The holidays are a time for family and giving. Many collegiate Greek organizations recognize this and plan philanthropic activities in their communities during the holiday season. Greek students from Youngstown State University are participating in a campus-wide “Giving Tree” event to donate to families in the communities surrounding their campus.
Towson University Greeks are doing the same in Baltimore City. Members from three different sororities and fraternities are coming together this Tuesday night in the University Union to volunteer in the annual Holiday for the Kids event. Elementary age children from inner city schools will arrive in busses to open presents from their holiday wish lists. Several small teams of Greek members received a wish list in October from one child, and they raised money to purchase and wrap gifts for that child. In the past, children have wished for clothes, Barbie dolls, bicycles, hamsters, and play stations.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Towson sororities in the Baltimore community
About seventy-five college girls will be bundled up early this Sunday morning in downtown Baltimore for the annual Jingle Bell Run/Walk for the National Arthritis Foundation. Members of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority from Towson University participate in this event every December to help support their national philanthropy. Over 33 states sponsor Jingle Bell Run/Walk events in multiple cities around the country, and Alpha Omicron Pi members from local collegiate and alumni chapter are some of the largest contributors in these events. Race participants look forward to wearing jingle bells on their shoelaces and seeing Santa Clause run in the race too. The Baltimore race course travels through the inner harbor and Historic Little Italy. Other Maryland locations for the Jingle Bell Run include Solomons, Glen Burnie, Fredrick, and Ellicott City.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Listen to what Towson sororities say about the University’s increased role in Greek life…
Many sororities at Towson University notice that the administration has more presence in the issues and events of Greek life. Some girls think it will help Greek life because they will have more financial and authoritative support to change and improve.
Other girls think this increased role will create frustrating and unnecessary limits on their current activity. They see extra legal guidelines and amplified supervision as detrimental. In this podcast, sorority members point out the changes they have seen over the past few years, and what changes they predict will happen. Events that were usually organized and conducted only by Greek members and Greek advisors are now influenced by the administration. At sorority philanthropy events or recruitment parties, administrators like the Director of Student Activities and the Director of Judicial Affairs attend and participate. Listen more to their thoughts on this issue.
Other girls think this increased role will create frustrating and unnecessary limits on their current activity. They see extra legal guidelines and amplified supervision as detrimental. In this podcast, sorority members point out the changes they have seen over the past few years, and what changes they predict will happen. Events that were usually organized and conducted only by Greek members and Greek advisors are now influenced by the administration. At sorority philanthropy events or recruitment parties, administrators like the Director of Student Activities and the Director of Judicial Affairs attend and participate. Listen more to their thoughts on this issue.
Listen to what the University Administration says about its increased role in Greek life…
The Towson University Administration recognizes that Greek life is a large component of its student life, and this year it is taking a more proactive role in supporting and promoting it. In this podcast, Christian Miele, Greek Life coordinator at Towson University, talks more about why the University decided to take a larger role in Greek life issues, and what strategies they plan to use.
Miele is a Towson graduate himself, so he has seen the progression of the administration’s role in Greek life at Towson. He recognizes that the support was not as strong when he was an undergraduate six years ago. Improvements and additions to Greek life, like housing, were not considerable. Now Miele participates in the decision-making process with the administration. In this podcast, Miele says they notice a great need for more space for student activities. If the student population continues to increase at its current rate, the University Union will not be able to house all current student activities. Listen to more about the University’s role in Greek life.
Miele is a Towson graduate himself, so he has seen the progression of the administration’s role in Greek life at Towson. He recognizes that the support was not as strong when he was an undergraduate six years ago. Improvements and additions to Greek life, like housing, were not considerable. Now Miele participates in the decision-making process with the administration. In this podcast, Miele says they notice a great need for more space for student activities. If the student population continues to increase at its current rate, the University Union will not be able to house all current student activities. Listen to more about the University’s role in Greek life.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
LISTEN to two different views........
The Towson University Administration is taking a larger role in the issues of Greek life, including the steps in establishing a Greek housing system. Listen to two different views on this increased support:
Listen here
Listen here
Monday, October 15, 2007
President of Towson Sorority talks about Greek Housing
“Having a house wouldn’t make being in a sorority better, but it would make things a lot different,” says Jenna Scafura, president of the Towson chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She has been a member of her sorority since her freshman year, and Greek life is a major part of her life.
Jenna says many of the issues she faces as a sorority leader would be simpler if they lived in a house. “Things would be easier, like organizing events and calling emergency meetings,” Jenna says. Issues like poor attendance and sisterhood events would be improved by living together. Jenna says that living in a house would enable her to have office hours to complete sorority tasks and also make her more available to fellow members.
“Many of my friends at other colleges say, ‘Oh you’re in a sorority? What’s your house like?’” Jenna says. She feels that living in a house is part of the sorority experience. She feels that girls would be closer.
There are also many downfalls of having a house, which Towson sororities do not have to worry about. Jenna says that girls would be more catty if they lived together. Girls would be around each other more often and not do homework and argue. Living in a house would also be a greater liability for the sorority. “At Elon, the A-O-Pi girls were put on probation because someone left an empty beer can in their house,” Jenna says.
Jenna is now a senior, and her presidential term ends in December. She is happy about her experience in a sorority, but she says that Greek housing at Towson would definitely be an improvement.
Jenna says many of the issues she faces as a sorority leader would be simpler if they lived in a house. “Things would be easier, like organizing events and calling emergency meetings,” Jenna says. Issues like poor attendance and sisterhood events would be improved by living together. Jenna says that living in a house would enable her to have office hours to complete sorority tasks and also make her more available to fellow members.
“Many of my friends at other colleges say, ‘Oh you’re in a sorority? What’s your house like?’” Jenna says. She feels that living in a house is part of the sorority experience. She feels that girls would be closer.
There are also many downfalls of having a house, which Towson sororities do not have to worry about. Jenna says that girls would be more catty if they lived together. Girls would be around each other more often and not do homework and argue. Living in a house would also be a greater liability for the sorority. “At Elon, the A-O-Pi girls were put on probation because someone left an empty beer can in their house,” Jenna says.
Jenna is now a senior, and her presidential term ends in December. She is happy about her experience in a sorority, but she says that Greek housing at Towson would definitely be an improvement.
In the News - Greek life is shown having positive and negative affects on Universities
Many people agree that college is more than a classroom experience. It is a life experience. For countless young people, college is their first opportunity to make their own decisions, do their own laundry, make mistakes, be creative, and learn how to live on their own.
Greek life is one way colleges and universities blend classroom experiences with student life. This is apparent in the news about Greeks.
When I search the news about Greek life at college campuses, I always see a connection drawn between the university’s objectives and the affect of Greek life. Some articles highlight the negative affects on campus like drinking and hazing. Others point out the benefits like the increased school spirit, relationship-building opportunities, leadership experience, and philanthropy.
In one New York Times article published July 29, 2007, reporter Nicholas Confessore points out that Greek life, especially Greek houses, improve the overall student experience at Union College in Schenectady, NY. He says that Greek houses, “are a foundation on which Union students -- who typically live and dine off campus -- can build a life outside the classroom. They can watch football games or invite professors over for tea, cook dinner with friends or throw a party. The houses are also a physical symbol of Union's ultimate goal: creating a campus where it is harder to tell where the classroom ends and the rest of college begins.”
But the negative affects of Greek life on campus life are highlighted in another series of New York Times articles about the death of a fraternity pledge this year at Rider Univeristy in Lawrenceville, N.J. This case is one of the first in the country where university officials are being held criminally responsible for alcohol abuse by its students. The dean and the director of campus Greek life are facing charges. If they are convicted, they could be sentenced to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. The Mercer County prosecutor was quoted in an August 4 article saying, “If it doesn't send a message, then colleges and universities are asking for trouble in the future.”
Greek life is one way colleges and universities blend classroom experiences with student life. This is apparent in the news about Greeks.
When I search the news about Greek life at college campuses, I always see a connection drawn between the university’s objectives and the affect of Greek life. Some articles highlight the negative affects on campus like drinking and hazing. Others point out the benefits like the increased school spirit, relationship-building opportunities, leadership experience, and philanthropy.
In one New York Times article published July 29, 2007, reporter Nicholas Confessore points out that Greek life, especially Greek houses, improve the overall student experience at Union College in Schenectady, NY. He says that Greek houses, “are a foundation on which Union students -- who typically live and dine off campus -- can build a life outside the classroom. They can watch football games or invite professors over for tea, cook dinner with friends or throw a party. The houses are also a physical symbol of Union's ultimate goal: creating a campus where it is harder to tell where the classroom ends and the rest of college begins.”
But the negative affects of Greek life on campus life are highlighted in another series of New York Times articles about the death of a fraternity pledge this year at Rider Univeristy in Lawrenceville, N.J. This case is one of the first in the country where university officials are being held criminally responsible for alcohol abuse by its students. The dean and the director of campus Greek life are facing charges. If they are convicted, they could be sentenced to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. The Mercer County prosecutor was quoted in an August 4 article saying, “If it doesn't send a message, then colleges and universities are asking for trouble in the future.”
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