In light of isolated instances of embarrassing immaturity, hazing allegations and bizarre rituals, collegiate fraternities and sororities in the U.S. consistently come under public scrutiny. Much of this criticism is warranted and a concern about the culture that has been created is justified.
However, historical precedent and statistics speak for themselves and the Greek system at DU has an established record in philanthropy, academia and campus involvement.
Overall, Greek letter organizations at DU have contributed to the campus’ pursuit of being a “private university dedicated to the public good.”
Greeks currently represent 22 percent of the college campus. Members of this school’s Greek life have used their talents outside of their respective fraternities and sororities in student government (USG), orientation leadership and athletics. Is it a coincidence that three out of the four candidates running for USG president and vice president last year were Greeks, or that 40 percent of orientation leaders in 2011 were Greeks?
At DU, fraternities and sororities always seem to have the most vested interests in their communities.
Every Greek letter organization on campus has an annual philanthropy event and their own particular charitable cause to which they donate.
Collectively, tens of thousands of dollars are raised every year by Greeks. The Sigma Chi fraternity had a record Derby Days, raising over $21,000 for the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado last year. On a national level, Greek contributions to colleges and universities comprise 70 percent of all alumni donations.
Despite these statistics, America’s time-honored tradition of fraternities and sororities are losing the PR war.
Some of these reasons are understandable. Hazing allegations and alcohol related deaths are always bound to rattle a community. As members of a Greek organization, we are concerned whenever such stories make national headlines. In any of these instances, public lambasting of that chapter is understandable and warranted.
This year there was much media attention on an unfortunately-themed, offensive party at DU that became a public spectacle.
I am not trying to downplay the incident, however, when that same fraternity annually raises $20,000 for the National Sports Center of the Disabled they merit more than one-sided treatment.
The staff, students and faculty of DU claim to be in support of Greek life and I do not doubt that they are, but more needs to be done to balance out the public dialogue.
When fraternities and sororities host an exchange that is out of control, or are indicted in hazing then by all means they should be chastised, punished and scorned.
There are issue-centric non-profits who couldn’t hope to raise that much over the course of a few weeks, never mind in a single night.
I urge everyone to seek the whole story when evaluating Greek life, a chapter or a member.
