With any organization, there are certain believes that people on the outside will have. Sometimes these are positive and help the organization move forward towards their goals and aspirations. On the other hand, there are stereotypes that hinder progress, and is the stigma that holds the group down. When it comes to Greek Life, there are a multitude of stereotypes that people not involved have that are dangerous, and for the most part, unwarranted. The Mu would like to take some time to look at this.
Webster’s Dictionary defines a stereotype as an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation. So while this by definition is not deemed as negative, the majority of perceptions that are given when organizations are stereotyped are used in a demeaning nature. These are made by those who have never been a part of a Greek Organization because they have not spent time to get to know the Brothers and Sisters of Greek Life or have not seen the positive things that they can bring to the table.
So what are the stereotypes that are placed on Greek Life and their members? Let’s start with the stigma that has been the most common and detrimental; hazing. In the media and entertainment, most of the images associated with Greek Life have to do with paddles and general humiliation of new members. While this tag has been placed on Greek Life, the truth is this is not a way of life as most think. Hazing has been outlawed by nearly every state in the union, with jail time and heavy fines being placed on anyone caught doing this misdeed. Also, many men’s and women’s fraternities have banned the practice of hazing in their national bylaws with any member caught hazing getting expelled from the chapter.
The next stereotype is binge drinking. Most people have the image of toga parties and beer in every square inch of the room (basically anyone who has ever seen Animal House has this picture). In reality, this is not the case. Over the past several years, Greeks have put on presentation about alcohol awareness, set aside entire weeks on the subject, and have moved to dry housing and even dry chapters. With dry housing and dry chapters, Greeks have gone out of their way to show that alcohol is not the focal point of their organizations.
The final stereotype that was looked at was Greeks being plain old lazy; skipping class, not doing their homework, and spending their time playing video games all day long. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. People in Greek Organizations have shown to get higher grade point averages that independents, and shown more likely to complete their degrees. To go along with academics, Greeks donate millions of dollars a year to philanthropic organizations to help out a countless number of people.
So while these stereotypes are negative, there are ways around them. One way is show what Greeks actually do, and try to dispel these harsh generalizations. The best way to deal with these stereotypes is just to ignore them. People will believe what they want to believe, but if the Greek community shrugs them off, then they can continue to progress and make a difference in people’s lives. What Greeks need to do is just continue being strong, and then eventually, these stereotypes will fall by the wayside.
Alexander Woods ‘12
Greek Stereotypes: What They Are and How to Advance Past Them
November 21st, 2011 by The Mu of Monmouth CollegeDreaming of Homecoming
October 17th, 2011 by The Mu of Monmouth CollegeFriday October 21st will mark Monmouth College’s Homecoming weekend. This is a weekend long celebration of Monmouth’s student and faculty, both past and present. Fighting Scots from multiple generations will be on the Monmouth College campus.
As in years past, MC will be a very busy place during the weekend. Homecoming Friday will be the Spirit Shout. The Spirit Shout is where Monmouth Students will meet at April Zorn Memorial Stadium and officially start the Homecoming festivities. This will include a dance competition for student organizations, the Fighting Scots’ Football team making an appearance, and Homecoming Royalty will be crowned.
The following Saturday will be the Homecoming Parade, filled with floats, the MC Marching Band, and Cheerleaders will all be on display all over the town of Monmouth. After the parade will be the Homecoming Football Game. This year, the Scots will take on Beloit College.
The theme for Homecoming this year is “Dream Big”, with the intention to shoot for the sarts and accomplish ones dreams. With that being said, The Mu wanted to find out what people in the Greek Community dream big about:
Ross Donnan ‘12, President of Alpha Tau Omega, dreams about “bringing ATO to new heights and making it the top fraternity at Monmouth College”.
Emily Triebel ’12, President of Kappa Kappa Gamma, dreams about “making my last year at Monmouth College the best one yet. I’m looking forward to a great year”.
Brinton Vincent ’13 of Sigma Phi Epsilon dreams about “having the experience of a lifetime in Puerto Rico this spring. I will be traveling abroad to Puerto Rico, and I can’t wait”.
This Homecoming is sure to bring the old and new together at Monmouth College. The Dream is almost becoming a reality, and Homecoming will continue to be an important date in the hearts and minds of Fighting Scots from all corners.
Fathers Found
September 28th, 2011 by The Mu of Monmouth CollegeOn Thursday September 15th in the Highlander Room, Monmouth College’s newest fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, celebrated its recruitment period, and introduced the Greek system to their founding fathers. This event was dubbed by the men themselves as “An Evening with the FIJIS”.
The 18 members are the product of a yearlong effort. FIJI started off as an interest group last semester after getting the approval from Monmouth. After getting interest from males on campus, different national fraternities came and gave presentations to the interested men and the rest of campus. After hearing from the organizations, FIJI was voted out of the 6 chapters that presented.
The banquet was held to not only recognize the new members of the colony, but also show their support to the women’s fraternities on campus. Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, and Alpha Xi Delta each had large numbers from their chapters in attendance. FIJI had a contest where the chapter and individual who gave the colony the most support would receive a cash price. Pi Phi won the group contest and Courtney Jonsson ‘14 from Alpha Xi won the individual contest.
“This was a great opportunity to meet all other members of Greek Life” said Kevin Ross ‘12, President of FIJI. Ross is the first president of the Monmouth FIJI chapter. He added “we are looking forward to working with each chapter to make this year a huge success”.
After hard work from both the national and local level, FIJI has found the men that will lead the way to a future chartering. Time will tell what kind of impact FIJI will have on the Monmouth College campus in the very near future.
Alexander Woods ‘12
Monmouth College Student Gets Unique Leadership Experience
September 7th, 2011 by The Mu of Monmouth CollegeOver the summer, a Monmouth College student got a unique leadership opportunity through his fraternity’s national organization. Roy Sye ’13 was invited to the Ruck Leadership Academy hosted by the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. This is an annual leadership convention hosted in Richmond, Virginia, the founding place of SigEp.
Sye, the current chapter President, was one of 120 undergraduate members selected to attend from over 1,500 who applied for Ruck, along with alumni facilitators. “Ruck was truly a life changing experience” said Sye about the academy, adding “not only have I learned how to identify a problem within an organization, but I have also learned how to effectively make a change”. Sye is a Chemistry and Secondary Education major at Monmouth.
Ruck is one of the many programs offered by SigEp as part of their Leadership Continuum, a system which brings undergraduate brothers together from around the country to exchange leadership techniques and how to effectively run chapter operations. Other academies and conferences offered by SigEp include EDGE, the Carlson Leadership Academy, and Conclave.
This is all part of SigEp’s Balanced Man Program, and the mission statement of “Building Balanced Men”. The Balanced Man Program is a non-pledging four year member development program which encourages members to get involved in chapter operations at the beginning of the SigEp experience and stay involved through graduation.
After completing the rigorous leadership academy, Sye will be able to bring new practices and ideas to the Illinois Gamma chapter of SigEp. “This will provide a new set of standards to provide excellence” said Sye, who hopes to make the chapter not only one of the best on Monmouth College’s campus, but also in the SigEp national spectrum.
Opportunities like this are not just isolated to SigEps. Every major national fraternity, men’s and women’s, offers nation conventions to share similar experiences to Sye’s. Leadership is something that Greeks value, and hope to pass on to as many people as possible.
Alexander Woods ‘12
Great awards follow a great year in Greek Life
May 2nd, 2011 by The Mu of Monmouth College
Fraternity members celebrate success in 2010-2011 academic year. (Photo by Daniel M. Reck.)
It’s been a big year for Greek Life at Monmouth College. Thousands of dollars have been raised for charity, thousands of hours have been given in service, and hundreds of students have enjoyed academic success.
The pinnacle of each year is Greek Week, which recently concluded with the Annual Greek Life Awards. All seven Greek organizations came together, raised over $1,050 for Haiti earthquake relief, and organized a record-setting blood drive.
“Greek Week this year was a magnificent success!” says Haleigh Turner ’12, Greek Week Chair and President of Pi Beta Phi. “Every chapter came together on multiple occasions to hang out, have a great time, possibly get slimmed, and show campus that no matter our letters we are a unified Greek System.
Through Penny Wars and a Car Bash, Greeks raised $1,054.13, which will go to Lights for Haiti through Citizen Effect. The money raised will help provide solar-powered lanterns to Haitians who are still recovering from the earthquake that devastated the country two years ago.
There were many events during Greek Week, from a Bop-It tournament, Slime-Time, karaoke, trivia, a scavenger hunt, and philanthropies; perhaps one of the most memorable was the All-Greek Candle Pass.
“It really meant a lot to see brothers and sisters from different organizations linked together representing not only our unity during Greek Week but our forever support of one another as we passed a significant item from each chapter as well as sang our songs,” says Turner.
The Greek Week show allowed fraternity members to show off their values, pride, and humor as they put on four 1990s-themed acts. In addition to the shows put on by Greek organizations, the so-called Greek God and Goddess, along with their Demigod and Demigoddess counterparts, competed in talent, questions, and overall participation to win the titles.
The men of Sigma Phi Epsilon and the women of Pi Beta Phi won the Greek Show on Thursday night with their medley of references to 90s television shows and dance numbers. The men of Zeta Beta Tau, teamed up with a mix of women from each women’s fraternity dubbed The Panhellenic Alliance, won the banner contents, which was also announced at the Greek Week show.
Greek Week ended on Friday with the Annual Greek Life Awards banquet. Greeks dressed to impress and to raise awareness for autism. Alpha Xi Delta women handed out blue ribbons for World Autism Awareness Day, which coincided with the awards program. Outside, Wallace Hall’s famous copula was lit in a brilliant blue as part of the national “Light It up Blue” campaign for Autism Awareness Month. The Empire State Building in New York City, along with many other landmarks, were also awash in blue for the night.
The banquet, held in the specially-decorated cafeteria, brought together fraternity members from every organization to celebrate their successes and the success of their fellow brothers and sisters. The guest list not only included fraternity members, but faculty, advisors, deans, and President Mauri Ditzler.
The women of Alpha Xi Delta won Overall Greek Week for their fourth year running as well as many other chapter and individual awards.
“We have worked hard to better ourselves and to follow our National Fraternity motto, ‘realize your potential,’” says Kim Dwyer ’12, President of Alpha Xi Delta. “It was exciting to see all of our hard work pay off. Our chapter is more than grateful and proud of one another.”
Although each of the awards are of high honor, the most prestigious award that can be earned at Monmouth College is the award for Outstanding Chapter Operations. This year, Pi Beta Phi earned this award.
Recipients of the 2011 Greek Life Awards were:
- Academic Excellence Award – Alpha Xi Delta
- Excellence in Campus Involvement and Leadership – Phi Delta Theta
- Outstanding Chapter Program – Xi Man, Alpha Xi Delta
- Award for Excellence in Community Service and Philanthropy – Phi Delta Theta
- Outstanding Advisor – Denise Turnbull, Pi Beta Phi
- Emerging Female Leader – Lydia Butler, Alpha Xi Delta
- Emerging Male Leader – Jeff Skalon, Alpha Tau Omega
- Outstanding Greek President – Leah Statler, Pi Beta Phi
- Greek Woman of the Year – Kristen Wyse, Alpha Xi Delta
- Greek Man of the Year (Cy Reagan Award) – John Cayton, Phi Delta Theta
- The Richard “Doc” Kieft Award – Rodney Clayton, Phi Delta Theta
- Outstanding Chapter Operations – Pi Beta Phi
- Greek Week Spirit Award – Alpha Xi Delta
- Greek God and Goddess – Andrew Farraher, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Ashley May, Alpha Xi Delta
- Greek Demi-God and Demi-Goddess – Alex Mackley, Zeta Beta Tau and Courtney Jonsson, Alpha Xi Delta
- Overall Greek Week Winners – Alpha Xi Delta
“Winning the Chapter Operations Award is a true honor”, said Turner. “Leah, as President, and our executive board, worked hard to excel our chapter to one that adheres not only to a loving sisterhood but one with high standards for our sisters.” μ
Michelle Bruce ‘12
Also of Interest
The Mu turns 75 (sort of) and is going strong
April 11th, 2011 by The Mu of Monmouth CollegeWelcome to the seventy-fifth story from The Mu of Monmouth College. For nearly three years, our publication has been discussing important stories in men’s and women’s fraternity life around campus and across the nation.
The Mu started with the intention of giving Greek Life a voice that it did not have before. “Articles in The Mu give the campus an opportunity to see how we have affected the community,” says Ryan Brandt ’10, one of the founding editors-in-chief.
Starting off as a print journal in December 2008, the layout was made in Microsoft Publisher. The Mu was released in this form every month to the Monmouth College campus via email to faculty and administrators, with an online version posted for parents. The periodical would feature pictures, stories, and a layout similar to most newsletters.
While the process was effective for making a newsletter, The Mu had to evolve and change mediums to achieve its goal as a highly accessible source of information about Greek Life. The format was changed to a blog, which cut back on the time it took to publish each story, and made it easier to reach a broader audience. Starting last August, The Mu also has a Facebook page where readers are encouraged to discuss stories.
Although The Mu covers events going on around campus, the blog also takes a wider look, and tries to look into the motivation and culture of fraternal organizations. The Mu “sheds light on the deeper meaning of Greek Life,” says Brandt. “People know Greeks do philanthropies, fundraisers, fun events, etc., but what they don’t always see is the feedback.”
From its start, The Mu has also reached beyond Greek Life for perspective. The editorial staff, which is exclusively student-run, often selects articles written by professors, faculty, and even Monmouth College alumni, who discuss important connections between Greek Life and the world around us.
In his essay for The Mu, Col. Stephen Bloomer, a Monmouth College senior development officer and adviser to Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, says, “Leadership in Greek life is one of the many opportunities available to students at Monmouth College as part of our President’s strategy for informal and formal learning by students as a member of our engaged campus community.”
In 75 articles, The Mu has discussed many of those Greek Life opportunities, but there are still many more to be covered. Greek Life will continue to grow by leaps and bounds, and The Mu will be there to give the fraternity community the voice it deserves.
“I hope to see continued success with The Mu and see it continue to open the eyes of others to see Greek life’s positive impact at Monmouth as well as nationally and encourage people to take part in everything Greek Life has to offer,” says Brandt. μ
Alex Woods ‘12
Also of interest
Alpha Xis help Wallace Hall ‘Light It Up Blue’
April 1st, 2011 by The Mu of Monmouth CollegeFrom their new home on East Broadway, the women of Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity will have a great vantage point for viewing an unusual campus sight that they helped create.
On the evening of Friday, April 1, thanks to their efforts, Wallace Hall will take on a new appearance as part of “Light It Up Blue,” an international initiative to shine a light on autism as a growing public health crisis. Both the familiar cupola and the front of the building will be flooded in blue light for one night only.
More than 450 iconic landmarks – including the Empire State Building – and venues such as bridges, sports arenas, museums and restaurants in more than 120 U.S. cities and 30 countries will also Light It Up Blue this weekend to raise awareness for autism and to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day.
The Alpha Xi Delta national fraternity entered into a partnership with Autism Speaks in 2009. As the largest autism advocacy and research organization in the world, Autism Speaks is dedicated to funding research into the causes and prevention of autism; finding treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Bob Wright, vice chairman of General Electric, founded the organization in 2005 along with his wife, Suzanne. The Wrights are the grandparents of a child with autism.
A complex brain disorder that inhibits a person’s ability to communicate and develop social relationships, autism is often accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 150 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The prevalence of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown. μ
Barry McNamara, Director of the News Bureau
This article appeared in The Pipeline for the week of April 2-8, 2011.
Also of interest
$1,650 raised for autism research in Xi Man competition
March 24th, 2011 by The Mu of Monmouth CollegeKyle Vancil ’12, representing Phi Delta Theta, was crowned Xi Man 2011, impressing judges and the audience alike with a chemistry-comedy talent, SCUBA sportswear, an impressive formalwear round, and raising over $500. “I felt like I was helping a great cause, while having a blast with the other contestants,” said Vancil.
Men like Vancil came from across the Monmouth College campus to support Autism Speaks in Alpha Xi Delta’s male pageant philanthropy, Xi Man, on Feb 25.
Alpha Xi collected $1,650.13 to benefit the charity, which is Alpha Xi’s national philanthropy partner and all of the money raised from Xi Man went to the organization. 1,650.13oooo Autism Speaks works to increase awareness of autism and is an advocate for the needs of those suffering from autism and their families. Autism refers to several disorders which interfere with the mental development of children, causing lifelong disability.
Fundraising began two weeks before the event with a table outside of the cafeteria. Some participants and their coaches visited residence halls to ask students for money. The Xi Man competitor who raised the most money won the full 50 points for their fundraising score, making up half of their overall score.
Participants in Xi Man competed in five categories: Group dance, talent, sportswear, formalwear, and a quiz about Alpha Xi. The men were also asked two questions during the formalwear round, one serious and one not-so-serious.
“It is so important to our chapter to not only raise money for Autism Speaks but to educate the campus about the severity of autism,” said Annie Soto ’12, Philanthropy Chair of Alpha Xi Delta. “Xi Man is a great way to accomplish both.”
Autism Speaks funds research to find preventions, causes, treatments for autism, and works to support the search for a cure for the disorder, which affects an estimated 1.5 million individuals in the United States.
Alpha Xi Delta not only raised money for Autism Speaks, but brought together men from all over campus. Represented in Xi Man 2011 were Zeta Beta Tau, Alpha Tau Omega, Phi Delta Theta, ASAP, Scotsmen, WMCR, SOUP, and Football.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of the pageant and I only hope everyone who attended and participated enjoyed it as much as I did,” said Soto. μ
Michelle Bruce ‘12
Also of Interest:
- Autism Speaks website
Alpha Xis show off first milestone in Greek Life Initiative
March 28th, 2011 by The Mu of Monmouth CollegeLast year, President Mauri Ditzler announced the Greek Life Initiative, and the project has reached its first major milestone with the opening of the new model Greek Life home. On March 20, the Alpha Xi Delta fraternity held an open house to showcase the first of many new fraternity houses that will eventually be built on the Monmouth College campus.
The event was as classy as the house itself, with punch and cookies served for current students, trustees and alumni. The women of Alpha Xi Delta presented themselves and the house with a very sophisticated ambiance that went well with the nice weather and good company.
Upon entering the house, it is hard to miss the large living room with high ceilings and tall doors that are reminiscent of a Victorian style mansion.
“My favorite thing about the house is the study nooks and the kitchen appliances,” says Karolina Korzec ’13 of Alpha Xi Delta. “The house will promote our image and give incentive to become a part of Greek life.”
The upstairs is equally impressive with long, wide hallways, big windows, and a quad room set up in each living area.
“I love it,” says Stephanie Steele ’11, also of Alpha Xi Delta. “The house is so big and open that it’s a great place to collect your thoughts.”
“Overall [this] will be a good way for Monmouth College and the Greek community to show their true colors and individuality through philanthropy and build a better relationship between the Greek community and the College,” says Steele. μ
Ethan Platt’12
Also of Interest
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