<p>Tenniscraze, what are you trying to prove by posting in these type of threads? You don't like the Greek system. You believe the system is discriminating. It's not going to change the opinion of people who are in favor of the Greek system. You seem to have a real bone to pick with the Greek system. I'm thinking that you wanted to be a part of the Greek system, but got cut from all of the houses and now you want to expose it as bad and discriminating. You wouldn't be this upset over the DZ situation if you didn't care THAT much.</p>
<p>Even if it is true that DZ kicked out girls that did not fit their "image," that is only one chapter of one sorority. If anything like that ever happened to my chapter of my sorority, there would be about 5 girls left. </p>
<p>So just like there are random incidents of hazing in certain greek orgs, there are also other bad occurrences. A lot of people let these few things tarnish the reputations of all greek orgs, but that's a really big mistake on their part, and by spreading generalizations, they are ruining the reputations of the greek orgs that have never done anything bad whatsoever.</p>
<p>
[quote]
A lot of people let these few things tarnish the reputations of all greek orgs, but that's a really big mistake on their part, and by spreading generalizations, they are ruining the reputations of the greek orgs that have never done anything bad whatsoever.
[/quote]
Well said! I've known a lot of people that had really good experiences in the greek system. If it works for you, being in the greek system lead to strong friendships both during the school years and beyond, it can give valuable guidance from those older than you when you're first starting in college, etc. The greek system forms the core of the social life at many colleges, and they are better off for it. But unfortunately when something bad happens (extreme hazing, an alcohol overdose, an incident like this, etc) a few people use it to try to tar the entire system. That's not right. </p>
<p>But to me, it's also quite misleading to go around arguing that nothing could <em>ever</em> be wrong in the greek system, at any time, at any place. And so you end up with someone arguing with what I presume is a straight face that the girls who were kicked out for "not wanting to help" just happened to be the unattractive ones. Quelle Coincidence!! And even if we don't believe everything we read in the NY Times, does this excuse pass the smell test? </p>
<p>Recently the Depauw student paper had an article covering a meeting over the controversy on campus. In attendance was Liz Urso, an educational leadership consultant from DZ nationals. Presumably an official rep from nationals knows something about what they did and why, no?
[quote]
Urso acknowledged nationals was concerned that DZ would not be able to recruit enough members because of the chapter's image on campus.</p>
<p>"Image, I'm not going to lie to you, is a huge part of it," Urso said.
<a href="http://media.www.thedepauw.com/media/storage/paper912/news/2007/02/06/News/Dz.Controversy.Sparks.Debates-2701433.shtml%5B/url%5D%5B/quote%5DGee">http://media.www.thedepauw.com/media/storage/paper912/news/2007/02/06/News/Dz.Controversy.Sparks.Debates-2701433.shtml
[/quote]
Gee</a>, did the national rep actually say that or is the Depauw student paper part of the NY Times conspiracy to smear sororities too?</p>
<p>I think be<em>a</em>star is right here. It is one isolated incident, not an indictment of the whole system. But systems never improve unless they acknowledge mistakes.</p>
<p>Taken from University of Virginia's Cavalier Daily: <a href="http://www.cavalierdaily.com/CVArticle.asp?ID=29572&pid=1558%5B/url%5D">http://www.cavalierdaily.com/CVArticle.asp?ID=29572&pid=1558</a></p>
<p>Sororicide</p>
<p>Lindsay Huggins, Cavalier Daily Viewpoint Writer</p>
<p>Sororities are often characterized by certain nicknames or stereotypes. In some cases, stereotypes can help boost recruitment. But in many cases, stereotyping can have a negative effect. Recently, at DePauw University in Indiana, twenty-three girls were asked to leave their sorority, Delta Zeta, after being judged as unsatisfactorily committed to the sorority. These 23 girls just so happened to be every girl who was overweight in the sorority. They also included the only black, Korean, and Vietnamese members. The twelve girls who remained all seemed to have a common denominator; they were slender, pretty, and friends with many fraternity brothers.</p>
<p>According to an article from the New York Times, Delta Zeta was stereotyped as "socially awkward" at DePauw University. When a psychology teacher surveyed students about the different sororities on campus, Delta Zeta did not measure up. Delta Zeta's national officers were worried that a negative stereotype of the sorority was causing a decline in membership which had left its house half-empty. They decided to interview the 35 DePauw members in November, testing them on their dedication to increasing recruitment. To the surprise of many, 23 girls were asked to leave the house, all of whom seemed to fit the "socially awkward" stereotype.</p>
<p>Kate Holloway, a senior during the chapter's supposed "reorganization," said in the New York Times article, "Virtually everyone who didn't fit a certain sorority-member archetype was told to leave."She, along with five other girls withdrew from the sorority after feeling betrayed and disrespected by the national officers. After all, sororities were initially designed to give girls a sense of family and community in a larger college setting. At their start, they were truly that: a family. As time has passed, however, sororities have become something else entirely. No longer just a place to find one's bridesmaids or life-long best friends, they have also become a place of social networking and a treasured status symbol.</p>
<p>Recruitment has long been known as the most stressful part of the pledging process. Girls buy new designer outfits, primp themselves to perfection, and walk for hours in high heels in freezing cold weather. Whether sorority sisters will admit it or not, appearance has a large impact on who receives invites and who does not. As with most things in life, having a great personality does not always cut it. In an organization such as a sorority, however, image should never trump substance. When the purpose of a group is to support friendship above all else, appearance should not matter. In the case of DePauw, however, the national officers stabbed the girls in the back, all for the sake of public image.</p>
<p>Sororities have long battled the problems of stereotypes and misrepresentation. Many have learned to simply ignore the negative comments of other students. At a small university like DePauw, with only 2,400 students, ignoring stereotypes can be hard to do. For lack of anything better to do in a rural community, Greek life becomes so important at small schools, like DePauw, that it can cloud students' judgment. While recruitment is important and necessary for the continuation of the sorority, it should never become more important than the bonds and closeness of the sisters within it. Kate Holloway saw it the same way, saying in the article, "I sensed the disrespect with which this was to be carried out and got fed up. I didn't have room in my life for these women to come in and tell my sisters of three years that they weren't needed." The worst part of all is that no one is taking responsibility for these horrible actions. Rather than admitting to any wrong-doing, the executive director of Delta Zeta, Cynthia Winslow Menges, claims that they did not even evict the girls, despite the fact that the girls received a letter, which the Times quotes as reading: "The membership review team has recommended you for alumna status. Chapter members receiving alumnae status should plan to relocate from the chapter house no later than Jan. 29, 2007." These girls were forced to leave their sorority, find new housing mid-year, and live with the humiliation of being deemed "socially awkward." Some of the girls have withdrawn from classes in depression and many will never view their sorority experience the same way again.</p>
<p>Sororities are supposed to enrich the college experience and provide a safe place for girls to bond and connect. Unfortunately, some sororities have forgotten that purpose. Some sororities, such as Delta Zeta at DePauw, have become caught up in the image of what a sorority girl should be. What a sorority girl should be, however, is a friend.</p>
<p>I just found this forum and I have to say that it is a godsend. My D is starting at Columbia in the fall and I'm so anxious and terrified for her. She wants to join a sorority and I want to make sure that she gets into the right one. I tried following greekchat like people suggested, but everyone on there is so vicious and seems more intent on putting people down. A friend of mine suggested I try out <a href="http://greekfriends.freeforums.org/%5B/url%5D">http://greekfriends.freeforums.org/</a>. I haven't posted on there yet, but it seems to be much like greekchat without the antagonistic posts. I like it a lot more, everyone is so friendly and welcoming.</p>
<p>Mamman,</p>
<p>I am an alumna member of a national GLO and have been on both sides of recruitment. Please remember that sorority rush is a process of mutual selection. The groups and PNMs both have to reduce their lists throughout recruitment. Encourage your daughter to go through rush with an open mind and to truly look at each group equally.</p>