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Poster Name:
Real

<strong>Subject:</strong><br />Making GL More Diverse and Accessible<br /><br /> Poster Message:
I think it’s pretty easy to kind of instinctively shut down when you get criticism - either deserved or undeserved, but there is definitely a real issue with Greek Life being inaccessible, either because of hard OR soft constraints, to a large portion of the Vanderbilt community that ends up putting an unnecessary target on our back. There’s definitely some chapters that are explicitly problematic and take pride in being “Southern” and “White”, and frankly suck and need to go, but I don’t think that’s the real experience for most chapters. For me personally I think joining a fraternity has been enormously fulfilling and provided me a group I can confide in and trust in what is a tumultuous (though largely positive) time in most peoples’ lives, and it’s definitely helped me prepare for the real world job-wise in a way I just wouldn’t have done on my own. At the same time, the inability of the great experience I’ve had to be a universal experience for all students is something that can and should change. One thing that’s struck me is that I’ve rushed a good number of cool POC dudes who have gotten along great with our house but end up not joining for two major reasons - one it’s financially difficult for them (this is just a sad part of reality in America), and two they don’t think they’d be comfortable in a house that has few minority members, even if they found the guys open-minded and welcoming. I think these are pretty big humps but can and should be tackled. Frankly, I think we should push the school to provide Greek life subsidies as part of financial aid. It’s an important part of student life and a reason that Vanderbilt is different than boring schools like Hopkins or Rice (and you’re dreaming if you don’t think the administration is aware of that), and the school is unnecessarily doing a disservice to students who can’t participate. Two, I think houses should sign up to offer social memberships to NPHC frats. I think there are IFC houses that would be a great fit to take this on, and it would open the door to a more diverse membership in a reasonably short amount of time. Curious others’ takes.