfect. (See http://wp.me/p20I1i-1is for the debate that was going about GLOs more than 100 years ago.)
Lyrics from the musical “Hamilton,” written by Lin-Manual Miranda, done in modern calligraphy by Simone Becque.
The stories of our Greek-letter organizations are interesting. All too often, members only know the story of their own GLO and relatively little about the other GLOs. While we all like to think that our organization is the best of the best and that in the competition between all the groups ours is the winner, the truth is that we are much more alike than different. Moreover, to the world at large we are all the same. For better or worse, we are family. When one chapter of one GLO screws up, we all take the blame.
Is every chapter of every GLO perfect in every way? Absolutely not. The collegiate chapters of our organizations are run, for the most part, by 18-22 year olds who come and go as if by revolving door. They enter the organization usually knowing very little about it or the expectations of Greek life. Advisors and HQ staff educate the membership about leadership, nurture them in their leadership decisions and help them learn valuable lessons; these experiences are but a few of the benefits of Greek life. Errors will be made. Hopefully there will be lessons learned through those challenges and their failures or successes.
From my twitter feed, it’s evident that there were many good works done by GLOs this past weekend. Community clean-ups seemed to be popular.
Sigma Phi Epsilon @officialsigep
Proud of our @SigEpUNH brothers for helping clean up the @UofNH campus after a busy homecoming weekend.
Phi Psi Valparaiso @PKPValparaiso
Yesterday we were privileged to serve @TeamGaryIndiana w/ @ValpoU EWB, @BRO_valpo and the brothers of @OfficialOPPF!
IUP Greek Life @IUPGreekLife 12 hours ago
we had over 500 students attend the homecoming clean up! thank you to those that helped out! #IUPHomecoming #service (the picture wasn’t cooperative in moving it to this blog).
In addition to community clean-ups there were many other philanthropic events taking place. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and some activities were dedicated to fundraising and awareness for that effort.
ΣΑΕ Midwestern State @SAE_MWSU 11 hours ago
October is here, help your True Gentlemen of Sigma Alpha Epsilon support @SusanGKomenhttp://saemidwestern.chapterspot.com/donate Susan G. Komen, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and CityofWichitaFallsTX
Panhellenic Council @wsuPC 12 hours ago
Our gals had a great day today rotating between chapters doing service projects for our community! #WSUpcService
Phi Psi Washington @pkpwashington
The brothers had a great time this weekend volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club annual KidsAuction! #LEDN
