old row versus new row

Old Row versus New Row - why extinguish between the two and why is this important? The way I see it is Old Row was established on campus first, thus the need to say, “I was here first and you will follow my lead”. The thing about Old Row is there are lifelong traditions that will never be broken as there are many people who have lived the life of Old Row, and Old Row alumni will continue to support their house and traditions. They will recruit those that will fit this bill of tradition. This is a university in the State of Alabama so, of course, Alabama students are important to this tradition versus someone who has no relationship to this university whatsoever.

Old Row wants to be perceived as a “status symbol” and this is important to Old Row. Old Row usually comes from old money and the life of status. They have the need to keep up with the Joneses. To be anything other than Old Row is a disgrace. So with that mentality, Old Row is inept to put New Row beneath them.

Just look at how many sororities have been on campus for years and years and they are still considered New Row? What’s up with that? Will they ever be considered “Old Row”? No, not as long as Old Row has anything to do with it. Then you have the newer sororities that have only been on campus a few years and they are considered “bottom tier” or completely worthless. Will they every move up in the ranks? No, not as long as Old Row has anything to do with it. It is simply holding on to and valuing tradition and there is nothing wrong with that. The problem, as I see it, is keeping the tradition is more important than the people themselves. Fraternity hazing and The Machine come to mind, neither which place emphasis on the value of people as individuals.

New Row, the leftovers according to Old Row, obviously encompasses everyone else in the Greek system. Old Row doesn’t have a choice but to accept New Row as part of the Greek system because, after all, they are part of the Greek system. However, Old Row will still draw a line in the sand when the need arises for whatever reason.

When I think of New Row I think of greater freedom. They have greater diversity among their members and are more accepting of new ideas versus caught up in tradition. Thus, the differences between individuals are valued.

The University continues to increase the student body size. They continue to recruit high caliber, high performing students, some which can only be found outside of the state of Alabama. They continue to want the best and the brightest and continue to put their mark on the college map. With that comes an increased interest in the Greek system. And, if the current Greek system cannot accommodate the current numbers then it is inevitable that new organizations will arrive on campus. Some of these new organizations are very strong nationally and have the means to start a new chapter and the stamina to make sure it succeeds. They, too, are competing in the recruitment process but probably for very different reasons than Old Row.