GUEST COLUMN: "Far from 'Animal House'

Josh Gottheimer says the University's Greek system has plans for a healthy future presence. As the leaders of the University's fraternity system look toward the 21st century, we have begun taking steps to strengthen our infrastructure and refocus ourselves on our founding principles. As the University looks to implementing its own agenda for excellence, one of increased academics and service, the Greek system has also committed itself to a plan that will guarantee its vibrancy and prominence on campus in the future. We have chosen innovation over stagnation , unification over factionalization. With respect to the rumors about the "extinction" of Greek life here, we fraternity members would argue the opposite. In the face of the move from fall to spring rush, our critics predicted that our numbers would plummet. But as our history has proven, Greeks have the ability to evaluate their circumstances and adapt effectively. In fact, our number of new members went up this year, not down. The twenty-nine IFC chapters extended a total of 518 and over 384 rushees accepted bids, 12 more than the previous year. This increase represents the largest number of acceptances in five years. In addition, there are a number of successful recolonizations progressing on campus, bringing more members into the system, including Psi Upsilon and Pi Kappa Alpha. In the academic realm, the IFC's grade point average for sophomores, juniors and seniors increased from 3.088 in last spring to 3.143 this past fall, while the University's overall male GPA increased from 3.10 to 3.12. Not only did the IFC's GPA surpass the University's overall male average, but it increased at a much faster rate. These statistics are representative of both the fraternity system's continual dedication to academic excellence and its growing commitment to academic life at the University. The leaders of the University's Greek system have already taken definitive steps these last few months on the path toward innovation. All men who received bids in 1996 must abide by a comprehensive 10-point membership education plan implemented by the presidents of the IFC chapters. The plan includes educational workshops, mandatory study hours, required community service hours and measures to improve academic achievement. These steps to ensure well-rounded and responsible members are hardly reflective of an ignorant and dying system. All policy aside, the IFC will never forget its role as a provider of social life and opportunities on campus. We are taking steps to preserve the existing traditions, which have lasted for more than 150 years, as well as to create many others. We also feel that it is necessary to dispel the rumors surrounding the recent increased enforcement of the Bring Your Own Beer policy. In order to exist, all fraternities must purchase liability insurance to protect themselves against unfortunate accidents during parties or other events. The Greek Alumni Council, the organization that represents our system's interests to the University and national organizations, implemented BYOB because it was the only way to ensure the continuation of our vibrant social life while simultaneously keeping all chapters adequately insured. This information directly dispels the rumor that the University is responsible for the current alcohol provisions. It is not. The national insurance companies and the current litigious nature of our society rightly deserve the blame. The University continues to support Greek life and recognizes the importance fraternities play in maintaining the delicate balance between an academic and a social atmosphere. In the coming months, the Greek system will be launching a historic effort that promises to gain acclaim on both the University and national levels. The "Twenty-first Century Plan for an Ivy League Greek System" will be on the forefront of Greek planning. Its cornerstones are rich in the traditions of all of our national organizations -- stressing not only our fundamental mentoring system, but also our commitment to academics, service, sensitivity, security and social endeavors. The community will be impressed not only by the sheer magnitude of the report's futuristic thinking and its pursuit of meticulous detail, but also by the efficient and thorough manner by which its ideas will be implemented. The Greek system on this campus is not on the brink of extinction. On the contrary, we are on the verge of one of the strongest eras in our history -- one of growth, commitment and excellence. As we approach the next century, we will be unrelenting in our desire for the betterment of our members and community. Our success is imminent.

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