The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 30, 1994- 3
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IFC Myths on
the lfe of
SD Greek
ATQ students
Myth:
Sorority girls are just a bunch of
dumb blondes.
Fact:
The average cumulative GPA of a
Panhellenic sorority member is 3.171,
higher than the average University
student's. Most houses have study
T rooms with computers and hold study
tables. Many houses give incentives
and awards to academic achievers,
including ceremonies. Some houses,
including Alpha Gamma Delta and
Chi Omega, have exam files.
AKE Many houses have minimum grade
point averages, set by the houses'
national organizations, which are ex-
pected of pledges.
"I think everyone at Michigan
takes academics seriously, but espe-
cially in a sorority you learn to man-
age your time," said Erin Flansburg, a
vice president of AlphaChi Omega.
"It's a support system."
A Myth:
Fraternity and sorority members
just party and socialize together.
]~Q Fact:
Every sorority has one or more
philanthropies to which they contrib-
ute time, energy and often money.
Many fraternities also donate their
time to charitable causes.
Zeta Tau Alpha holds the Mr.
Greek Week contest every year dur-
ing Greek Week, and donates more
than $1,000 to the Susan G. Komen
OAT Breast Cancer Foundation. Other
houses contribute in creative ways,
including reading to the blind. Kappa
4 A Kappa Gamma sorority helps out with
many activities, including tutoring, at
a local elementary school.
Myth:
Sorority and fraternity members
are solely involved in their houses;
4KT few are involved in other campus
groups.
Fact:
Many campus groups, including
the Michigan Student Assembly, Uni-
versity of Michigan Engineering
Council and Mortar Board, are led by
lIKA members of sororities and fraterni-
ties. Some varsity athletes, including
football players, are also Greek. Fra-
I[K0 ternity and sorority members also
belong to groups including the Uni-
versity Activities Center, Women's
' °. Glee Club and Musket
Greek life is more than m
"What is this thing called the Greek system?" some
unknowing first-year students may ask.
It is spending all-nighters studying with sisters. It is
four-ways with other houses and Greek Week. It is
rushing in the fall and partying through the winter. It's
all those houses with the funny symbols on them.
But the 37 fraternities on campus are very different
from the 19 sororities, and every house is different.
The Interfraternity Council (IFC) is organized quite
differently from the Panhellenic Association.
Fraternities hold open rush in both the fall and
winter semesters, during which they serve free food.
Panhel organizes a structured rush, in which rush-
ees attend four sets of parties, and whose fate is decided
by in part by a computer program. This year, Panhel has
installed a quota system that attempts to place each
rushee who goes through third sets 'in a house. "Every
year, we have people who slip through the cracks," said
Julie Stacey, president of Panhel.
Fall rush for IFC and Panhel is, now in the final
stages.
"The competitive nature of men - that's what
makes rush different (for men and women). The women
are more structured, the men have survival of the fittest,
in a positive way," said Terry Landes, IFC adviser.
But the recent hazing incident at Sigma Phi Epsilon
indicates differently. After a rushee was taken to the
hospital in an alcohol-related incident, the fraternity
was banned from holding fall rush. A recent hazing
statute became effective last week in an effort to thwart
further incidents.
But alcohol is still a big problem in the fraternity
system. "It needs improvement," Landes said. "The
only improvement that's going to come is from the
students, though."
Members of sororities drink too, but they do not
host the same parties that fraternities do. However,
many houses host formals and other outings at bars.
ieets the eye
Sororities also have a more structured system for
membership. Most houses have "point systems," which
determine room selection and parking, and are based on
participation in chapter, Greek Week and campus events.
The system also rewards outstanding academic conduct,
and varies by house.
The Black Greek Association (BGA), a separate
Greek board, includes four fraternities and four sorori-
ties, and has many different customs. Although many
members live together, there are no official houses.
Their offices are located in the Michigan Union. and
they also claim the Union on many Friday and Saturday
nights for parties.
However, many African Americans choose to join
IFC and Panhel chapters, and BGA is also open to all
students. There is also a Latino fraternity, and the Latina
sorority, Sigma Lambda Phi, is a member of Panhel.
Stacey also said that Panhel and IFC are considering
a formal relationship with the University.
Panhel
AEO~
A TA
Rushees meet the sisters of Alpha Epislon Phi outside the house at the corner of Hill and Chur
Fraternities defendants in law
While fraternities have worked
hard to polish their public image,
they haven't been able to shake two
demons associated with the Greek
system: alcohol abuse and sexism.
One case pending in the courts
implicates six members of Alpha Tau
Omega in an ongoing pattern of sexual
harassment against a female em-
ployee. Another case stemmed from
a "beer slide" in which a student
.4
T M
suffered spinal injuries after careen-
ing across a floor slicked with beer.
Jennifer Boyce Beaudette filed
suit last month against Alpha Tau
Omega, accusing members of the
fraternity with sexually harassing her
while she worked in the cafeteria.
Beaudette was hired in Septem-
ber 1990 as a food service director
for the fraternity, according to her
suit. Beginning in November 1993.
she was subjected to sexual harass-
ment by members of the fraternity.
she alleges in the lawsuit filed in
Washtenaw County Circuit Court.
Beaudette said she reported the
incidents to Alpha Tau Omega's
president, Brent Weirsma. But
Weirsma did nothing to stop the ha-
rassment, she charged.
Weirsma declined to comment
on Beaudette's allegations.
"The harassment continued over
a period of several months and in-
cluded unwanted obscene remarks'
gestures and the drawing of a penis
on a cake that plaintiff had baked, all
of which created a hostile and offen-
sive environment for the plaintiff."
Beaudette charged in her lawsuit.
Beaudette was dismissed from
her job April 30, 1994.
The fraternity has not responded
to Beaudette's lawsuit.
when a friend inv
the Sigma Chi
State Street.
After he was
eral hours, part:
onto the linoleum
mattress against1
testified in cour
supposed to glide
until they came
mattress - a "b
Beer slides a
Sigma Chi parti
fraternity membe
did not sanction
After watchit
do the slide arc
decided to give i
to his sworn test
tempt fell short -
halfway to the
said.
Then Engel t
crashing headfir
and fracturing hi
pitalized for thre
two vertebrae.
Engel brough
ternity, alleging1
to warn him of th
slide. He admitt
was "intoxicated
Lawyers for
that the f ntpiti
A2,fraternities
work to keep
goodrelations
In three years, fraternities and sororities have
gone from being the bad kids on the block to
respected neighbors. Gone are the days of barely
hidden tension between fraternities and sororities
and the neighborhoods and businesses.
What accounts forthis 180-degree attitude change?
The magic bullet that has defused conflict between
the Greek system and community members is the
three-year-old alcohol policy, Greek system officials
and community members agree. The policy, which
more clearly outlined the Greek system's rules on
alcohol use, has put a lid on a Pandora's Box of
problems that once plagued relations between frater-
nities and sororities and their neighbors.
In addition to quieting noisy parties that pes-
tered neighbors and prompted complaints to police,
the policy has alleviated traffic problems, reduced
littering, and eased complaints about large crowds.
CHRIS WOLF/Daily "It has a lot to do with our alcohol policy," said
ch streets Terry Landes, fraternity coordinator of the Alumni
Interfraternity Council. "We've got some work to do,
but at least the lines of communication are open."
u iThree years ago, relations were frayed by a
S~ l 15 confrontation between the Oxbridge Neighborhood
Association - which represents many homeowners
near fraternity and sorority houses - and the Greeks
'ited him to a party at themselves. The residents exerted pressure on the
fraternity on South city to crack down on the fraternities and sororities,
pitting town against gown in a war of silence.
at the party for sev- The confrontation manifested itself in the struggle
ygoers poured beer over the Rock, a large stone at the corner of Hill and
floor and propped a Washtenaw streets. Members of the Greek system,
the wall, Engel later among other students, frequently paint the stone.
rt. Partygoers were They also keep residents awake at night and
along the beer slick pollute nearby soil with paint from the rock ritual,
to rest against the said residents who pressed for the Rock's removal.
eer slide." Members of the Interfraternity Council were among
re commonplace at the most vocal advocates for the Rock.
es, Engel said, but The two sides worked out a compromise late last
rs testified that they year that allowed the Rock to stay - with some new
the Jan. 27 slide. rules. While the compromise has largely held, sev-
ng other partygoers eral fraternity and sorority members were ordered
)und 2 a.m., Engel earlier this fall to fix a barrel and sign they had
t a whirl, according damaged near the Rock.
timony. His first at- Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon said that de-
- he made it about spite such incidents, sororities and fraternities are
mattress, witnesses assuming a more productive role in the community.
"People are just accepting more responsibility
ried again, this time for themselves," said Sheldon, a sorority alum from
st into the mattress Eastern Michigan University. "I haven't heard any
s neck. He was hos- complaints from neighbors this fall."
e months, and broke Now the same Oxbridge Neighborhood Asso-
ciation that fought the Greek system has invited
t suit against the fra- Greek houses to join the group.
that members failed The Greek system also has cooperated with Ann
e dangers of the beer Arbor police in the community-oriented policing pro-
ed in court that he gram, which gives fraternities and sororities more
" before sliding. responsibility to police themselves at social functions.
Sigma Chi argued Despite the initiative for self-policing, Ann Ar-
y could not be held bor cops often get involved in cases with fraterni-
individuals' actions ties and sororities. The city police department cur-
case was dismissed rently has three warrants against fraternities for
serving alcohol to minors.
tradition since 1845
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DOUGLASKAPITERJarraily Mat e raernll
DOUGLAS KANTER/Daily responsible for
Delta Sigma Phi's house has seen better times. It is currently uninhabited Burton Engel was a 20-year-old in the house. The
T- - although they still retain their charter. University student on Jan. 27, 1989, in June 1993.
Sorority, fraternity houses are campus
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