From the moment students begin to rush, Greek culture embodies a spirit of exclusivity and materialism. Are you good enough to get a bid? Will you be “chosen” to pay the dues? And if not, does your social life have any hope? Students are at the mercy of the Greek system to accept them or reject them. When a student is rejected from institutions whose primary function is SOCIAL, is it any wonder this breeds bitterness? Meanwhile, all students who are in any way critical of the Greek system are told that they “must just be angry they didn’t get a bid,” when in fact they may very well have never rushed in the first place! Once again, this attitude of exclusivity is tremendously damaging to campus unity.

During sorority rush week, campus is filled with girls wearing different colored dresses to each house or event. You can tell where a girl is going by her wardrobe. Once a student is accepted into a particular Fraternity or Sorority and pays their dues, they brand themselves. Everything from shirts to bags to jackets gets covered in letters. This outward materialism is another thing that bothers me about Greek culture. It also adds to the IMPRESSION that Greeks are only interested in people with letters on their chests, and even then, only with the right letters (i.e. one group of Greeks can often be heard bashing another group of Greeks!) The branding of the Greek system goes to an extreme way beyond that of any other campus organization.

Imagine if we all walked around campus wearing shirts that said, “WHITE” “ASIAN” “ARAB” etc. Or “CHRISTIAN” “MUSLIM” “JEW” “ATHEIST” etc. Or even something less serious like “COMMUNICATIONS” “ARCHITECTURE” “ENGLISH” etc. Whenever we emphasize our difference, we strengthen our divisions. In the big scheme of things, the Greek/non-Greek divide has much smaller repercussions than other ways society divides itself (such as countries that issue racial ID cards), but we might as well learn a lesson now in this micro-world that gives us the chance to practice being adults.

Reggie Bush and OJ Mayo were individuals who messed up, but I seem to remember some collegiate organization that they were a part of being punished for their indiscretions. There’s just one example for you.

Some students who are Greek put down those who are “GDIs” and “independents.” I don’t know when it became so wrong to stand on your own two feet and be involved in things that aren’t a Greek organization.
Just because you are in a sorority or fraternity does not put you above anyone else. Being in these organizations can provide numerous benefits for the future, as well as your college career. However, the disrespect and condensing language that the Greek system promotes is a problem within the system that UK needs to step up and handle.

There is also an immense amount of tension between sororities and fraternities that needs to be called to everyone’s attention. Organizations that are a “tier” above others put their brother/sister organizations down, leading to problems between Greeks as well.

All of these issues need to be handled, as well as many more. These include the sexist language the frat guys use towards women as well as the excessive social violations (such as SAE’s endeavors) and hazing within these Greek organizations.

Delt, FarmHouse, Phi Sigma Kappa are on probation or were last semester

Phi Sigma Kappa, Pi Kappa Alpha, Pi Kappa Phi,Triangle dont even have houses

9 fraternities kicked off or put on probation/ 15 fraternities on campus with houses= 60%

Also what is YOUR point? Other than trying to refute Alumni and Denizien? Homecoming court is a campus-wide recognition of two students. They are almost always greek.More relevant to this argument is that SGA is basically all greek and is a extremely powerful agent on campus. Greek students are celebrated and have strong allies in our student body.

Whether or not that person actually ‘didn’t get a bid’ or ‘got balled’ is irrelevant; popping off like a child and categorizing all Greeks as ‘rapist’, ‘drug abusers’, ‘problem drinkers’, or that we are all ‘riding daddy’s coattails’ propagates the already very poor opinion of independents among Greeks. ‘That guy is mad because he didn’t get in’ is the only rational response one could summon when independents start these unprovoked attacks on Greeks. I mean, did a Greek writer pop off a pejorative column about how independents ‘add very little’ to campus or dare call them ‘little boys’? (I don’t want to speak for all Greeks, but the writer better be damn glad he didn’t make the ‘little boys’ comment within my earshot)

My entire point is this: if you really think Greeks provide ‘little actual value’ to campus, then stop wasting your time bloviating about how ‘bad’, ‘immoral’, or otherwise ‘worthless’ you think we are. The only rational conclusion one can make from such a poorly-written, unprovoked attack on Greek life is that, somehow, the writer feels wronged. Rhetoric like this only sharpens the divide between the Greek and independent and most negatively affects the ordinary independent who CHOSE to be an independent.

So please, save your mud for other, more deserving targets like the faulty government in Frankfort, the football coaching staff, or the aloof Deans who reign on high atop their Ivory towers. Hell, write about how terrible the basketball lottery system is. Leave Greek life alone – don’t act so lugubrious when someone calls you a GDI because you continually slander our institution.

That is seriously your argument? Greeks should not feel discriminated against because they always win homecoming king or queen?? I hope that was supposed to be funny

You are flat out wrong.You can try to say that the decision to remove a fraternity from campus is up to IFC but that is not correct. It is ultimately up to the University. Are you really trying to say that IFC decided to kick SAE out for lighting a guy on fire but not Delta Tau Delta for selling drugs out of their house. Thats just not true.

“The University is as supportive of Greeks as it has ever been. In a recent meeting with Dr. Mock (dean of student affairs), he spoke almost primarily on the expansion of our Greek community for increased retention.”

How could you possibly say this when 60% of fraternities have been removed from campus since 2008. That doesnt sound like to expansion to me. Now if you want to consider removing one fraternity and replacing it with another and say that is “expansion” then I would say you are wrong about that too.

Rick

It also makes sense that Greek students are generally perceived as well-off when one considers the high priced dues they require (just in response to an above comment).

I would also assume they would have been told the same thing if they were applying for other employment, or joining another club which required major commitments. I do not believe it was their intent to prejudice the greek community.

Thanks so much
Karen Koester
859 512.4979