Commission forum focuses on Greek rush plan

The Commission on Strengthening the Community held its final open forum yesterday, packing a room with mostly students and alumni affiliated with the Greek system. And the Commission's proposal to move fraternity and sorority rush to sophomore year was discussed for more than half of the almost two hour forum. Commission Chairperson Gloria Chisum began the meeting by saying that Commission members are "taking all of the comments very seriously." She added that the turnout was the largest of all the open forums the Commission held. When Chisum opened the floor for comments, College junior Edward Skyler immediately brought up the Greek rush proposal. "The [Inter Fraternity Council] has decided to endorse your proposal," he said to a surprised Chisum. But, after a pause, he added that the endorsement holds only if "the following conditions be met." Skyler, who is IFC vice president of rush, said that if the Commission retained the Greek rush move, freshmen should not be allowed to participate in extra-curricular activities, sports or any other non-academic group during freshman year. "Our organization should be given the same autonomy as any other organization," he added. Chisum responded to Skyler's remarks by saying that the "residential component" distinguished the Greek system from the other campus extra-curricular groups. Black Inter-Greek Council President Wayne Wilson then spoke, saying that the Big-C was "totally overlooked" by the Commission. Wilson said that Big-C fraternities do not have a residential component and added that the Commission should treat the three components -- Big-C, IFC and the Panhellenic Council -- of the Greek system differently. Commission Director Rebecca Bushnell said the Commission "recognized that there are non-residential components to the Greek system." Panhel President and College junior Suzanne Rosenberg asked about the Commission's intent in proposing the Greek rush move. "The basis for that whole set of recommendations [regarding residences] is to provide a strengthening of the community," Chisum said. IFC President Hayden Horowitz emphasized "everything the IFC has done to strengthen the community." "We ask that you don't perpetuate the frat boy stereotype," the College junior said. "The IFC demands to be treated equally?with mutual respect." The limitation of choice was a major issue which many fraternity brothers and sorority sisters emphasized during the forum. "Doesn't moving rush to sophomore year only limit women's choices?" said College junior Liz Shain, Panhel vice president of rush. "Many people may want to rush at different times in their lives and they should have that choice." Concerns about manpower and financial constraints were also discussed. "If freshmen are not allowed to be part of the system, our chapters could potentially die," Wilson said. "The amount of manpower it takes to function and produce our programs is unreal." Rosenberg said every Greek chapter will encounter financial difficulties and be required to increase dues. She added that certain people with a lower socioeconomic status might not be able to afford the higher dues. This may lead to a "decrease in diversity" within the Greek system, she said. The residential aspect of Greek life was also discussed. Members of the system said sophomores make up the majority of those who live in the fraternity and sorority houses. Brian Rose, the Sigma Alpha Nu Alumni Association president, said juniors and seniors are more interested in off-campus housing and will be less likely to live in the houses. The rest of section D.1 of the report, which deals with "assigned housing" was then discussed. Wharton junior Nicole Maloy focused on the issue. "Minority students can't represent a whole culture for the benefit of the majority," she said. She also brought up the idea of choice in connection with the "assigned housing" issue, saying that if students are able to choose to come to the University, they should be able to choose where they want to live. "Why do you have to take something away from freshmen?" Maloy said. She suggested that the Commission recommend that the University dispense better information on options to incoming freshmen.