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:
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Thursday, October 25, 2007
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.”
Monday, October 1, 2007
As Towson grows, how can Greek life help?
Nearly 20,000 students are enrolled this fall semester at Towson University. As the student population continues to expand, the administration is looking to make our student life more appealing and beneficial to students.
Greek life is a major part of student involvement and campus life. Seven percent of students are members of Greek organizations, and these students participate in many campus events and daily campus routines. Keeping students involved on campus creates a greater sense of community, says Christian Miele, the Coordinator of Greek Life at Towson. Many Towson students move off-campus after their freshman or sophomore year, and lose touch with campus events.
“Even though I don’t live on campus anymore, I feel like I am always around,” says Jamie Zdyrski, a Greek student in her senior year. “I eat in the union everyday. I come to campus on the weekends for philanthropy events, and I stay after class on the weekdays to help do things for my sorority or go to meeting.”
In anticipation for the growth, Towson has a 2010 plan to enhance the expansion process. This recent article in the Towerlight talks about the multiple action items to help the Univeristy grow.
Greek life is a major part of student involvement and campus life. Seven percent of students are members of Greek organizations, and these students participate in many campus events and daily campus routines. Keeping students involved on campus creates a greater sense of community, says Christian Miele, the Coordinator of Greek Life at Towson. Many Towson students move off-campus after their freshman or sophomore year, and lose touch with campus events.
“Even though I don’t live on campus anymore, I feel like I am always around,” says Jamie Zdyrski, a Greek student in her senior year. “I eat in the union everyday. I come to campus on the weekends for philanthropy events, and I stay after class on the weekdays to help do things for my sorority or go to meeting.”
In anticipation for the growth, Towson has a 2010 plan to enhance the expansion process. This recent article in the Towerlight talks about the multiple action items to help the Univeristy grow.
Bad events during fall rush provokes more talk about Greek housing
Even bad events in the Greek system trigger the discussion of Greek housing at Towson University.
The issue of Greek housing popped-up again at last week’s Panhellenic meeting when the council and the member sororities discussed the violations that occurred during fall rush this year. Many sororities in the Panhellenic system allegedly violated rush rules at the annual “Running of the Bulls” event that occurred two weekends ago. This is a largely anticipated event that celebrates the end of sorority rush and the sororities welcome the new girls who will begin pledging their sorority. Inappropriate alcohol use was a common violation at this year’s event, and all the sororities are under investigation by the University and National Panhellenic Association.
At the meeting, the council discussed possible consequences for these violations. The University administration and Panhellenic system suggested possible consequences like social probation and restriction from University-wide competitions like Homecoming and Pep Rallies. Many sorority delegates input their ideas at the meeting, and then sorority presidents and rush counselors were interviewed by university administration and answered questionnaires during the week that followed. Many Greek members referenced the issue of Greek housing during these discussions.
“At bigger schools like Maryland, the Greeks are already really involved in campus events because they live there,” says Brittany Sullivan, 4-year sorority member. “So if they were prohibited from participating in campus events, it wouldn’t really hurt campus involvement too much. But at Towson, Greeks are a large part of campus-wide events. If the university bans sororities from participating in campus events, it wouldn’t be good for the sororities or the university.”
One sorority president, who wishes to remain anonymous, wrote on her questionnaire, “Since we do not have houses, we already work hard to keep morale and involvement high. Prohibiting Greeks from participating in campus events will greatly decrease both.”
And so the discussion continues.
The issue of Greek housing popped-up again at last week’s Panhellenic meeting when the council and the member sororities discussed the violations that occurred during fall rush this year. Many sororities in the Panhellenic system allegedly violated rush rules at the annual “Running of the Bulls” event that occurred two weekends ago. This is a largely anticipated event that celebrates the end of sorority rush and the sororities welcome the new girls who will begin pledging their sorority. Inappropriate alcohol use was a common violation at this year’s event, and all the sororities are under investigation by the University and National Panhellenic Association.
At the meeting, the council discussed possible consequences for these violations. The University administration and Panhellenic system suggested possible consequences like social probation and restriction from University-wide competitions like Homecoming and Pep Rallies. Many sorority delegates input their ideas at the meeting, and then sorority presidents and rush counselors were interviewed by university administration and answered questionnaires during the week that followed. Many Greek members referenced the issue of Greek housing during these discussions.
“At bigger schools like Maryland, the Greeks are already really involved in campus events because they live there,” says Brittany Sullivan, 4-year sorority member. “So if they were prohibited from participating in campus events, it wouldn’t really hurt campus involvement too much. But at Towson, Greeks are a large part of campus-wide events. If the university bans sororities from participating in campus events, it wouldn’t be good for the sororities or the university.”
One sorority president, who wishes to remain anonymous, wrote on her questionnaire, “Since we do not have houses, we already work hard to keep morale and involvement high. Prohibiting Greeks from participating in campus events will greatly decrease both.”
And so the discussion continues.
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