Over the course of the past decade, we have seen more and more campuses shutting down individual Greek houses or Greek Communities as a whole due to hazing, deaths, inappropriate activity, assaults of all sorts, etc. Sadly, the list goes on and on, and America doesn't know how to change these occurrences without merely shutting it all down.
The most recent of these was the death of FSU student, 20-year-old Andrew Coffey. He was found unresponsive at about 10:25 a.m. Friday, the morning after a house party that happened about a mile from campus. Coffey was a Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledge at the University and was given medical treatment but died at the scene.
Let that sink in.
It’s horrifying. I️ never knew him personally, let alone anyone at the university at all, and yet I’m still being affected by the heartbreaking tragedy of his death.
What America is having trouble realizing is that the Greek System is made up of millions of different types of people. We may be in individual houses that have specific personalities and goals, but we are still one prominent family in the end.
Even across the country as a whole and not just a specific chapter, we are a Greek COMMUNITY, and we need to get back to the high standards of that. We need to hold each other accountable for our actions instead of our elders merely forcing us to walk away from the community altogether.
Being a member of a sorority myself, it makes me think about how my university handles Greek life. I️ feel as though Purdue has made great strides to transform our Greek Life into a responsible group of people. No, we’re not perfect, but we are a work in progress and that’s at least a start.
But that's what everyone should be doing.
We should ALL be working to raise our standards and to rise up to the caliber that our alumni know we can achieve.
Greek houses on campus are supposed to be influential groups of young adults and leaders that are determined to make a difference in the community.
At many universities across the country, Greek communities have slowly transitioned from being an amazing, life-changing experience to a social club that requires you to prove your worth through ridiculous activities and challenges.
At the rate we are going, Greek life won't even be around when current college students' kids are old enough to rush. Let that sink in too.
Soooo, let’s change it back.
More service hours and philanthropies aren't going to magically change everything around, but learning to communicate with our houses and our members is a great place to start.
I know that my chapter has been making changes lately to improve our sisterhood and the experiences we carry with us after graduation. We have been working to better not only ourselves but each other as well.
Nationally, Greek life needs to make a change. I️ GET THAT. But does everyone else?
No. I’d say about 50% of Greeks are ready to make a change and the other half is going to flat out rebel.
WHY??? Why make everyone's lives any harder than they already are?
We need to work TOGETHER to come up with a solution and not just have one thrown at us by people of a higher power. As a Community of Greeks, we need to come together and figure our shit out... like now.
What do we want to be known for?
Parties? No. Philanthropy events that raise a lot of money for other people? Yes.
Drugs? No. Being a community of hard-working college students? Yes.
Sexual assault? No. Developing and encouraging our members to become future leaders of America? Yes.
Alcoholics? No. Sure, it's okay to drink and have a good time, but it is not the CENTER of Greek life for a reason; stop making it one.
So, come on, just go for it. Work for it with me and with our other brothers and sisters across the country.
I’m not even asking at this point either... I’m begging.
I️ love being a part of such a widespread and known community and I️ want it to mean something to me for my entire life. I️ don’t want to remember it as the best parties I’ve ever been to and where I️ met the highest amount of hot guys in a single setting.
I️ want it to be influential and encouraging and to continue to drive me throughout and within the other aspects of my life as well. I want it to be a thoroughly genuine support system and something good again.
What I'm saying is:
I️ want Greek Life to avoid becoming another horrifying news story. Don’t you?
