Greek Life at RPI

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
1

<p>Hello all,</p>

<p>I am a freshman at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, about to finish up my first year. First, I would like to say congratulations if you have been accepted; it is not easy to get into RPI, and it provides many fantastic opportunities once you're here. I highly recommend it.</p>

<p>However, I am here also to tell you a bit about RPI that I wish I'd known. As you may have heard, "the Ratio" (The very unbalanced, roughly 3 or 4:1, guy to girl ration at Rensselaer) and the social scene here don't really encourage a strong social scene. </p>

<p>Luckily, the Greek system at RPI is and has been VERY strong. I am a Brother of Phi Kappa Theta, and it has made my experience at Rensselaer whole. Greeks are the foundation of everything that isn't academic at RPI. </p>

<p>We have had no real alcohol problems, and contribute a large amount to Rensselaer and the community.</p>

<p>The Rensselaer Administration right now is very, very "money-hungry". They will do anything for a dime, and do. Rensselaer is extremely wealthy, yet continues to pay faculty less and cut budgets right and left. </p>

<p>They are now exploiting the Greek System. Three "initiatives" are being instated, undeservedly, that will go on to destroy Greek life at Rensselaer.</p>

<p>I have created a website that is growing quite strong, <a href="http://www.SaveRPIGreeks.Com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.SaveRPIGreeks.Com&lt;/a>. As prospective students, I believe it is only fair to inform you of this situation.</p>

<p>Rensselaer is a fantastic school and, as I said, if you were accepted I recommend it. However, I also ask that you register at our website and let your voice, as prospective Rensselaer Students, be heard.</p>

<p>Thank you very much for your time, I look forward to meeting you as students at Rensselaer.</p>

<p>Best Regards,
Nicky Hajal</p>

2

<p>Nice post Nick - you made your point very eloquently and you are a tribute to RPI. I am always encouraged when I see students get orgainzed around something they feel strongly about.</p>

<p>But frankly, as a parent it would be just fine with me if they eliminated frats worldwide. One of my hesitations about RPI and many similar schools is the strong presence of frats and the fact that without joining one there might be NO social life at all. Also, I hate the excessive drinking that is condoned by frats (OK maybe not every frat, but I will not debate that point.)</p>

<p>For kids who hate the idea of frats (my son for one) this presents a difficult situation. He just hates cliques of all sorts. It started in third grade when he didn't get "invited" to join the "club." It is compounded by the fact that he attends a Jesuit high school (all boys) which, surprisingly, is very negative on frats.</p>

<p>I actually commend the RPI administration for taking a tough stance on this stuff - alcohol especially.</p>

3

<p>Weenie,</p>

<p>Of course, I understand your sentiments towards Greek life. I too had similar feelings entering RPI. I knew what most did about fraternities and when rush started, I attended events mostly for the free food.</p>

<p>Ultimately, I was proven wrong in my assumptions of Greek life. It is far more than a group of guys who drink beer together. </p>

<p>You mention that you are hesitant regarding the strong presence of fraternities. I think what you are ultimately referring to is the fact that there are 28 fraternities and 30%+ of the male student body occupying them. </p>

<p>You should not be hesitant about this. It means there are fraternities to represent the range of diversity found at RPI. If your son does go to Rensselaer, I am sure he will find that the Greek members of our community are friendly and helpful, regardless of his interest in pursuing Greek Life. He may find a group he fits in with and respects. Regardless of his initial feelings, he may choose to go Greek, as I did several months ago.</p>

<p>The goals of Greek Life at Rensselaer are to instill family-values amongst its members, to provide academic and personal support for its members, to contribute to the Rensselaer and Troy, NY communities and also to provide a rich social life for RPI. I guarentee I have left out several in this list. </p>

<p>However, that last one, the "rich social life" seems to get the most attention. And, if you don't mind, I would like to make a few comments on it. </p>

<p>First of all, many of the social events provided by Greek Life are non-alcoholic. Recently Pi Beta Phi hosted its Annual "Mr. RPI", which has been a hit since its inception. </p>

<p>This doesn't mean I close my eyes towards college students drinking, however. I think that the only way to approach this issue is honestly. This is impossible to do amongst administrators, because they have external pressures preventing them from doing so. I hope, as a parent, you are able to evaluate the situation with care and honesty.</p>

<p>When "kids" enter college, they make a transition. Although I am certainly still a kid to my parents in some regards, they also see me as an adult, which is what I have transitioned to, and what your son is in the midst of.</p>

<p>With this new transition towards adulthood and independence, it doesn't seem shocking that one would at least experience alcohol once. The forbidden fruit is finally attainable. </p>

<p>Often, students drink and find they enjoy it; they meet new people and ultimately have a positive experience. How often they choose to drink after their first experience is not all the same, but, from my experience, it does not affect other aspects of their life, just as going to a movie tends not to.</p>

<p>This is all a pretty picture so far. I recognize that there are enormous dangers associated with consumption of alcohol, when it is used in an uncontrolled, unsafe environment. This is not the environment of fraternities at Rensselaer. My fraternity, Phi Kappa Theta, as long as the other 27 fraternities and our 4 sororities have extensive sober driver policies that are heavily enforced, not by RPI, but by ourselves. We have drivers 4 nights a week from 10 until everyone of our brothers is back home safe. Additionally, when entertaining we have sober hosts, and bartenders to control the situation, and keep everyone safe. </p>

<p>In fact, I have never seen anyone seriously, or even moderately injured as a result of alcohol at my fraternity or at Rensselaer. Our only incident this year was a suicide. The truth is, Rensselaer is a very tough school academically, with little to enjoy socially as a stress reliever.</p>

<p>I fear that students will not stop drinking after this rule is instated. They have earned their stress relief as much, or in my opinion far more, than most other adults in society. What will happen when they are pushed to house parties and 3rd party vendors to consume alcohol?</p>

<p>They will be in uncontrolled environments, in the city of Troy. They will be in great danger. They will walk or drive through Troy intoxicated. Rules will not prevent this. </p>

<p>Alcohol is a volatile part of society. But it is part of society and it can be handled carefully. Greek life does this.</p>

<p>I apologize for the long response, but I fear that most have a skewed perspective on Greek Life. We are contributors to society, in countless ways.</p>

<p>I hope you, and others, will give more thought to the true ramifications of what Rensselaer proposes, and its effects on the school, Greek life, Troy and, most importantly, the safety, well-being and future of its students.</p>

<p>Thanks, again, for your time.</p>

<p>-Nicky Hajal
Phi Kappa Theta
<a href="http://www.SaveRPIGreeks.Com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.SaveRPIGreeks.Com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>I will also mention that I'm a sophmore at RPI, and currently NOT in a Greek Fraternity, and I can confirm that you can still find plenty to do if you choose not to be a part of Greek Life. Joining a frat is not for everyone, and when you get to college you should explore your options. What I like best about RPI is my ability to get a little taste of everything -- from former greek member, to being active in clubs, to intramurals, to a member of a service group, and now a part of class council. With a school of this size and flexibility, it's fun and easy to transition to a bunch of different things and get a taste of everything.</p>

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<p>I also forgot to mention that, at least for non-greeks on campus, the recent campus proposal doesn't upset most of us in that we can't drink alcohol without going "underground" anymore, or the lack of trust rpi shows for its greek system, but rather the method by which RPI implemented its proposals. For years the students and administration collaborated on their ideas for how student life should be run on campus, and compromises and student-administrator contracts were written and approved by both parties. When rpi showed the students what they were going to do (for the most part non-negotiable), the students became upset that their voices and hard work through the years were ignored and completely erased. As a result, the students responded is a pretty big way, all over campus petitions are being signed and students are wearing "Save RPI Greek Life" t-shirts</p>

<p>The big issue here is how relations between the students and rpi administration are handled, not necessarily what rpi's plans were to "help" greek life. If these concerns were brought up in a different manner (negotiable terms) the student reaction would probably have been much different. Either way, this entire situation has sparked alot of interest in campus politics everywhere on campus, and whatever apathy existed before seems to be lessened.</p>

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<p>Yay, it's PAPI! Fellow Bartoner! it's Ed, by the way :) Well, good job on the post</p>