As pledge educator for my sorority this summer preparing for my first meeting with the pledges, I realized I had quite a task in front of me: I had to explain to them exactly what it was that made not only our particular sorority special, but the Greek system at Dartmouth as well.
For on this campus the Greek system is constantly under attack. Even professors who have had little or no experience with the system are calling for its demise.
This is because they know only of the system by its problems that the administration and press are so eager to publicize.
As a sister this past year, I was asked many times how I could be a part of such a system, not only by professors but by community members as well. I am involved in women's issues on campus, and in many minds, I should not be a part of the system whose only function is to exploit women.
Now I am not going to sit here and defend the actions of some of the fraternities or deny that negative incidents do occur.
However, I am going to do something that is long overdue. I am going to point out some of the positive things that are done by Dartmouth Greek houses.
When I mention that all houses have a house charity for which they find fundraisers, or the mass numbers of Greek affiliates that participate in Tucker programs such as Big Brother/ Big Sister, people are genuinely surprised.
You see, those things are not newsworthy. It appears that only the negative things are worth reporting, so the positive acts of the houses go virtually unnoticed.
As for those who question my dedication to women's issues simply because I belong to a Greek house, I challenge them to come to a meeting of any of the sororities.
I know that they will find groups of women supporting each other in their academic, athletic, dramatic and musical ventures.
They will find places where women can discuss their thoughts and feelings in a safe environment.
So before you call for an end of the system, come and take a look at the whole picture. You just may be surprised.
