Opinion

Where’s the party at?

Fascist policies destroying Greek system

By Marshall Dury

Posted on Oct. 06, 2003, at 12:00 a.m.

Fraternities. A word by association that beckons thoughts of rockin’ parties, intense intramurals and an all-around good atmosphere. Sadly, the time-tested institution of fraternities has been put in the metaphorical vice here at the University of Maine, and I don’t like what I see.

The fact that I’m not in a fraternity gives me the ability to reach the hearts of naysayers. With this said, I’m tired of driving down College Avenue and counting the number of fraternities that are still around. The loss of Sigma Nu and FIJI coupled with the potential loss of Phi Eta Kappa twists my college soul. It begs reminding – I have no affiliation with the Greek system what-so-ever. Personal information aside, I didn’t come to college to live in a fascist regime.

Before our very eyes, the Greek institution that has carried many males through college is being slowly crushed. But, why?

I work on no empirical evidence but I know a witch hunt when I see one. Take Sigma Nu for example. They drank one too many beers and possibly threw one too many parties. But can someone please explain to me why drinking is associated with the downfall of college students? I’m tired of foundation-less stereotypes ruling the minds of college students and administration.

Fraternities do not pass out beer at their doors and they do not rush women to their rooms. If I had a dime for every time I heard someone talk about how shady a fraternity was I wouldn’t be worried about paying for graduate school. Maybe the people who like crapping on fraternities are the ones who are shady? Maybe the administration has got to open their eyes and see what their rules are doing to the lifestyle of this campus?

If people are worried about parties and long nights, they shouldn’t have come to college. I know fraternities aren’t all about parties and drinking, but why are they being singled out from other college havens?

If local safety officials could start worrying about what students are doing then they should start raiding computers and closets. It’s likely that you’d find a lot more illegal activity in your average dorm room than you would at any fraternity. When I was under 21, I had a few beers – big deal. No fraternity or any other vehicle that people enjoy associating with chaos facilitated the drinking process. I don’t think UMaine and the surrounding police departments should be so hard on Greek organizations. If anything, they should be more lenient because more progress will be made for students and the community.

I haven’t stepped foot in a fraternity house in probably over one year. I am not a brother and will most likely never be one. In reality, I see UMaine forming the mold of what a fraternity should be, and I don’t like it. Reality: Everything we do is controlled by administration or faculty. We the students need a place that is all our own, a place that we can relax in and casually let loose. I want fraternities and sororities to be free of governing bodies who impose trite rules to tighten the grip of control. I want the long-running ideal that the Greek system purports to be left alone.

Marshall Dury is a senior English major.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 6th, 2003, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.