Zack Jenio
In a recent column, NC State’s Greek organizations were put under scrutiny and analyzed for their “misogynistic” policies. However, the author’s attempt to connect these policies to the effects of harassment and sexual assault within the Greek Life community are incredibly incorrect, based on objectively false information and jumps to outrageous conclusions.
To begin, the author and interviewee incorrectly defined the phrase “dirty rushing,” which actually refers to when sorority members contact potential new members (PNMs) before formal rush. This is to prevent unfair advantages and ensure all sororities have an equal chance to recruit. Yet the author doesn’t elaborate on how looking at PNMs’ Instagram accounts is misogynistic. Sororities, fraternities and even friend groups look at social media accounts to pre-judge someone, and if anything, that technique is not misogynistic, but simply shallow.
Next, and probably the main point the author tries to make in order to connect “misogynistic” policies to the oppression of these women, is how sororities do not throw parties in their houses in order to maintain a “classy” image. This is radically incorrect. Arguably, the largest reason why sororities do not host events at their houses is to lower insurance costs that active members must pay. Because of this practice, sorority members usually only pay $25-50 while fraternity members can pay upwards of $180 or more. There is no misogyny: These are financially pragmatic decisions.
Not to mention, portraying fraternities as aggressors that exploit their position of power on campus as “the party throwers” is firmly based on stereotypes portrayed by the media and films such as Animal House.
Many fraternities also have the rules for a “dry house,” including Sigma Phi Epsilon and Beta Theta Pi, both with charters at NC State. Fifteen of the 19 active Interfraternity Council chapters are members of the North American Interfraternity Conference, where as of Sept. 1, 2019, no illegal drugs or controlled substances may be possessed or used on chapter/organizational premises, along with nine other new guidelines directed toward alcohol and event regulation. These new guidelines and regulations all relate to insurance reasons and the safeguarding of members; these are not oppressive in any way, shape or form towards “college culture.”
As well, the author has clearly confused the idea of chapter houses and satellite houses. Satellite houses are not officially affiliated with the Greek organizations, but simply have members of the fraternity or sorority that live there. These locations are the more “typical” locations for larger parties and are not officially registered with the Greek organization through the university. These parties are very limited because of the increased risks associated with fraternity and sorority planned events, where there are risk monitors that help with safeguarding.
Moreover, sororities are not denied partying, which is a “major component of college culture,” according to the author. Sororities across the nation and at NC State hold various events, such as date functions and mixers, that begin and end at the chapter house while the event is held at a venue setting. Sorority members have the ability to attend events with their entire chapters and feel safe in the environment because they are the majority. If a sister did not feel comfortable going to a “fraternity party,” she would still have plenty of events with her chapter because of their organized events and would never have to attend fraternity parties in order to party.
It is important to recognize that the author’s statistics regarding rape and sexual assault in the Greek Life community are relevant; however, her correlation that sororities not throwing parties leads to higher cases is entirely illogical and not based on absolutely any data. Sororities already have their events (often partnered with fraternities), have equal say in the event planning and often plan their own. The “win-win situation” already exists.
The author ended by stating that “if a few outdated rules could be modified […] they would be able to drastically transform the Greek community’s current misogynistic reputation.” Yet it is clear through her lack of research that this “solution” is redundant, as the National Panhellenic Conference and Interfraternity Council have already begun to replace outdated laws, i.e. those allowing substances on chapter/organizational premises, and focus on safety while still maintaining the fun environment. There is not, nor has there ever been, a correlation between Greek Life policies and misogyny.