Greek life makes a comeback

By ELIZABETH LEFFALL

From Pandora’s box to Socrates, from Plato to fraternities, these are things that make you think Greek. What’s happening on the greek-side of living here at Fresno State?

Emerging from troubling headlines in 2002 and 2003, and with phrases such as rape allegations, suspension, low academia and alcohol abuse lingering nearby, Fresno State’s Greek system is slowly rising from the deep.

Despite an embarrassing mishap in October with the “kidnapping” allegations surrounding a bet-gone bad incident involving Sigma Nu, the Greek way of life is re-emerging on campus and has the numbers to prove it.

But, the ride hasn’t been a smooth one. During the last three years, one fraternity is no longer active on campus, three fraternities have lost their charter, one is “dry,” and one was placed on two-university sanctioned suspensions.

Sigma Nu president Mason Morin said the events have hurt the entire Greek system significantly.

“We’ve lost a lot of people,” Morin said. “Our chapter’s numbers decreased dramatically, but it has made us have to work that much harder. It’s brought us back to reality.”

According to the university Greek Life Membership Report, Membership has climbed from 600 in 1996 to more than 850 in 2002.

The reports states, “…Formal recruitment participation for the National Pan Hellenic Conference chapters has remained low, with “quota” ranging from 7 to 11 pledges. While registration numbers have been promising, retention between interest and membership remains low.”

Theta Chi president Ben Hill acknowledges the rough history.

“We lost our charter in 2000, along with a lot of guys, because of alcohol and other stuff,” Hill said.

Theta Chi’s charter was reinstated in fall 2002.

Now all chapters of Theta Chi have become “dry,” per national bylaws. Hill acknowledges the Greek system can use an image overhaul.

“It could definitely be a lot better,” he said. “It just seems like we are slowly rising to where we used to be.”

In March 2003, Delta Sigma Phi suffered a tragic loss when one of its members committed suicide in the basement of the fraternity house, adding to an already low morale after losing its charter in 2001 for an off-campus problem.

Of all Greek organizations on campus, Sigma Nu seems to have been affected the most by the constant negative light aimed at the Greek system.

In November 2002, a member was arrested following rape allegations. Additionally, the fraternity was placed on suspension, then probation, for underage drinking and another 15-month suspension in February 2003 banning them from university-sanctioned events, including Rush and Greek Week.

“Few people remember that the rape allegations were dropped,” Morin said.

Lambda Chi Alpha withdrew from the university in spring 2003 and was later closed for a risk management problem that included alcohol violations, financial issues and membership being too low to keep up the house.

“We national headquarters did not withdraw the Fresno State chapter,” said Shane Folley, manager of Field Operations for Lambda Chi Alpha.

“The chapter withdrew itself and we simply followed suit. Coming back to Fresno State will be totally up to [the local chapter],” Folley said.

Per national protocol, local Lambda Chi members were not allowed to comment.

To battle the negative media attention and bad publicity the events of the last several years have caused, several fraternities and sororities have created programs to address many of these concerns.

“Since [risk management] has been a big problem, I’ve seen overall Greeks become more supportive of each organization and each other,” said Sigma Alpha Zeta sorority president Natalie Munoz.

According to Student Leadership and Activities Adviser Frankie Moore, the university has already created an entire risk management module for the Greek system.

“This module covers alcohol, hazing, rush procedures and judicial governing, meaning if they violate a rule or code they go before their own elected board,” she said.

Moore now handles Greek affairs on campus.

Low academic standards have also plagued the Greek system.

The spring 2004 Academic Report for Fraternities and Sororities list the Greek cumulative GPA as 2.58.

The all-Greek average continues to remain below the school-wide average of 2.99 as reported by Fresno State’s department of institutional research.

To combat problems with academics, several fraternities have adopted an ‘every brother in’ clause, requiring all members to have a 2.5 GPA to become a member.

Fresno’s Sigma Chi and Delta Sigma Phi fraternities and Sigma Alpha sorority have started an ‘academic game plan’ previously used by Fresno State football players.

This plan requires all members to use mandatory library hours every week to keep up their grades.

Although membership continues to remain a concern, Greeks are stepping up their campaigns to change things.

An accurate measure of that change comes from totals from Greek activities on campus.

“The numbers are still coming in,” said Moore, who is expecting all-greek totals at about 200 this semester.

The Greek membership report also shows that the number of recognized chapters has increased from 33 to more than 38, due largely to newly established organizations.

“We’ve completed a successful Rush Week and I’ve seen quite a few members added to Greek rosters.

No matter what is said, the interest is still there,” Moore said.

Although national Web sites of several Greek organizations showed membership trends declining and Fresno State’s academic report showed a decrease in campus involvement since 2000, the recent Greek report also projects a positive influx in membership by the end of 2004.

Theta Chi president Hill said the report is not completely accurate and leaves out other explanations for declines in Greek membership.

“Our house has really improved from last year’s rush. Already this fall we have 4 prospectives and 13 pledges, we’re planning by mid- semester to have a total of 17 or 18 pledges,” Hill said.

Along with bad press, Hill agrees with Sigma Nu president Morin that losing graduating members and attrition are also contributing factors to the decline.

“It’s not just because of one thing. I think we’re all doing pretty good. We haven’t been getting as much negative light as we did in the past,” he said.

Sigma Nu has already reported 26 active members this semester and 19 pledges.

Delta Sigma Phi’s numbers have increased as well.

“Fall 2002, we only had 4 prospects; spring 2003 was worse, only 3. Fall 2003 we had 12 prospects. Now we have 30 active members and 13 prospects,” said former president Marc Moser.

Sigma Chi president Aaron Bargas is happy with his fraternity’s rush results.

“We’re the largest fraternity on campus. Since 2000, we’ve initiated 101 brothers and growing,“ he said.

“Now, we’re just trying to keep it up and going.”

Although initially wary of hazing rumors, wild parties and Greeks in trouble with the law, undeclared sophomore Kyle Merrill was excited about rushing Pi Kappa Alpha this semester.

“I waited for awhile because I was nervous about what I heard, luckily, I got one of the good ones; this is a no-hazing fraternity.

“And once I got to know the brothers… well, it’s been a blast. It’s not what I thought it would be, it’s better,” Merrill said.

Greeks hope community outreach and involvement will also help to improve their public image.

Sigma Nu is actively working with Dean of Student Affairs Paul Oliaro and has adopted the United Cerebral Palsy organization as its local charity.

Theta Chi currently works with the Fresno Rescue Mission and each semester volunteers with the city to clean up graffiti.

Sigma Chi has raised more than $20,000 for Valley Children’s Hospital and Miracle Children’s Network in the last five years.

Sigma Omega Phi regularly participates in Child Abuse and Neglect Month while the Sigma Alpha Zeta sorority devotes a large portion of its time to the Marjaree Mason Center of Fresno.

“A lot of people think all [Greeks] do is get drunk and get laid. We do more than that. I don’t see too many other people on campus giving back to the community like we do,” said former Delta Sigma Phi president Moser.

Delta Sigma Phi completed a successful haunted house fundraiser for the March of Dimes in October.

“We call the events of the last two years the Dark Ages, and that’s where they’ll stay,” said Morin: “Behind us.”