2008 Woodie Awards
Regulations fail to fix TU Greek system
editorial
the Editorial Board
Issue date: 8/25/06 Section: Opinion
In response to the revocation of two fraternities' charters over the past two years, the University has issued yet another set of sanctions that target Greek organizations. These limitations aim to prohibit underground Greek activity.
In 2005, the Alpha Delta Epsilon fraternity lost its charter due to hazing alligations. The next rush season saw an overhaul of the University's new-active-orientation rules. However, last spring, Trinity revoked the Triniteers fraternity's charter in response to more hazing violations.
While we are sure that there are Greek organizations that strive to observe the anti-hazing regulations outlined by Trinity, the Triniteers' recent hazing violation indicates that at least one organization ignored the University's rules. Therefore, piling on more rules to prohibit underground activity seems like a waste of Trinity's time.
Ideally, fraternities and sororities exist to serve both the students involved in these organizations and the University. Greek organizations can provide a network of support for the students involved in these groups. In their community service capacity, Greek organizations can improve the University and the community as a whole.
However, at Trinity, being Greek translates mostly into being a member of an exclusive drinking club. This facet of Greek life has transcended the community service aspect to the point that the University must require fraternities and sororities to do community service as a condition of their existence at Trinity.
Instead of stacking one new regulation on top of another and punishing the Greeks who break these rules, the University needs to devote its time evaluating whether the Greeks are doing anything for Trinity and Trinity is doing anything for the Greeks. The relationship between the two seems mutually destructive rather than beneficial.
Greek hazing violations provide bad press for the University, and the University's regulations force fraternities and sororities to fit a mold they are uninterested in fitting.
We see two solutions to this problem. The University can let go of its control of fraternities and sororities and allow them to operate underground as unofficial organizations. Or, preferably, fraternities and sororities can reform themselves from within and erase the causes for the University's regulations.
By embracing their positive roles, abandoning hazing and giving up their functions as drinking clubs, Greek organizations can help the University while the University protects these organizations.
By getting involved in the Greek system, this year's first years can make Trinity's fraternities and sororities into whatever they want them to be. Or, by abstaining from the rush process, Trinity's new students can cause these organizations to disappear altogether.
To the class of 2010, the burden of fixing the Greek system falls on you. Rush wisely.
In 2005, the Alpha Delta Epsilon fraternity lost its charter due to hazing alligations. The next rush season saw an overhaul of the University's new-active-orientation rules. However, last spring, Trinity revoked the Triniteers fraternity's charter in response to more hazing violations.
While we are sure that there are Greek organizations that strive to observe the anti-hazing regulations outlined by Trinity, the Triniteers' recent hazing violation indicates that at least one organization ignored the University's rules. Therefore, piling on more rules to prohibit underground activity seems like a waste of Trinity's time.
Ideally, fraternities and sororities exist to serve both the students involved in these organizations and the University. Greek organizations can provide a network of support for the students involved in these groups. In their community service capacity, Greek organizations can improve the University and the community as a whole.
However, at Trinity, being Greek translates mostly into being a member of an exclusive drinking club. This facet of Greek life has transcended the community service aspect to the point that the University must require fraternities and sororities to do community service as a condition of their existence at Trinity.
Instead of stacking one new regulation on top of another and punishing the Greeks who break these rules, the University needs to devote its time evaluating whether the Greeks are doing anything for Trinity and Trinity is doing anything for the Greeks. The relationship between the two seems mutually destructive rather than beneficial.
Greek hazing violations provide bad press for the University, and the University's regulations force fraternities and sororities to fit a mold they are uninterested in fitting.
We see two solutions to this problem. The University can let go of its control of fraternities and sororities and allow them to operate underground as unofficial organizations. Or, preferably, fraternities and sororities can reform themselves from within and erase the causes for the University's regulations.
By embracing their positive roles, abandoning hazing and giving up their functions as drinking clubs, Greek organizations can help the University while the University protects these organizations.
By getting involved in the Greek system, this year's first years can make Trinity's fraternities and sororities into whatever they want them to be. Or, by abstaining from the rush process, Trinity's new students can cause these organizations to disappear altogether.
To the class of 2010, the burden of fixing the Greek system falls on you. Rush wisely.
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