Brandeis,
My relationship with you is one of love. Since coming to school in the fall, I have fallen in love with my classes, my professors, the campus, the students, even the dining hall food (yes, really).
But we need to talk about the state of Greek life on campus. You profess it to be against the message of the university — of inclusivity. Greek life, you profess, is antithetical to such a message, and should not be supported.
Not only will I address why I believe this to be incorrect, but I will also address why it is better to have Greek life located on campus rather than outside of it.
On Inclusivity:
Brandeis is known for the several hundred clubs with which a student may associate themselves. Some clubs are, however, based on a try-out system. Rushing a fraternity and a sorority is much like this. Brothers and Sisters in Greek life organizations look for their classmates that best embody the spirit of their fraternity. Take AEPi, for example, it would not make sense for them to allow someone to pledge if they do not recognize Jewish heritage practices. ADPhi is a literary fraternity, so it would not make sense to accept someone who wishes to join if they hate literature and despise reading. And so on.
The most salient misconception is that rushing Greek Life is a popularity contest. And that could not be farther from the truth. The rushing process works in a similar way as do Brandeis admissions. Brandeis will not accept someone who is not inclusive, or who does not strive for academic excellence, or who desires to remain in the status quo despite injustices against other people. Why should a Greek life organization be treated differently?
On Hazing:
As it currently exists, Brandeis students who wish to incorporate Greek Life have no means by which to decide which organization they can trust/choose. This is not to say that pledging Greek Life on Brandeis's campus incorporates hazing (I do not believe it is so). However, there are no regulations to ensure that this will not happen. Brandeis students who wish to pledge any Greek organization are left to figure this out on their own. And if they are going to do so they may be worried that the university does not care enough to even check this for them.
Monitoring the pledging process is much more simple if these fraternities are on our campus. This is both commonsensical and important. If Brandeis monitored the pledging traditions, then they would be able ensure that Greek life maintained a safe environment.
On Gendered Nature of Greek Life:
This argument works in a similar manner to the inclusivity argument. Because fraternities, it is argued, only accept men, and because sororities only accept women, they cannot, by their definition, be inclusive. For members of the transgendered community, Greek life offers a sort of reminder that they cannot join if they so desire.
I will just say here that there are co-ed Greek life organizations, and its implementation would not be a problem, especially at Brandeis. As for currently existing Greek life at Brandeis (all of which are single-sex), I do not foresee a problem in allowing a member of the transgendered community to join. I do not imagine that any member of male fraternity would refuse to pledge a FTM individual, and vice-versa for a sorority. For example, DPhiE's official policy is to allow any individual who identifies as female to join the organization. Fraternities and sororities, as they exist in the status quo, are inclusive. Brandeis's recognition of them would, therefore, not be the recognition of an organization that refuses to accept certain individuals over others.
But, it can then be argued, what about the mere appearance that these organizations are gendered and rooted too deeply in tradition to allow transgendered individuals to join?
On University Image:
This leads to me the university image. One of the major draws of Brandeis University is its commitment to what is right no matter what society dictates. This is why we are so inclusive for every individual, no matter what identity. We do not accept what society imposes upon us as the norm. We wish to create an environment that fosters inclusivity, care, and works towards social justice.
It appears evident, at least to me, that fraternities and sororities are no exception. While they are stereotyped as being havens for partying, drinking, and making bad decisions, the stereotypes (as is the case with many stereotypes) are often untrue and, frankly, damaging. But Brandeis, as an organization that values the Truth even unto its innermost parts, cannot be satisfied with buying into the stereotypes that are presented to them about Greek life. They must work to define Greek life on their campus — as they have worked to define campus life on their campus, and academic life, and student life, and so on.
Brandeis has the ability to make concerted efforts to curb the negative effects of Greek Life only when these organizations are on-campus. It is not as though these organizations are not associated with the school whatsoever. Its members attend the university. But, in this way, they can be assured that they are doing the right thing.
Safety:
The status quo does not protect students who want to experience the "party scene". This is college — students are going to drink, students are going to party, students are going to seek that "quintessential college experience" (yes, even Brandeis students). Brandeis works to great lengths to protect students who desire to experiment in the college social scenes.
Brandeis ought to offer a safer environment for those students who want to let loose on the weekends. Because students currently have to walk off campus to go to these parties, they put themselves at risk by walking in the dark, potentially intoxicated, and potentially alone. Given the recent events that have occurred on South Street, it does not make sense to allow this to continue. And because Brandeis respects the autonomy and decisions of an individual (insofar as these decisions are self-regarding), it makes no sense to attempt to curb these attempts to party off-campus (especially with Brandeis students who are attempting to define their individuality and do not want anything imposed upon them). Walking in the borders of campus to go to a party is much safer, and poses much less of a risk to all the students involved, than having to walk off-campus.
Just as well, if a student engages in too much drinking and requires medical assistance, they are much better off if they are on campus rather than off campus. If a student moves off campus to drink, they are no longer under the umbrella of protection that Brandeis offers their students. Not only are the students in these Greek Life organizations (the ones who have leased the house) less likely to want to call the proper medical authorities because they do not want to lose the lease on their house. When these are moved on campus, BEMCO can be called, and lives (and money) can both be saved.
Brandeis, it is better if you move fraternities on campus. it is better for the students, for the university, and for members of Greek life. You run too great a risk by not moving them on campus.
