Rochester Institute of Technology - Techmila / Ramikin Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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sure do know how to party, is often heard on campus. Besides their superior ability to organize a party, the Greeks know how to enjoy one, too. Although just as much planning may go into an independent event, somehow, they just don't match the style of most Greek events. The relaxed, homey' atmosphere of each 'house' and the knowledge that each brother truly looks on all the others as family' creates a relaxed atmosphere where everyone has the confidence to enjoy himself. The Greeks feel that they improve campus life by sharing these parties with the other students, But in criticism of the Greek parties, some independents claim this relaxed atmosphere exists only because the brothers are so much alike, and that little cultural and social diversity can be tolerated in a frat. Unfortunately, the Greeks are also accused of dropp- ing their sense of responsibility off on the way out the door of the 'house.’ While Greeks always police their own parties effectively, some Greeks are suspected of exceptional rowdiness at independent events. Take care of our own' is the suspected attitude, justified or not. In spite of all this controversy, what would happen if fraternities and sororities were banned from the RIT campus? The experience of the state university system of New York is a fair indication of what might happen. Recently, the trustees of the New York University system ended a twenty- three year ban on national fraternities and sororities because of student pressure. According to one student at the University of Stony Brook, 'There were not enough organizations on campus to get people together to socialize. A lot of people just stayed in their rooms and kept to themselves. ' Certainly, SA and RHA would have to do a lot more than they do now to take up the slack in social and cultural programming. Besides, the lack of loyalty to either of these two student organizations would make it very dif- ficult to match the efficiency and ex- cellent planning of Greek-sponsored events. Although the Greeks may have a few secrets of their own, it is no secret that the RIT community would be the loser if the Greeks were ever banned from the campus — besides, who would everybody complain about? -RUSS HARRIS 31 HOL2EMER

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'You have girls over to have a good time, but if they lived here, it would destroy the whole atmosphere, the Greeks explain. Because sexism' has become another catch phrase in our vocabulary, the frats are bound to seem suspect when insisting on a single-sex environment. Because the Greeks still believe in commitment to the group, and a single-sex environment, they are often accused of living in the fifties. They are seen as living Greaser Madness three hundred and sixty-five days a year, But one Greek defended the frats saying. Some people on the outside think we still go around eating goldfish and seeing how many people we can stuff in a Volkswagen, Well, it's just not true; we have changed with the times like everybody else, But how have the Greeks changed? Does smoking a little marijuana be- tween sips of beer constitute a real change? The Greeks insist that there have been many basic, structural changes. Mainly, physical pledging has been done away with, and dis- criminatory practices have been out- lawed, the Greeks maintain Are the Greeks really so very dif- ferent from other organizations on campus? They insist they are not, and quickly point out that many people on campus Have formed exclusive clubhouses.' These ’clubhouses' are usually formed by people living near each other in the dorms, and have many of the earmarks of a fraternity. Secret initiation rites and the like are typical of these groups. But a brother of Theta Xi, who lived in a clubhouse for a year pointed out that It’s hard to develop any real sense of unity in a clubhouse because you know that it will all be over at the end of the year and everybody will go their own way. But we Greeks have our own house and sponsor our own events, so we are easy targets for other people's frustra- tion. As an example of this targeting, several Greeks mentioned an article in Reporter Magazine which accused them of making a power play' to take over the student senate. Ironically, many pointed out, as recently as two years ago, they were being accused of apathy because they took no part in campus affairs. No doubt, part of the reason the Greeks are so controversial is jealousy. One thing is for sure, those Greeks 30 H0L2EMER

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