Greek LifeOpinions

Rush comes up short

editorial cartoon by Stephanie Lesniak
editorial cartoon by Stephanie Lesniak

There are few events on campus that students can count on year after year. There are always those few special things that no one can take away from the student body. No matter what the budget looks like, there are some events that students actually become excited about and want to participate in Greek rush is one of those things. But what happens when rush is held and no one decides to bite on the Greeks’ lines?

Rush is an event that occurs every semester. Greeks encourage men and women to join Greek life on campus. Fraternities and sororities have activities to give the prospective members a chance to see what Greek life is like. Fraternities have a more casual process, as they organize activities that focus on fun and game playing.

Unfortunately students are choosing to participate in large numbers. Greek organizations have much to offer students. Some people need to take advantage of the opportunity to explore their options.

Initially, posters are hung from every avenue of the campus urging people to “Think Greek,” and flyers informing prospective rushees to attend events throughout rush week. Next comes the creative display of t-shirts that are worn by every Greek member. T-shirts saying such interesting remarks as “Join the Best” or “We are a Step Above the Rest.”

Sign-up tables are located next to the Rock and are set up throughout the week. Everyone meeting the right prerequisites are encouraged to join, but this year, the only thing that seemed to be missing from the Greek pilgrimage of rush was the prospective rushees. It was almost an all time low for the Greek system when only 22 women initially signed up.

On the first night of rush, only 12 of the 22 women attended Open House. Why was it that the once sparkling Greek community could not dazzle the audience?

Greeks only hold approximately 100 students out of the undergraduate population of about 1,000, although it seems like they deal with a huge aspect of the undergraduate life. So for the 900 students who are not involved, what is holding them back? There have been many downfalls for the once prestigious Greeks at ULV.

There have been plenty of ill feelings toward this community of “brothers and sisters” as hard times fell last spring when Delta Sigma Phi was kicked out of the Inter-Fraternity/Sorority Council (IFSC) and then no longer looked upon as a recognized organization on campus after the Greek Review Board’s decision.

Many isolated incidents occurred before Delta Sigma Phi’s dismissal that may have tarnished the Greek name. Spray painting on the Rock, vandalism, name calling and constant rivalry between the different organizations were ever present throughout Greek Week and even carried over throughout the year.

Part of the problem could also be a lack of trust with Greeks, as negative events involving them have been discovered.

In the summer, Sigma Alpha Epsilon president Jose Barba was convicted of embezzling money from the Associated Student Federation (ASF) Forum, where he held the treasury position. This was not the first time he was put under scrutiny.

SAE members, including Barba, were arrested before when a pledge from Delta Sigma Phi was kidnapped as a pledge prank. Throughout La Verne history, Greeks have come in and out of the history books and so have the bad and good things they have done on this campus involving fraternities and sororities.

It may not be right to judge all Greeks organizations on a few incidents, but regardless, a negative image of Greeks has sparked from previous years. It is time for them to change their image by improving their public relations.

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Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Campus Times Editorial Board.

Stephanie Lesniak
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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor

I am a graduate of the University of La Verne and have been an adjunct faculty here for 23 years. My brother and daughter both are graduates of ULV and the school has long held, as the school song says, “a dear favored spot in our hearts.” With this in mind, I am writing to bring to light what I feel is a serious issue at the University.