Over the course of the last two weeks, we have discussed the various pros and cons of Greek life across Penn State’s campus with an incredible amount of homogeneity within the PLA class. Beyond my brief two hours in the class on Tuesday nights, I personally have had a number of talks with people across campus concerning their feelings and opinions towards Greek life. Despite the wide variety of people I spoke to, I found it somewhat unsurprising that the overwhelming majority of individuals not only see the system as broken, exclusionary, and dangerous but also as downright repulsive. Despite this, I thought I’d take some time to decompress some of the common sentiments and perhaps explore some ways that we can be better if the system is to stay for years to come (as I’m positive it will).
I should preface this piece by saying that I have given serious consideration to Greek life. Though I didn’t take the plunge and rush this semester for several reasons, there’s a decent chance that I do in the future. Upon saying this, I am in no way an ardent supporter of the current Greek system. I am in no way justifying many of the things that the Greek system stands for in its present state. Despite their various flaws though, I can with certainty say that the concept of “fraternity” is one which has the potential to be a truly formative catalyst for personal growth. Having attended a single sex, all-male Catholic high school, I have experienced the power of such interactions in my own life a great deal. I can with certainty say that I would not be nearly as responsible or loyal to those who surround me today had I not been within such an environment.
Despite this, the Greek system is far from a Catholic high school. To many, it is viewed as the epitome of lawlessness in University Park. Bearing this in mind, I have met many Greek members at Penn State that are genuinely outstanding members of the university community. I have seen firsthand some of the most legitimate displays of loyalty, friendship, and community within the walls of fraternity houses. These are people that, to the average Penn Stater like those I spoke to, will likely be grouped in with the bad apples that the system contains. These are individuals that are truly living out the purpose of communal living in what appeared to be for the better.
Whether these people are the exception or the norm, I can only guess. Obviously much more occurs in the day to day lives within houses than meets the eye. Further, I’m certain that there are many places where such positive interactions almost never occur. Upon seeing this though, I often am forced to wonder not what the University can do better in terms of its policy on Greeks, but what I — a student — can do better.
I wonder what we as a community of individuals can do to make Greek life safer, more inclusive, and all-around better perceived on campus and beyond. In many of the talks that I had this week with students and administrators alike, I noticed that many viewed joining a fraternity as a buy-in to the Greek status quo.
After hearing that so many times, I’ve been forced to wonder what it would take to truly change it from within. Does it take a complete university-driven overhaul, or simply more accountability and responsibility on the part of individual house leadership? It seems to me that historically speaking the most substantial and lasting change always occurs from within. It stands to reason that if change comes from within fraternity and sorority walls it will bear a much larger place in the minds of those involved.
Obviously, Greek life isn’t for everyone; as I said, I’m not even sure if it’s for me. With this in mind though, I can’t help but wonder whether the system is doomed to its place of social ostracization and obscurity that it seems to be heading towards, or if it can be saved and preserved for the better in the years to come.
Follow Us!