RACHEL JOHNSON
ASISTANT PERSPECTIVES EDITOR
Though many members of the various Greek groups on Pepperdine’s campus are highly involved in extracurricular activities, a negative stereotype surrounding fraternity and sorority members exists. Many non-Greek students view fraternity and sorority members as “partiers” who spend their weekends drinking. While members of Greek groups have definitely broken the rules (and been appropriately punished for their actions), many members of sororities and fraternities have upheld Pepperdine’s standards. Many Greeks exemplify this behavior in the leadership roles they hold on campus.
From being in a sorority myself, sometimes it seems as though administrators do not wish to help Greek groups pursue their endeavors. This year’s sorority recruitment process, which took place last week, is a recent example of this. Many sorority members complained to members of the Graphic staff regarding the way they felt they were treated by the administration during this year’s Recruitment.
For the week’s events, Greek women were supposed to use rooms in the Pendleton Learning Center to hold their events, like every year. Unfortunately, faculty members didn’t notify Student Activities Coordinator Jake Gross until shortly before the Recruitment process began that they couldn’t use the rooms.
Though he contacted faculty members in charge of room reservations for different buildings on campus, Gross had difficulty finding new rooms for the women to use during Recruitment. The solution was to use rooms in the Cultural Arts Center, which made many teachers in that building nervous and uneasy, causing a general feeling of unrest among both sorority members and faculty alike. Many Greek women felt that the administration didn’t trust them to use their space.
The decision to move rooms was undoubtedly last minute, which may have contributed to the teachers’ uneasiness about the situation. But why was there such hesitance on the part of the faculty to let the sorority members use their space? Some sorority members thought it was possible that they associated the women with a negative stereotype, believing that by letting them use their space that their property would be disturbed.
Though some Greeks have upheld the negative stereotype at one point or another, many sorority and fraternity members have demonstrated their willingness to be involved in bettering the quality of student life on campus. This is shown by the many Greeks who have taken student leadership roles throughout Pepperdine.
Let’s take a look at the numbers. Out of the entire student body, only 27 percent of Pepperdine students are Greek (43 percent of women are Greek, as are 18 percent of men).
Out of the 22 members of the Pepperdine Ambassador’s Council, a highly selective group in which students act as liasions between the student body and administrators and donors, 13 are part of Greek groups. All four of the Student Government Association executive board members are Greek. Seven of the 12 student employees on the Student Programming Board are Greek. They plan, organize and execute social events on campus.
There are Greek Resident Advisors and Spiritual Life Advisors. There are Greeks on the women’s volleyball team, the water polo team, the women’s cross-country team and the women’s swim team. The past two commencement speakers were Greek.
Clearly, as demonstrated by their involvement on campus, Greek members have a large presence at Pepperdine. They are involved and, for the most part, dedicated to the organizations with which they are involved. Their actions suggest that they care about giving back to the Pepperdine community by playing roles in student organizations.
Yet some administrators still hesitate to trust Greeks, as illustrated by the recent situation during sorority Recruitment. Yes, sorority and fraternity members will make mistakes and break the rules but so will non-Greeks. Members of Greek groups should not be judged based on the letters they wear. Many hold important leadership positions on campus and are respected within the Pepperdine community.
Maybe it’s time to give them a chance to dispel rumors about Greeks and show the rest of the student body what kind of positive impact they already (and will continue to) make on Pepperdine’s campus.
09-27-2007
