The Coed Fraternity Sorority Council came out against some key provisions in the steering committee report last night, including allowing only non-student bartenders to serve alcohol at parties and allowing only seniors to live in Greek houses, and once again sought long-term assurance that a modified system will continue to exist at the College.
But the long-awaited CFSC response -- released at a dinner at Alpha Xi Delta sorority last night attended by many senior College administrators and campus leaders -- was supportive of many of the steering committee proposals, even some affecting the Greek system.
"I am impressed they looked at the campus as a whole," Dean of the College James Larimore said of the report, which also deals with a number of campus issues including residential life, alcohol policy and social space in addition to the Greek system.
Greek changes
The CFSC called for a rolling-back of some of the stringent regulations called for in the Recommendation Four of the steering committee report.
Asserting that the proposed changes to Greek physical plants will require a high level of effort and investment, the CFSC asked for an "explicit guarantee" that houses that meet the new standards will continue to exist.
The CFSC also recommended that only members be allowed to live in a Greek house and advocated the maintenance of sophomore summer housing. They argued this provided members with a unique bonding experience and also provided the house with financial funds for the maintenance of the physical plant.
Although supporting the steering committee recommendation for minimum GPA and disciplinary requirements for residency in Greek houses, the CFSC response recommends that sophomore officers, juniors and seniors be allowed to live in their houses.
The CFSC felt rush should continue in sophomore fall and while it wants to eliminate "hazing," the organization feels "pledge" period is a constructive educational experience which should continue.
The organization has also called for a re-evaluation of the number of Greek organizations in order to create additional coed and sorority houses.
While the CFSC supported the steering committee recommendation calling for the establishment of new physical standards, it advocated the maintenance of basements as social space.
The CFSC also argued that the renovations will need substantial financial resources and has asked the College to make a substantial financial commitment to help the organizations meet the standards.
The CFSC also called for greater administrative assistance and an expansion of the Office of Greek Life.
Alcohol policy
The CFSC argued that alcohol education should be the most important part of any new policy, calling for a mandatory freshman orientation program and the extension of the Drug and Alcohol Peer Advisor program.
However, the CFSC disagreed with the steering committee that bartenders should be non-students. The organization feels bartenders should be College-trained students, who would be individually responsible for their actions.
The CFSC also called for the creation of additional venues to serve alcohol and a campus-wide review of registration procedures for alcohol events.
The organization supported the unlimited and continuous Safety and Security access to all Greek houses and called for the establishment of new penalties for alcohol violations.
Residential Life
The CFSC recommended preserving student choice in housing and argued that requiring students to live in the same residential cluster for three years goes against student choice.
The CFSC recommended that students be given the choice of returning to the same cluster -- and hence student continuity in living -- but not requiring them to do so.
The CFSC called for the implementation of a mandatory "first-year orientation" class that would educate the newcomers about campus issues like alcohol, drug-abuse, sexual abuse and diversity.
The CFSC also called for greater residential improvements like better lighting and a shuttle across campus.
Social Space
The CFSC urged the administration to create a substitute for Webster Hall -- a large, open-floored space available for student activities.
Asserting that Collis Center is insufficient for student social needs, the Greek organization called for the creation of a new student center.
The CFSC also recommended the creation of a centralized reservations office to make bookings for social gatherings easier, enrichment of the intramural program, enhancement of the social spaces in cluster buildings and better use of Dartmouth's outdoor spaces.
Values and Visions
The CFSC delineated six values of the College: the value of community; learning; gender relations; importance of home belonging and ownership; diversity and student choice.
The CFSC report argues that if their recommendations are implemented, Dartmouth will be much different than we know today, but still maintain its uniqueness and widespread appeal.
The CFSC reports says, "by making these choices and taking responsibility from them, Dartmouth students will become the type of active and productive citizens the College was founded to produce."
