Making GL More Diverse and Accessible
by: Real
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.
Commentby: HAHAJul 7, 2020 6:13:58 PM
Lmao seriously? You’ve had years to reform and you wouldn’t have wanted to reform it unless there was this push for abolition.
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by: @hahaJul 8, 2020 11:36:51 AM
This ignores the teams of people that have been actively working to make greek life inclusive for years, and the chapters that have been doing their best to be open and inclusive this whole time without anyone noticing
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#2 by: Y’all on something
The “positive” side of Greek life is nothing but thinly veiled philanthropy hiding a culture of elitism. Greek life was created to discriminate and make college easier for rich white kids who can afford to pay thousands of dollars for “friends” and a test bank.
by: NopeJul 7, 2020 4:59:44 PM
They are not thinly veiled. Many efforts for philanthropies end up generating a huge amount of funds the charities receive annually and these charities count on these funds; and work that goes into creating the events to raise these funds do require hard work, whether you “think“ it or not
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by: normal kidJul 7, 2020 9:20:01 PM
but that's completely unreasonable for the time being. it is perfectly reasonable to demand financial aid for greek life locally before a NATIONAL system says "heck yea let's absolutely just drop dues! donations only!"
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by: GLJul 7, 2020 9:46:44 PM
No, it's ridiculous to ask Vanderbilt and the rest of the student body to cover thousands of dollars for GL. For other orgs you max out at $500 through EV and GL shouldn't be treated specially. Especially when frats will continue to be hostile environments for LGBT people, people with disabilities, and much more
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by: EqalityJul 7, 2020 10:51:23 PM
It’s ridiculous to ask students to cover millions of dollars of scholarships to Vanderbilt, and institution that is inherently hostile toward those with less intellectual capability
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#4 by: publius
I have a lot to say about the future prospect of greek life at vanderbilt and in general. However, let's focus on the issue here. The best chance is to squeeze on the national's end, given that many of them are poorly managed. First, I see little reason for Vanderbilt as a university to subsidize greek life. When recruiters from national's come to campus and attempt to establish a colony/chapter, Vanderbilt should enter into a negotiation with them that they need to provide certain amount of need-based and merit-based scholarship as well as detailed plans on how to create an effective and inclusive organization. It's a very bad look for them to see greek life retreating from prestigious universities.
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by: RealJul 7, 2020 2:13:47 PM
I think it’s understandable (but flawed) to paint anything as irredeemable if you only see its bad sides. It’s up to the members of the community to showcase why it’s worth keeping and push for a positive vision of Greek life. There’s a lot to do.
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