Stereotypes are often prevalent when discussing the Greek system. A lot of times, incoming first years will be bombarded with these stereotypes and may not know how to distinguish fact from fiction. Greek women will not be of much help with this, as they are barely allowed to have any contact with first-year girls this semester. This may deter first years from joining the recruitment process come second semester. Between informal rush these past few weeks and Greek Week in November, there is a sudden onslaught of Greek paraphernalia being worn around Grounds. As first-year girls become aware of the different sorority options and the girls therein, it is important to note that just because Greek woman don't talk to first years doesn't mean we don't like them.
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With the start of the school year comes the enforcement of a "no contact policy" between Greek women and first-year girls. Many disagree with the idea of no relations between sororities and first-year girls. But it is not meant as an act of snobbery; the policy is in place to allow a fair start for all girls who decide to join recruitment. The number one rule of this policy is that there is no contact permitted off Grounds. This means that if a sorority sister sees a first-year woman off Grounds, she may only show her common courtesy in saying "Hello" and perhaps "How are you." If we allow more than this, tight bonds may be made between a first year and a Greek. This wouldn't be fair to those girls who for some reason did not achieve such a bond with a sister and then had less of a guarantee of a bid to a house.
Gifts are not allowed to be given nor received between a sorority sister and a first year. This is the least controversial rule of all. Buying a girl a gift would show favor toward that girl and could influence her decision when recruitment comes around in January. Gift giving also is not a fair practice in that some girls would be able to afford better, more expensive gifts.
Before recruitment time, no first-year girls may be allowed into sorority houses at all; not even biological sisters are exempt from this rule. This is completely understandable because it would allow the first year an enormous insight into the sorority world. She may see or hear things that would influence her decision come recruitment time, and this again would not be fair.
On Grounds, Greek women can talk to first-year girls, wear their Greek letters proudly and experience no restrictions. They are not allowed, however, for their conversation to turn to their own particular sorority. Greek women can answer questions on Greek life in general and hang out as regular friends with the girls, but they must remain on Grounds and not be specific. In telling a first year specific accounts of sorority functions and workings, a Greek woman would give a biased view of how much cooler her sorority is than others, whether she meant to do this or not. Raving about one house's specifics, when not knowing the memories of others, will leave the first year with a sense of the greatness of one sorority and the lacking of others.
It may seem like there are a lot of unnecessary precautions being taken and that Greeks are just strengthening the stereotype of the exclusivity of sororities, when really they are just trying to remain fair and receptive to all first-year girls. Without the no contact policy sororities could begin to "dirty rush" first-year women in the fall.
If the sorority girls remain neutral in their friendships with first-year girls, the recruitment process in January will be less biased. All first-year girls will be given a chance to truly form their own opinions about whether or not they want to rush and then which house would be the best for them.
It is difficult to go through the first four months of school being given the cold shoulder by the older girls at parties, restaurants or simply out at the Corner. But it is also difficult to have to be the one doing the shunning. With thousands of new students coming in every year, it is an amazing opportunity to make new friends - not to take advantage of that would be silly. Sorority women can make friends with the first years, they just can't take that friendship off Grounds for the first few months.
Even if a first year decides on her own to go through the recruitment process in January, she also should be allowed to make her own choice as to which houses she likes and which ones are not for her. Any previous contact with Greek women who have the intention of advocating their particular sorority could put misconceptions and biases into the first year's mind that should not be there until she has seen all her options.
Greek women like first years - they were all first years themselves once. They cannot wait to meet first years and be able to talk candidly about whatever they want, wherever they want. For now though, they must support their well-intentioned policy and remain at a distance, showing common courtesy. The name of the game is fairness and the outcome should not be pre-determined.
(Alex Roosenberg is a Cavalier Daily viewpoint writer. She is a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.)