Greek Life: A Sexist System?
BY SHERIDAN HURTIG AND CONOR MCENTEE
COM 360
Greek life at Bradley University is a prominent part of campus life. One third of the student population at Bradley involves themselves with Greek organizations, however even though numbers seem high, they are declining fast.
Sorority members are starting to realize they aren’t being recognized. Between the Panhellenic Council and the Interfraternity Council, the women feel like they’re not being heard.
“The campus comes first and greek organizations are always in the wrong.” Lexi Klimek, a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and a Junior Economics major said.
As a sorority member, Klimek has noticed that both the Panhellenic Council and the Interfraternity Council are not listening to the opinions and ideas of greek life members outside of the councils.
“Throughout my greek experience I have not had any contact with anyone on the board unless they were in my chapter,” Klimek said. “Also, I do not believe that they take in consideration chapters needs and do not ask us for our opinions. They come up with ideas and then with little explanation, our chapters are required to vote on new bylaws.”
Klimek has not been the only student to notice the loss of acknowledgement towards the women involved in greek life.
“Panhel and sororities do not get the same amount of support and attention as the Interfraternity Council (IFC),” Caitlyn Blatner, a senior Sigma Kappa and member of the Panhellenic Council said.
Agreeing with Blatner, Alyson Mckie, a senior Sigma Kappa and member of the Panhellenic Council, sees the stark difference as well.
“IFC also receives more advice from professionals to help them get through obstacles. Panhel can sometimes feel overshadowed by that attention or assistance. Panhel can also feel as if we aren’t as important as IFC,” Mckie said.
Differences don’t just fall under the councils, but within sorority life itself. Sexism is and has been prevalent when it comes to sororities, more specifically during recruitment time.
Recruitment has always been a time where women are expected to put their best foot forward and even possibly be somebody they aren’t. Every day of recruitment, each woman is rated after they complete a round at the sorority houses. They are rated on first impressions, membership potential, and conversation.
“Women are forced to embrace the stereotypes that society has given them over time. Women are required to wear makeup, force themselves into outfits that may not fit their body type, and sometimes even speak differently than they normally do,” Klimek said.
Until recruitment is over, sorority members are also told not to interact with fraternity members, for it could sway potential new members opinions to who spends time with the better fraternity.
“The board is saying girls care more about boys than finding the organization they’re most comfortable with because obviously women only care about men,” Klimek said.
Greek life can be seen as a positive organization for many reasons, but like any organization, it comes with baggage.
Attached below is a slideshow and document containing the story of how problems in the Panhellenic Council and sorority life is viewed from the lens of the members of both organizations. #bucom360