Rider University - Shadow Yearbook (Lawrenceville, NJ)

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An interview with Jerry Wall and Debbie Fangikas Ask a Greek about pledging and he will probably come up with a story of horror equal only to the story of the Christians being thrown to the lions. That is the way it used to be. Jerry Wall, lnterfraternity Council presi- dent and Debbie Fangikas, Panhellenic Council presi- dent, see that tradition being broken down. That was the image that frats had in the late fifties and to some degree in the sixties. It is sort of out of date now and the Greek organizations at Fiider have done something to improve the situation. For instance, we have virtually eliminated the physi- cal hazing that used to be so much a part of the frater- nity life. Also, we have broken the image that a frater- nity is an ultra-exclusive club for the elite on campus. We want only to be sure that those who enter the house will contribute something to its growth Jerry pointed out. Greek Uprising Debbie tended to agree. We in the sororities feel that a lot of worthwhile people were turned off by the physical aspects of the pledging. We want it open to as many people as possible. Even academically the sororities and fraternities have reached out to get people. They have recently lowered the grade point average that one needs to pledge. Be- fore it was a 2.00 but now it is 1.75 for the sisters and about the same for the fraternities, although they didn't set an exact figure. According to Jerry, there were many and varied reasons for the move. We felt that many good potential pledges only had averages of 1.8 or 1.9. With pledging becoming less physical and time-consuming, they can participate with lower average and still have time to study. Another justification for the move was expressed by H 1' 4, I ' F f n I ' I . 1, A H ffl 511.14 1.31, 1 ir' ' - ? anti ' 41d'11',,.1AAd 1 i P1191--.. if 58

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with Religion present it in any manner it chose. Rider chose to present its paper in terms of a script with a film to ac- company it. This was not as easy as it may sound. The actual work on this project began last year when some market- ing students made a pilot film. From there, it has been work, work, work! Members of the team had to attend two religious serv- ices each Sunday, whether or not the services were of their faith. By doing so, the students hoped to get a bet- ter understanding of religion as a whole. As one man on the team put it, We want to show why it is declining and hopefully offer some solutions for its future. The seven members of the team-John Feldmann, Joe Walters, Mick Cassidy, George Peralta, Sam DeA- ngelis, Mike Tobia, and Ron Kennedy-presented a rough copy of their script to Mr. Eugene Kelley, their advisor, at the beginning of December. After one of his usual comments, What is all this twaddle? things be- gan to move along at a rapid pace. Actual filming began the middle of January, with some students at work seven days a week. After filming had been completed, the film had to be edited and a taped narration added to accompany the scenes. Seeing the finished product, one student commented, It was really worth all the time and energy we put into it. And he was right. For the movie, entitled, Thoughts on the Marketing of Contemporary Christianity, causes a person, regardless of age, to really stop and think. The last six minutes of film have no narration what- soever, which tends to make the viewer add what narra- tion he thinks should fit. By so doing, the viewer be- comes a part of the film in his own small way. And aren't we all somehow a part of religion, even if only in a small way? SQ F. .3-anime '---. -hh t -'mush :UV A 57

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Strikes Campus Debbie, We feel we have a lot to offer a person and to just cut them off at a 'C' average doesn't seem fair. Possibly we could help the girl who has the lower average. Sort of a sorority service project aimed at a prospective sister. And service is another aspect of the Greek life at Fli- der and other institutions that is gradually gaining ac- ceptance. lnstead of the fraternities and sororities turn- ing to help themselves grow, there is a very strong move to help others. To show the college community and the surrounding areas that the old image of the Greeks is changing and changing for the better. Zeta Beta Tau took the lead in this new aspect with its drive for the American Cancer Society. Everyone heard of the Jack Cryan fund. That is, of course, asso- ciated with Zeta Beta Tau, They have also expanded it to the American Cancer Society's Send A Mouse To College campaign, which collects money for research. But Zeta Beta Tau is not the only Greek organization that has or will dive into the new idea. All the houses are turning to it as a substitute for the pledging end of it. The new pledges coming in will be part of a service project that the house is sponsoring, Jerry said. They will be judged by the brothers on how well they perform in the project and how well they work with the group. This is all part of the new fraternity image The sororities will be the same, according to Deb- bie, but she points out that as early as a year ago one of the sorority houses turned to this method of service. lt definitely helps the house and it begins to wipe away some of the stigma that the community college and outside environment had of us. We are out to help 59 lvl xl W 11 wljl '.., lfl,.!1 S in A R 'fins ' W 11 A ir fZ n5?.fff?'Z3l- F - .ff , if , f' ,. , if 3 u lj, -lljl' l'i,'iN' WlXt'Z'P' I, I9 -...muvl 'ff lkxxwlt ,sf 1 W if l lit j 4 ' ll' I I xx: KK .Wt f , VI. .- X ng- gl -7 j X. , ff Z ., L ,jj .l X f' f' 'WF A l ' -ff: xt F ijwllilv X - ' 'Q 'Q Hx lxixlxsgl W 1' I f. '1.fg il: 1 ly A ,ll ' gx X j 'V+ ll ll!! I XY, 'gn' V 'I' X X 1 'Qin 1 K ,X X Allin ' T ,U gifs ll ,gp jf , l N1 ' is- V, - -f , vi , Wir Q f 59 lf