Greek Life

When Alma College President Saundra Tracy challenged the campus community last September to commit to a Year of Action in response to the needs of those affected by Hurricane Katrina, among the first groups to step up to the plate were the Greeks.

Alma’s fraternities and sororities raised more than $1,600 for hurricane relief during Greek Week. They sponsored a dunk tank, t-shirt sales, date auction, and bottle and canned food drives. They pledged to continue to raise money for hurricane relief as the Greeks’ primary on-going philanthropic effort for 2005-06.

Their commitment and fund-raising efforts demonstrate what is good about fraternities and sororities.

Yet, on many of the nation’s university and college campuses, negative attitudes and perceptions persist regarding Greek life. College administrators wonder if Greek organizations are relevant in 21st century society. Others declare that an “Animal House” mentality, lack of adequate leadership, and, in extreme cases, fiscal irresponsibility are leading to the demise of fraternities and sororities.

Defenders, however, are critical of perceived efforts to reduce or shut down Greek organizations. They point to the community service, philanthropic, leadership development and social engagement efforts of fraternities and sororities as critical components of college life.

The debate hasn’t escaped Alma College.

While Alma is still home to five fraternities and five sororities, membership has steadily declined over the years – from a recent high of 378 students in the fall of 2001 to 294 this year. Students and alumni worry that Greek organizations are on the decline on campus, or don’t receive the appropriate administrative support.

Is Greek life at risk at Alma?

No, says Grant Woodman, director of campus life, an Alma College alumnus and former fraternity member. Woodman, charged with overseeing and strengthening Greek life at Alma, sees a gradual revitalization of the fraternities and sororities on campus. It may not happen overnight, but new initiatives are now in place to strengthen the Greeks.

“Because of national trends, it most likely will never be at the level it was during the late 1980s and early 1990s, but if we can keep our chapter membership levels consistent, I believe we can have a prosperous Greek system,” says Woodman. “The level of enthusiasm for events that the Greeks have put on this year is promising.”

The positives of Greek membership potentially outnumber the negatives, says Nick Piccolo, vice president for student life.

“Greek organizations meet the need of belonging to a support group,” says Piccolo. “Fraternities and sororities can bring leadership to other campus organizations. They can promote commitment and service. They can be social outlets in terms of having a friend to talk to and a place to go. This four-year marriage between a student and his/her fraternity or sorority produces lifelong relationships that are an enduring force long after students graduate.”

Yet, fewer students are choosing to join.

“There are a number of factors why membership numbers are down, including financial,” says Piccolo. “Costs are driven up because of liability and insurance. Fewer men are going to college. Too many fraternities struggle with relevance, and negative perceptions turn some away.

“In my mind, the key is establishing a clarity of purpose. If you look at any organization, if it doesn’t have a clarity of purpose, it will flounder and not succeed,” he says.

The College is committed to the success of Greek organizations, says President Tracy.

“Alma College’s Greek community has been an important part of campus life for decades,” says Tracy. “Many alumni report that their fraternity or sorority membership was a very significant part of their Alma experience. A positive Greek experience promotes leadership development, academic achievement, community service and lasting friendships.

“We are committed to ensuring that the support and structures necessary for our Greek organizations to succeed and thrive are in place,” she says.

Woodman and Piccolo have taken the lead to provide oversight and support for the Greeks at Alma. Their first step was to make a list of assumptions in which to base future initiatives:

• Greek life is one of the necessary and vital social outlets for the students of Alma College.

• Professional networking is a valuable by-product of being a member of a Greek organization.

• Greek organizations are where certain students can find their niche on campus.

• Many Greek members are leaders in the campus community as well as their organization.

• The surrounding community benefits greatly from philanthropies sponsored by Greek organizations.

“Greek life is a vital part of the social atmosphere of Alma College,” says Woodman. “A Greek system that is healthy and promotes positive group and individual values will help the College enhance its public relations with potential students as well as help its current students maintain a positive social and academic atmosphere.”

Woodman’s next initiative was a leadership conference for the president and executive council members of each fraternity and sorority. The day-long workshop took place in September.

“The purpose of the workshop was to increase communication, establish goals and a set of core values, provide leadership training, develop measurable recruitment plans, and build trust among the student leaders,” says Woodman.

“The workshop went well; we received positive responses to the evaluations that were sent to the participants after the workshop. They want to see the workshop as an annual event,” he says.

Workshop topics included how to create an organizational mission, networking with College and community members, managing a budget, maintaining a fraternity or sorority house, and how to effectively recruit members.

Woodman is pursuing other Greek-building initiatives, such as boosting the quality and consistency of Greek advisors, actively promoting the positive activities of fraternities and sororities, encouraging Greeks to fill leadership positions in organizations outside their fraternities and sororities, and establishing zero-tolerance policies for negative behaviors.

In addition, the InterFraternity Council is working with the College to plan and implement a winter recruitment night that would coincide with the selection of new members. This event would include, but not be limited to, a formal banquet, motivational speakers, and would take the place of the event formerly known as Run-Outs.

Student leaders say they are encouraged by the revitalization efforts.

“In the past, there has been conflict between fraternities, but now the presidents of the fraternities are meeting weekly,” says Nick Dunckle, Lansing senior and president of Sigma Chi. “As a Greek community, we are coming together more than in the past.”

The main goal of Sigma Chi is “to harbor and develop leaders,” says Dunckle. “We encourage members to be involved in campus organizations and hold offices in those organizations.”

Dansville senior Meghan Rector never intended to join a sorority when she first came to Alma.

“Initially, I came to know a lot of women in sororities through the marching band and other organizations,” says Rector, president of the Pan-Hellenic Council and a member of Phi Sigma Sigma. “I signed up for recruitment in my freshman year just to see what it was like. I never thought I would actually join a sorority, but it seemed like the right thing to do.

“I’ve never regretted it,” she says. “I’ve gained incredible experience working with diverse individuals and organizations, gaining leadership skills and attending national conferences. As a whole, Greek grade point averages are higher than the rest of the student body. We have made a choice to make scholarship our primary focus.”

While they admit there will be ups and downs, College administrators believe the groundwork is in place to revitalize a Greek system that has a strong legacy among Alma alumni.

“I have seen a more positive attitude among the groups and a willingness to work with College administrators to further their chapters’ goals as well as the goals of the Greek system,” says Woodman. “There still are negative perceptions, but the members of all the groups are working to overcome those perceptions. They understand that this will not be an overnight change but a process that will outlast their time at Alma.

“The fraternities and sororities understand that the College can’t make everything better, that only the Greeks as a group are able to do that,” he says.

— Mike Silverthorn

A Truman Scholarship finalist and Center for Responsible Leadership Fellow, Drew has traveled to South Africa and China studying the HIV/AIDS crisis. The Bay City native intends to use his French minor and POE in International Health to improve AIDS care in Africa, hopefully as a physician with a global public health organization.