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UW Greek system unites
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Also by Nick Penzenstadler:
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Hundreds of new University of Wisconsin sorority and fraternity members gathered at the Pyle Center Sunday for leadership training in an attempt to build inter-Greek relationships. Students admitted to the UW Greek system in fall and spring semesters attended the event to meet with students from other houses while they sharpened their leadership skills. "A lot of chapters work within their chapters, but this is a great opportunity for them to meet people from other chapters," said Jeff Benson, a Greek advisor. "They really have a lot of pride … but they want to work together more and build more of a Greek community." Benson said the training is important to start early in the Greek process so when students progress through the system, they have strong relationships established outside of their respective houses. Interfraternity Council President Eli Gratz said the conference will bond together a class of students who may someday be leaders on campus. "Pledging can be a tough time, and you have to learn a lot," Gratz said. "But you get this experience and in a couple years from now, everyone here will be seniors and on the executive boards of their groups." Students attended three sessions where they learned about etiquette, behavior, leadership, diversity and the "Greek concept." The conference stressed the concept of joining an association on the UW campus, according to Gratz, who estimated 450 people attended the conference, about two-thirds of new members in the system. "I know when I joined you think about just joining a house, but you don't think about the bigger picture and being a part of the system," Gratz said. "Three thousand [Greek members] are a lot more meaningful than 70." The networking sessions were led by Milwaukee-based Focus Training, founded by former UW Greek member Todd Gehrman when he was a student. The team-building section of the workshop allowed students to work together to solve problems like the "great barrier," where each member on teams of eight needed to be passed through a web of yarn without touching any body part. Students also participated in a "trust fall" exercise where they relied on their teammates to catch them as they fell backward. Sigma Phi Epsilon member Kenny Jones said the team-building exercises helped bridge the relationship with other fraternities and sororities. "There are leadership and icebreaker games where you have to get out of your comfort zone and meet some new people," Jones said. On the condition of anonymity, some students said the conference was too long and didn't accurately connect with issues facing Greek members. But Pi Kappa Alpha member Kerry Kreeron said he enjoyed the activities. "It's a really good program," Kreeron said. "It might dissolve those misconceptions about Greek life and develop a leadership core for the future. … There's no reason this campus can't be 20 or even 30 percent Greek."
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Uh yeah. Shut up Greek system. Rapes, panty raids leading to assaults, roofies, that’s a sample of what you “give back” to the community. And no, I am not being abstract. Those are 3 specific incidents from the past 2 years.
Thousands of dollars raised for charity and thousands of hours of community service, initiating a student run Langdon Street watch for the safety of Greek and Non-Greek students, high academic achievement, leadership opportunities…the list goes on. THAT is what the Greek Community represents.
Obviously you really don’t know anything about the Greek System… so shut up
Open your mind a bit. Almost every President and Fortune 500 CEO is Greek, do you think their success is as a result of panty raids? Before you make assumptions based on negative press coverage, perhaps consider investigating the Greek System further- if we based our opinions of every organization off of 2 or 3 incidents, the University of Wisconsin would be known for little more than a school full of binge drinking hippies.
I am a graduate of this university and happy to have been Greek here. I like the fact that the pro-Greek comments are articulate and even -toned when the non-Greek comments sound like idiot boxes. I am not saying everyone should go Greek, I am saying tolerance of every group is appreciated.
“Rapes, panty raids leading to assaults, roofies, that’s a sample of what you “give back” to the community. And no, I am not being abstract. Those are 3 specific incidents from the past 2 years.”
Yeah and SAE got thrown off campus for their chaotic party and Kappa Sigma was severely punished for their panty antics. Open your eyes and take the potatos out of your ears you ignorant snake. The Greeks as a community do greater things than you and your 5 friends on Mifflin Street ever will at UW.
The Greeks on campus are amazing. This just shows how they model citizens, proactive and contributing assets of the UW community
“3 Specific incidents in the last 2 years…”
Let’s do some math. 3000 Greeks, 2 years, thats about 730 days, so 3000 times 730 =…wait, you are refering to about 3 farts in an atmosphere of greatness.
And I’m sure you fart at least 16 times a day.
My roommate was hazed so badly this past semester from his frat that he barely pulled a 2.5 and ended up dropping. Don’t kid yourself Greeks. If Greeks ever tried to improve their image, they would need to correct one problem: the sense of pretentious self-worth.
SAE did not get thrown off for a party. That’s a lie. They got thrown off for something much, much, worse.
SAE got thrown off for being scumbags
I dare you skeptics to go to uwgreek.com and check out some of the great things we’re accomplishing. While you’re there, check out the no-hazing policies that both IFC and Panhel have enacted. If your rebuttal involves a protest that hazing happens regardless of those policies, go to the link for the Greek Judiciary Board - that’s what we have that for. In addition, we also have an honor society - Order of Omega, which works to promote academic scholarship in the system.
Also, I’d like to point out that not many student orgs at Madison lack Greek men and women. I’d even encourage you to ask around at your next meeting. It’s not like we have GREEK written on our foreheads… we are everywhere (even when you least expect it) and we are leaders in organizations other than our Greek chapters. This is not to imply that the Greek System is perfect… I’m just saying that we are no less perfect than any other organization or system at UW-Madison.
The thing is, you guys run (to be very frank) a crock of sh*t when it comes to a self regulating machine. Your own exec board members (IFC, specifically) are filled with houses who violate policy. There is so much hazing that goes on, arguing it is banned is a non-response. It’s HIDDEN hazing for a REASON. The Greek system here is small, thank God, because if it were any larger, we’d have serious issues with the safety of our students. A fraternity already got off once this year for hazing, why would it make sense to report anyone else? Without solid proof, it wouldn’t matter.
This was a very impressive program. It was great to see Greeks coming together to promote the leadership and values that the organizations were founded upon 100’s of years ago. As a new member I am honored to be part of this Greek system, and am glad to see the leadership offer such valuable programs.