Washington State University - Chinook Yearbook (Pullman, WA)

Page 32 text:

‘I think the Greek system promotes leadership, not elitism. Yes, I have some very wealthy sorority sisters but I’m not rich. You don’t have to be rich to go Greek.’ - Julie Riggs Pull harder! Members of CiUinnia Phi beta tug it our during homceomeing as their sorority sisters cheer them on. Greeks are known for their en¬ thusiastic participation in many campus events. Gary Foster photo Cramped quarters are one of the few drawbacks of living in a house or re¬ sidence hall. One mem¬ ber of Segma Phi Epsilon camps out on the window ledge to watch the world go bv. Mike Anderson photo 28 Fraternity Debate On the Prowt 1I9IPIIII1IIII

Page 31 text:

“Alcohol and drugs were a part of - my life before and after I got here. Though if the access to drugs weren ' t so great, I probably wouldn’t have gone through some of the crap I went though to quit.’ Theme parties can be effective in detracting party-goers attention away from just alcohol consumption. Mike Anderson photo If alcoholism has no cure, then how is it possible to ab¬ stain from drinking for the rest of one ' s life? One day at a time, say the recovering WSU students. ' I don ' t drink one day at a time, Judy said. It ' s im¬ possible to think a week or a year ahead. Each morning I ask for strength to just stay sober for just that day. Tom says staying sober is something he doesn ' t worry about over a long-term pro¬ cess. I live my life minute by minute, day by day, he said. Living life sober is hard work at times but in the long run I ' m much happier. I wouldn ' t trade anything for what I have now. In a strange kind of way, Judy says she feels fortunate being an alcoholic. I ' ve learned to appreciate things more after I went through that misery, she said. If they ever invented a pill to enable me to drink socially again — I wouldn ' t take it. I enjoy being sober. □ Lisa Roegner Contributing Writer Tipping the keg is usually a signal which translates into m-o-r-e at campus social events. Mike Anderson photo Staying Sober 27

Page 33 text:

Is going greek all its cracked up to be? I t could be said that the nation ' s fraternity sys¬ tem is experiencing good times. Today, fraternity membership on the nation ' s college campuses has reached an all-time high of more than a quarter mil¬ lion. Last year alone, they raised nearly $7 million for various philanthropies. Then what could be wrong? While fraternity popularity is up, so are complaints that accuse the system as being one that focuses too much on tradition, one which encour¬ ages elitism and prods mem¬ bers to become sexist and ra¬ cist individuals. On the surface, the con¬ troversy appears to be the age-old Greeks vs. dormies vs. GDIs. Julie Riggs, a mem¬ ber of Kappa Kappa Gamma sor ority at WSU, said I think the Greek system promotes leadership, not elitism. Peo¬ ple often seemed suprised to find out that I ' m a Kappa. There is this myth about our house that if you ' re father isn ' t a doctor or a lawyer you won ' t get in. Yes, I have some very wealthy sorority sisters but I ' m not rich. You don ' t have to be rich to go Greek. My parents make less than $30,000 a year. ASWSU President Dave Pridemore, a member of De¬ lta Sigma Phi fraternity and former Interfraternity Coun¬ cil President agrees. I drive a beat up ' 57 Chevy truck not a new Trans Am, he says. I frequently find that our greatest critics are those peo¬ ple not involved in the sys¬ tem. They have never even gone through rush, yet they don ' t hesitate to point fin¬ gers. While Pridemore admits there are some things I would like to see changed in our Greek sys¬ tem. He is also quick to point out the flaws of the Residence Hall Association. An unbiased opinion seems difficult. Administra¬ tors at Dartmouth, Hamilton, Brown and Stanford are under pressure from a num¬ ber of campus groups who are insisting that reforms be made to the system. Mean¬ while two private New Eng¬ land colleges, Amhurst and Colby, found another solu¬ tion to problems caused by fraternities there — they abo- lished the Greek system altogether. In the sixties, many Greek systems were shelved. The University of California- Berkeley dropped its system because the majority of the student population felt it was sexist and elitist. Berkeley ' s Greek system is back again, but on shakey ground once more after several strong years. Stanford only recently allowed sororities on campus after a twenty-year ban that came about as a direct result of hazing. After delving into exten¬ sive research on the subject and visiting college campuses across the nation, Andrew Merton, director of the jour¬ nalism program at the Uni¬ versity of New Hampshire who has written for Esquire , the Nezv York Times and the Boston Globe, compiled and re¬ cently submitted his findings in Ms. magazine ' s September 1984 special edition on men. Merton, who said he con¬ siders himself to be a civil libertarian, has taken an ac¬ tive voice in defending the rights of women, which, he accuses, fraternities abuse. Taking his case against the fraternity system to a wider and more diverse audience, Merton appeared in Septem¬ ber on the Phil Donahue Show to discuss his outlook on fraternity life today. Merton accuses the fraternity system of en¬ couraging young, vulnerable undergraduate males to de¬ velop opinions and values unbeneficial to a progressive society. (continued) Many communities be¬ nefit from Greek philan¬ thropic activities. This year, members of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity raked leaves and cleaned yards throughout Pull¬ man. Mike Anderson photo Fraternity Debate 29 On Sfo Prowt