FROM BEING allowed to form their own judiciary committee, to being treated leniently by police, fraternities and sororities always have received special treatment. More proof of this has come recently, as the Board has approved up to $3 million in loans for improvements to Greek houses. Although the funds are from private sources, the University should not be involved in this process at all. To serve as a bank for only fraternities and sororities who own houses is both unfair and unnecessary.
The University should not be directly involved in funding capital improvements to Greek houses. True, students live in these houses and would directly benefit from these improvements. However, if the owner of a student apartment complex on JPA approached the University for funds, he would be laughed at. Fraternity and sorority houses are no different. They are simply another housing option for students. The University argues that these improvements are needed to preserve these historic houses, but their application of this justification is inconsistent. If restaurants in the Downtown Mall needed improvements to preserve history, the University would not grant loans. The Sigma Pi Epsilon house is not the Rotunda and if it needs capital improvements, it is the fault of the owners and not the University's responsibility to provide financial assistance.
Furthermore, other organizations, such as the Glee Club, have housing for members only and would not be eligible for any loans. The University is singling out fraternities and sororities as being more "worthy" of funding. This sends the wrong message to the entire University community. The Greek life is an excellent option for some students; however, it is not the only social option available and the loan program suggests that it is a more "worthy" option. Furthermore, there is a stigma, which may not be justified, of womanizing and drunkenness that is attached to fraternity life, something the University should not endorse. The issue of whether Greek life is beneficial or harmful to the University community is a topic for another column, but the University should recognize that there is a debate, and it should not so clearly take sides.
There are many Contracted Independent Organizations on Grounds that are in need of funding. However, the University does not allow CIOs to be in any sort of debt and maintain chartered CIO status. Being simply glorified clubs and social organizations, fraternities and sororities are no different from CIOs in many ways, and should be treated accordingly. It would be ludicrous for the University to offer loans to the Chess Club to buy new pieces or the Ballroom Dancing Club to build a dance studio, and it is just as preposterous that the loans are being offered to Greek houses.
It is not the University's responsibility to make up for poor financial decisions by fraternities and sororities. Greek organizations have many other resources available to them, resources not available to many other student groups. Fraternities and sororities can solicit alumni contributions and charge astronomical prices to their members. If money is needed for improvements, fraternities and sororities should approach banks, not the University, for loans. Perhaps if fraternities did not spend all their money on beer, there would be funding available for capital improvements.
With the major budgetary problems and cutbacks that the University is facing, $3 million could go much further for more students in many other areas. Although Greek life is important to the University, there are many other more critical needs that the Board's decision ignores. Which is more important, a renovated Cabell Hall, or extra room for table dancing at Sigma Nu? Air conditioning in Rouss Hall, or more room for beer pong at Theta Chi? More computers in Cocke Hall, or a larger porch for dancing at Delta Upsilon? The University administration and the Board of Visitors has answered these questions and their answers should be unacceptable to all of us.
(Robert Lee is a second-year College student.)
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