Syracuse University’s Greek life review is an opportunity to confront underlying issues evident in the Theta Tau videos and Zeta Beta Tau video, and in turn ensure the future success of campus fraternities and sororities. SU students, both those who wear Greek letters and those who don’t, need to start a candid conversation about Greek policies at SU.

For that conversation to happen, students must be transparent and willing to engage with one another, and campus leaders, to discuss sensitive and emotionally-charged topics.

Transparency will enable consultants conducting the review to understand the complete social climate at SU. In a system built behind closed doors, Greek life must open up to the public. Without transparency, mutually beneficial change will remain out of reach.

In a recruitment email obtained by The Daily Orange that was sent to men freshmen on campus last summer, Ryan Kenny, a former SU senior and vice president of recruitment for the Interfraternity Council said, “what you see on the news, hear about on the radio, and what you see in movies like Animal House and Neighbors is not what fraternity life is all about! It is about being a part of something and doing what you can to make a difference.”

If that’s true, Greek life has a responsibility to be transparent and prove Kenny’s statement correct during SU’s audit.

The review won’t end Greek life. Talking about the review as a threat to Greek organizations is disingenuous to the true nature of the process.

“This Greek life review is not out to get Greek life,” said Student Association Vice President Kyle Rosenblum. “It is to make sure that Greek life is functioning the way it should be on this campus.”

Other comparable schools such as Clemson University, the University of Virginia and West Virginia University have completed Greek life audits in the past. Those reviews resulted in Greek recruitment rule changes and increased staffing for Greek affairs. The changes aimed to reduce harm and preserve positive values of the Greek system.

After the Theta Tau videos were published in April, demonstrations and forums were held in ensuing days, with emotional testimony regarding diversity issues at SU. The demand for a speedy Greek life audit emerged from those discussions, among other demands. An audit was going to happen anyway, but former Student Association President and Vice President, James Franco and Angie Patti, respectively, called for an expedited schedule.

Students who have enjoyed the system may feel threatened by the prospect of change, while others who have felt threatened or excluded because of Greek life want dramatic transformations. It’s a complicated dynamic that can be addressed with open dialogue.

Ghufran Salih, SA’s president, said she wanted members of the campus community to know that those emotions are valid.

And those emotions should be expressed at forums or voiced to campus leadership. All members of the community should share their perspectives.

Ten members of various Greek organizations on campus declined to comment on this column, when asked about the review.
Let’s stop the secrecy and take this review seriously. We cannot waste this opportunity, as a student body, to ensure a bright future for the Greek system.

Patrick Linehan is a sophomore newspaper and online journalism, policy studies and economics major. His column runs biweekly. He can be contacted at pjlineha@syr.edu.

Published on September 23, 2018 at 7:54 pm