OPINION & EDITORIAL
Greek life can be positive, too
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Also by Lindsay Zuckerman:
- Graduation's approach brings insight (April 5, 2005)
- Greek life can be positive, too (April 12, 2005)
- Cell phone etiquette checkup (April 26, 2005)
- Past, present collegiate friendships (March 15, 2005)
- A spring break phenomenon (March 8, 2005)
Related Stories:
- Tear down barriers to participation (October 24, 2005)
- Gay frat diversifies Greeks (May 4, 2007)
- Greek community generous at heart (April 1, 2005)
- Comic misrepresents Greeks (September 24, 2007)
- Greek Judicial Board denies rights (October 13, 2005)
by Lindsay Zuckerman
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
“Going Greek” is a term that has been stigmatized over the years through word-of-mouth, personal experiences, movies such as “Animal House” and the media. For some, it is a great experience, one that has been able to enrich and further a college students’ life on campus. For others, it represents a subject and realm of social events that one chooses to stay far away from.
Some people call it “buying your friends,” because of the dues one must pay in order to stay active in a Greek house. Others — including myself — would disagree with that statement. Prior to entering college, I received a piece of advice that I, in turn, have passed on to incoming students: if it’s not necessarily something you’re interested in, at least go through recruitment to see what it’s all about and make an educated decision for yourself. You may just surprise yourself because each house offers something different.
What some fail to see are the academic and philanthropic aspects of joining a sorority or fraternity. Of the 11 sororities on campus, all maintain over a 3.0 GPA and sponsor a charitable cause in which they organize a fundraiser for at least once a year. The Greek system at University of Wisconsin also gives back to the community by holding campus-wide events such as this past weekend’s Humorology, a talent show composed of fraternity and sororities, which raises money for a specific charity each year.
Joining a sorority freshman year, while it seemed a bit cliché to me, was one of the best decisions I have made for myself in terms of meeting people and allowing myself to get involved on campus. It’s not all gossip, partying and petty-things, contrary to popular belief.
Through my sorority, I have been able to hold executive positions in the house and learn how to make educated and responsible decisions. I was able to form friendships and meet new people that I most likely would not have had the opportunity to bond with had I not joined an organization of over 100 women. And being a member of a sorority doesn’t seclude you to only socializing with members of your own house. Events such as Greek Week and other social occasions allow members to interact with each other and possibly open their minds to other people’s beliefs and thoughts.
While I was going through my “Inspriation Week” my freshman year, in which you learn about your house, its purpose and founders, and what it stands for, I was able to meet and learn a great deal about each individual girl in my pledge class. Some of the most interesting and multi-faceted people I would have never been able to really know surprised me to the fullest. Each girl stood for something different and was passionate about diverse aspects of life and her surroundings. Four years later, I still remember and feel a special connection to each one of them.
My dad graduated from college as an active member in a fraternity on his campus. Years later, his fraternity brothers are still his closest friends and they return to campus for football games in the fall. It is a sense of camaraderie that has been passed on year-to-year — another way to remember your college experience.
One of the most important aspects to enjoying college is getting involved on campus, be it through academic or social clubs or whatever you may choose. It’s important to remember that your time here is what you make of it. If the Greek system is for you, revel in it, because it will most likely be an incredible journey.
Lindsay Zuckerman (lzuckerman@badgerherald.com) is a senior majoring in journalism.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 2:02am):
Haaaahahahahahaha! I've been waiting for yet another thought-provoking, hard-hitting, intellectually stimulating column from Ms. Zuckerman. Oh god this shit is hi-larious!
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 6:54am):
How many frat-boy cocks can the herald staff fit in its mouth at once? So far I've read no less than 5 pro-Greek articles in the last year. "Dear IFC/PHC. No one gives a fuck, quit patting your pampered east-coast ugg wearing selves on the back. The student body"
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 6:56am):
very mature responses...morons
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 7:22am):
There's nothing worng with going greek, but don't join an exclusive club and the complain when other people point out that you are an exclusive club.
That's all.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 7:50am):
Didn't the BH just have another article just like this in the past few weeks? If all the Greeks are so happy with their fraternity or sorority, why do they need to keep telling us? I'm sure there are plenty of more important topics that could be filling up these pages.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 8:14am):
Didn't she write this exact same article last week?
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 8:35am):
Well, maybe when you stop wearing pledge/ party/ fundraising shirts that try to copy alcohol ads people won't assume you're only interested in alcohol.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 9:57am):
My favorite part is when they try to back up their organization with the claim that it's all about "philanthropy" and doing good for others (one time a year). The whole problem is that their idea of helping others is almost always limited to having parties or other "fun" things and charging their friends and family. No working with community members to make a difference, no empowering people to change neighborhoods... just get out your (mom and dad's) money to pay for a drink and cure cancer, too! That way you don't actually have to come in contact with icky poor or sick people.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 10:50am):
Absolutely right. The concept of civic duty is so fucking shallow with these people, it could make you sick.
Once again, here we go with the Zuckerman flufftastic asshat prose.
Honestly BH, what is up with this? Is there a hidden clause that since Mac is a member of a fraternity he's going to keep putting up these pro-Greek articles?
If only Zuckerman weren't such an intellectual lightweight, then I wouldn't feel so bad bashing her.
Lordy, hey, here's a thought! Instead of giving money to cure cancer (which this university is doing a fine job of without your $2000, thank you very much), why not support political candidates who give a shit about this country?
i.e., support Democratic and Green Party candidates who want to improve education instead of eliminate the Department of Education from the federal government, raise taxes so that we can afford to support our healthcare system (which would actually reduce your insurance premiums), or reduce our dependency on foreign oil so that your SUV is actually more affordable?
My fucking GOD Zuckerman...does any of this cross your mind? Or is the Ambien just about to kick in and the five Budweiser E's you just pounded clouding your wittle mind?
Thinking ahead, or considering your actions, or how you and your crew of bobbleheads support the worst group of assholes in this country (the investor class, who are about to get ramrodded when this whole house of cards collapses around them and their parent's 401K's are worth shit, and they can't afford to heat that 4000 sq. ft. McMansion in New Trier anymore, nor commute the seventy miles to work a day in the city (where the poor people live!)).
Fuck you...have you got a single concept of your ill-gotten gains, and how your organizations promote an idiotic and unaffordable lifestyle?
I know you don't.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 11:21am):
Wow, just when I was going to post something about the Greek system also has plenty of downfalls, I read the above post.
Maybe I will go join the Greek system to keep away from angry extremists like the author above. Lighten up people.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 12:08pm):
Paraphrasing the above post; "Uhhhn, I'm a skinny, white, whiny liberal hippie and I create halfwit pseudo derogatory buzzwords which I find funny. I don't care about raising taxes because I don't have a job! The man just wants to keep us all subservient for his self fulfilling needs."
Listen guy, we understand you're young and idealistic, full of ambition and want to change the world. Honestly, we were too at some point. Life is about compromise and while your opinions on the environment, government, and the economy are necessary to counterbalance the opposite views on the right you have to understand that no one will ever take you seriously. So here are a few tips: no one is out to get you --you're just paranoid from all of the marijuana you smoke, if you want to be taken seriously keep your ideals but realize they will never be achieved outright so make concessions (this isn't a zero-sum game), lose the un-funny buzzwords (mcmansion, shrub, etc.), we don't really hate you even though we call you lazy and smelly we hate you because you listen worse than how you say the government listens, and get a job --if you really want to change the world you should work hard, make a ton of money and then (as you surely know because of your beef with big corporations) you can do whatever you want.
Hope this helps
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 12:57pm):
"we don't really hate you even though we call you lazy and smelly..." and then
"we hate you because you listen worse than how you say the government listens"
how can the guy be expected to listen when you can't make sense with your internal contradictions, name calling and incredibly difficult to comprehend sentences that seem to run on and repeat themselves and use poor grammer and -even stranger punctuation?
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 1:04pm):
What are greeks? I'm assuming we're not talking about the medeterranean nation that noone on langdons street know anything about.
Are they these bunch of shallow boys and girls who dress a like, walk a like, talk alike, and know little about the world outside the gap, yest have casual sex with their significant/insignificant other's best freind, rather regularly.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 1:05pm):
You can do everything stated in this article without joining the greek system. Make life-long friends, donate time and money to charities, develop your own identity...oh wait, the last one may not apply.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 1:48pm):
Leave her alone; she is hot
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 1:50pm):
No one asked you to join. People in the greek system don't make a habit to make fun of other people's groups, clubs, or ways of life. Yet every time there is an article about the greek system, everybody's got something to say about how shallow, stupid, and supercilious it is. "Dear student body, Stop talking so much shit about us and we won't have to print so many articles to prove you wrong. -The Greek System"
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 2:03pm):
While I agree that running two pro-Greek editorials within a week of one another was overkill, I think the bashing of both pieces and their writers is completely unnecessary and obviously quite out of hand.
The Greek system's presence on this campus has never hurt anyone -- it's just another organization like Hoofers or ASM. And while it is a sad truth that a minority of its members are self-absorbed and shallow, the majority of Greeks are normal, wholesome citizens like all the GDIs on campus apparently assume themselves to be. So give the psychotic rants a rest -- your time would be better spent volunteering at a local YMCA than sitting in front of your computer trying to change the world on the Badger Herald website.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 2:04pm):
Another thought,
As a uw graduate I too am in touch with all my friends from college days and I was not in a fraternity. if you are attempting to list positive attributes of the greek system, you should list some that do not apply to the general student population as well. It is also interesting that you cite grrek week as eveidence that you do not only interact with memebers of your house. I am glad you are openminded enough to interact with people from other greek organizations as well.
The problem with the greek system is two-fold (and this is coming from someone who came from a well educated, fairly well-off conservative background).
1) The expense associated with joining a sorority or fraternity serves as a screening process to ensure you are not living with people who are not as wealthy. And since people obviously become friends with those they spend time with, this generally assures that greek members are not friends with "poor" people. This is not a very good way to become aware of people in a different situation than yourself.
2)While there is nothing wrong with spending time with people from your organization, be it greek or otherwise, there is something wrong with excluding people from socializing with you. While as non-fraternity student, we hosted many greek friends fro drinks and parties, while greek activities focus on only other greeks.
Feel free to respond...
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 2:16pm):
"The Greek System". Not nearly spooky enough for a name. I think we should change what we call "The Greek System" so that the new name reflects its ubersecret/philanthropic ways. Imagine:
"Hi! My name is Brittnay, and I'm a member...of The Order."
"Cancer is bad. That's why we donate money to fight it, as members of... The Organization."
"If The Order is for you, revel in it, because it will most likely be an incredible journey...of DOOM."
The part I liked the most?
"And being a member of a sorority doesn't seclude you to only socializing with members of your own house. Events such as Greek Week and other social occasions allow members to interact with each other and possibly open their minds to other people's beliefs and thoughts."
Phew. For a minute there, I was worried you would only be exposed to the ideas and culture of your own sorority. Knowing that you have a week where you (possibly) meet people in OTHER sororities or fraternities is very reassuring. There is such a range of diversity on this campus- I don't know what people are complaining about- you can have Alpha Epsilon Phi's or even Pi Kappa Alpha's, together at the same university at last.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 2:17pm):
I would like to respond --
1) I don't know the financial workings on the campus fraternities, but I don know that all 11 sororities offer financial aid, reduced dues and payment plans to their members. If dues or room and board prove too expensive for a potential new member's family income, there are ways around it.
2) The reason sorority parties are usually only held with fraternities is because the sororities are bound to 'Resolution 2000,' a contract they all agreed to five years back saying sorority would no longer hold co-sponsored, alcoholic events in fraternity houses (the resolution was crafted and agreed upon due to rising insurance costs). Because of this, all sorority parties are required to be at third party vendors that allow people under the age of 21 to enter but not drink. Therefore, sororities are limited to the number of venues, people and days they can have parties, because only about seven bars on campus have this special clause in their licenses and obviously they all have capacity maximums. Fraternity parties in fraternity houses are big and open to the public, but because of Resolution 2000, sororities are limited to just a couple of parties a semester, and therefore choose to have them with Humorology or Homecoming pairings as a bonding/socialization experience of sorts.
While those explanations may not make the whole Greek concept seem so much better, you have to understand that sororities especially are bound to an intense set of rules regarding socials and other activities, that when bent or broken can result in huge penalties from the UW and the chapter's national office.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 2:19pm):
Maybe editorial writers wouldn't have to promote the Greek system in their opinion columns so much if the campus newspapers ever covered anything they did (ahem, Humorology) in their publications.....
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 3:30pm):
Response to two of the above posts:
"The Greek system's presence on this campus has never hurt anyone"
False. Just one personal example: A few years ago I had a close friend who decided to join a fraternity in order to make life-long (as Ms. Zuckerman suggests they would be) male friends, as he was having trouble making connections with those in his dorm. While his future frat brothers schmoozed him during rush, once they got him to join (and pay his $450 per semester dues), the tables quickly turned. His "brothers" pretty much treated him like shit because he didn't attend every single social event and was one of the few members who had a girlfriend and preferred not to hit on every girl in sight. Realizing Greek life was not for him, he bravely quit the frat. Rather than being supportive or trying to accomodate him so he wouldn't quit, his "brothers" basically dis-owned him, ignoring him when they saw him around campus, not to mention threatening to sue him because he broke his lease. Wow, talk about brotherhood. I'm sure there are others with similar experiences.
"Fraternity parties in fraternity houses are big and open to the public"
How can you say anything that requires being on a list to get into is open to the public? If you're not on the list by a certain time, you can't just walk into a frat you know is having a party.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 4:30pm):
Lindsay may be an airhead, but she is sexy.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 4:49pm):
more elephant walk!! Smell my thumb.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 5:30pm):
"Lindsay may be an airhead, but she is sexy"
For a fat chick
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 5:39pm):
Greek life is indeed wonderful. Don't knock it 'til you've hiked up the Acropolis to see the Parthenon, or taken a cruise along the Aegean Sea, or shopped in the boutiques of Thessaloniki.
Oh wait...you weren't talking about actual Greek life, you were talking about bullshit fraterniscum and sorostitute life! That's different.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 5:49pm):
just when i thought that this paper couldn't sink any lower you go and give this dingbat(!) a weekly column.
here is my question to the editorial staff: do you laugh at her once she submits her columns and publish them as a joke or do you ACTUALLY find her articles thought-provoking and relevant???
save this article for the pro-greek pamphlet distributed during rush week to freshman. in the meantime, i would rather see some coverage of the REAL events and issues that are happening not only on our campus, but in the rest of the world as well.
zuckerman, give up your dreams of becoming a successful journalist and acknowledge your true calling: gamma delta delta theta house mom. we'll see you back in madison in 5.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 5:57pm):
Honestly...if you don't like the articles, don't read them! If you feel this article or any of the other "features" dealing with the Facebook, instant messaging, etc. are useless, WRITE YOUR OWN ARTICLES ON CURRENT EVENTS. Getting a staff writing position at the Badger Herald is not hard...stop bitching, moaning, and abusing people who spend their time writing. This is not to say that the paper shouldn't allocate more space to current affairs, but enough is enough already!
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 5:59pm):
I'd go Greek, but I hear it makes your bung-hole hurt.
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 6:23pm):
Greeks do all these great things? Oh, that's nice. It's just that, after reading easily a dozen of these things in my college career, I'd just like to say something on behalf of dorm-living common (wo)men like me...
WE DON'T F***ING CARE!!!
We don't CARE about Coasties vs. Sconnies. We don't CARE about whether Zeta Eta Theta or Mu's Nu Shoe raised more for the Salvation Army. And most of all, we really don't give a #&*$ about how the KK made it into Playboy or not this year, because you all have turned it into such a Tool shed that it's not a UW tradition anymore if half the student demographic isn't allowed in.
We DO have a right to complain when we can't just go out and start a third newspaper to get current events out there. We depend on you guys to take care of that. I don't really agree with a lot of the writers on this opinion page's slate, but I read them because they talk about important matters. Most of the time.
If frats and sororities are so much about brother/sisterhood and togetherness, what the hell do they care about outside opinions of them?
-WN
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 7:34pm):
I love the title of this article, "Greek life can be positive, too"
It's like Lindsay is concurring with the idea the vast majority of Greek life is completely negative--but, yes, rest assured there "can be" positive aspects too!
Anonymous (April 12, 2005 @ 8:48pm):
"She doth protest too much..."
If the greek system were as wonderful and innocent as you claim, it wouldn't be necessary to write such articles since your actions would speak for you. Oh, wait...maybe they already do...
Anonymous (April 13, 2005 @ 11:49am):
I give her credit. She attaches her name and picture to her work. You know who she is; who the hell are all of the critics? Nameless, faceless, gutless psuedo intellectuals who think they know it all because they took Sociology 101 or donated money to Greenpeace. Take heart Lindsay, one day they will be cleaning your toilet bowl while you bask in the sun.
Anonymous (April 13, 2005 @ 5:48pm):
It is to her credit she attaches her name to her claims. Ironic that your comment is anonymous as the rest of us. However, I am psuedo intellectual because I am a civil rights attorney not because I took Sociology 101. I did enjoy you demonstrating my point about the greek system being exclusive of poorer students since the critics here will apparently be "cleaning [her] toilet bowl" while she "basks in the sun". I don't really understand what donating money to Greenpeace has to do with anything, isn't that a cause the Greek system has raised funds for in the past?
Anonymous (April 13, 2005 @ 6:01pm):
will the guy named "anonymous" please stop making posts? what do you do, sit in your apartment all day and argue with yourself?
thanks!
love, normal witte girl
Anonymous (April 13, 2005 @ 8:35pm):
seriously, why don't you all have a beer or something...
Anonymous (April 14, 2005 @ 8:15am):
Wow..a "civil rights attorney" is reading the Herald and commenting on the editorials. How lucky we are that someone so mature and intellectual takes the time out his/her busy and important schedule to share his/her important views with us. Maybe he/she can do that because the adult world realizes what an idiot he/she is and refuses to hire him; hence he/she has time on his hands to help educate us. And why attach "civil rights" to attorney? Is that supposed to mean something? Why not just say " I am an attorney". Why?..Well, like the rest of the pseudos who comment here that label is supposed to give his/her opinions some credence...as if only a "civil rights attorney" is someone to listen to. I agree with the last person...you all will be cleaning her toilet bowls one day..including the "civil rights attorney".
Anonymous (April 16, 2005 @ 9:38am):
Once again - not surprised to see a bunch of people complaining about the problems of the world on the badger herald website.
You don't like the greek system - don't join. Don't like pretty girls - don't call 'em. Hate the rich - stay poor. Don't work - stay unemployed.
Let's see all your pictures and your names. Oh - wait - that's why you feel so comfortable being mean to a young college girl.
5 years from now - you'll still be posting comments on a website read by about 1,000 people.
