By: Ashley Emmens
As the winter rush period is coming to an end for many sororities and fraternities, one lingering question remains in the Greek life community of Hamilton. Why does McMaster refuse to recognize any sororities and fraternities?
According to McMaster’s “Policies, Procedures and Guidelines,” on Dec. 12, 1989, the McMaster Senate approved a motion to prevent the university from granting recognition to fraternities and sororities. This motion also stated that McMaster has no responsibility for them and that they must remain independent of the university. The most recent date of approval of this document was Oct. 11, 2000.
There appears to have been no updates or revisions to this policy in the past 17 years. However, many Greek organizations have died out and many new ones have been introduced since the decision was made. Other Canadian universities, such as the University of Toronto and Carleton, recognize fraternities and sororities on their campus because of the benefits provided. It is time for McMaster to reach out to these Greek organizations, learn what they are about and see how they can contribute to the McMaster experience.
Greek life is a place to belong for students trying to adjust to the transition of going to university, in need of a loving support system, who are looking to make new friends or who feel like something is missing. It is where sisterhood and brotherhood mean lifelong friendships, a shoulder to cry on and many laughs to be had. There is a great diversity in the type of people involved in Greek life with people from different ethnic and social backgrounds and all with their own unique interests.
During rush, students attend social events either by themselves or with their friends, and try to make connections with sisters or brothers. This process builds confidence, conversational skills and teaches students how to network. Whether or not the students continue with Greek life after rush, the skills they have gained can still prove to be vital assets in the workplace.
Business Insider reports that according to a new survey by Gallup, the engagement in the workplace and happiness of Greek members is significantly higher than those who are not involved. The survey by Gallup also indicates that Greeks are better at their jobs because they have a higher likelihood of being more intellectually and emotionally connected with the organizations that they work for as well as being more enthusiastic about their work. According to USA Today College, 85 per cent of Fortune 500 executives were a part of Greek life, and almost all United States Presidents were involved with Greek life.
Another one of the most important things about Greek life is philanthropy. Examples of philanthropy for Greek organizations in Hamilton include:
One possible reason McMaster could have adopted its policy against sororities and fraternities might be due to how they are misrepresented in the media. Unfortunately, hazing scandals top headlines, but philanthropy events are more likely to go unnoticed. When many people think about sororities and fraternities, they think of excessive drinking and hazing due to the way that they are depicted in movies and some unfortunate real-life incidents in the past. Today, all sororities and fraternities in Hamilton have strict anti-hazing policies to prevent these things from happening.
Another negative concept that is usually associated with sororities and fraternities is its exclusivity. However, exclusivity is a way to ensure that people who join are surrounded by like-minded people who share a strong social personality.
Greek life is going to exist regardless of whether or not McMaster chooses to recognize it. By incorporating it into the university, McMaster would have the ability more closely regulate it.
In reality, Greek life defies many of the stereotypes placed on it and is centered on academic and moral pillars that involve dedication to academics, philanthropy and sisterhood and brotherhood. It is time for McMaster to recognize all the amazing opportunities that Greek life offers in Hamilton and revise its policy against sororities and fraternities.
Inemesit Etokudo
The Silhouette
To begin, I want to make sure that the argument of this article is not misconstrued. This article is not seeking to debate the issue of sexism that may have arisen from the original article, "My big, frat, Greek Life," or even trying to bash a positive article that I agree with over many points. Rather, I am going to try to tackle the incomplete portrayal of Greek Life here on campus as a direct result of the exclusion of sororities from this conversation.
Not once did this article say the word “sorority”, or even allude to the fact that they are a real entity on campus fighting for many of the same issues as fraternities. In order to discuss Greek Life, both sides need to be discussed in unison to paint the entire story.
To even begin discussing such a controversial issue, both sides of the topic needed to have been explored fully. Negative opinions of Greek Life, and more specifically sororities, stem from lack of knowledge about the deeply embedded tradition and community they inherently posses.
The fact that no sororities were so much as mentioned in this article only goes on to perpetuate this fact, providing the general public - who are very unaware of Greek Life here at McMaster and in the Hamilton Area - an incomplete synopsis of the larger issue.
This frustration is emanated across members of diverse sororities, as expressed by Brittany Collura, a fourth year Religious Studies and philosophy student and member of Delta Pi who comments that, “We’re a part of Greek Life just as much as the fraternities. We offer the same opportunities and bonding that the boys have and we too suffer from the lack of school recognition. It’d be nice if we were at least seen by the public as active members of the Greek community.”
Yosra Musa, a fourth-year English Literature student and Membership and Recruitment Executive of Nu Omega Zeta, perfectly summed up this fact when she expressed that, “Sororities create safe social spaces, and by excluding them you are excluding the work they do.”
The bottom line is this: it is all about fair representation. The original article definitely highlights some very important points about Greek Life here on campus and will undoubtedly go strides in spreading the positivity and richness that Greek Life order cialis canada does in fact bring to a campus; however, these conclusions were reached without consulting an integral part of this system.
I want to conclude by saying that as a heavily invested member of McMaster Greek Life, I am not in opposition to this article. The fact that an article about Greek Life has been published is a huge positive and will truly open up the arena for a more in depth discussion to be had, and for that I am beyond ecstatic; however, sororities exist too.
It is understood “that when McMaster’s policy was implemented, fraternities were the only form of Greek Life on campus but times have changed and there are quite a few sororities on campus today” – Hilary Chase, a recent graduate of McMaster, and one of the earliest supporters of Greek Life on Campus through her work with Tau Sigma Phi.
So here is my ode to my Greek Life sisters here on campus. I appreciate the hard work and dedication you put into breaking the Hollywood-manufactured stereotypes and being an influential part of our community. Your hard work does not go unnoticed and I hope this is just the first part of a discussion that needs to be had.
