Students advocate for Greek life
Some UIndy students are pushing to implement Greek life on campus. However, university officials are wary of the idea.
By Samantha Cotten | Managing Editor & Sports Editor
Millions of students across the United States have “gone Greek” by joining a fraternity or sorority. Uniquely, the University of Indianapolis has never boasted of fraternities or sororities on campus, causing some students to ask the question, “Why not?”
Junior physical therapy assistant major Derek Hillen, sophomore psychology major Steven Schwipps and sophomore biology and Spanish major Grant Miller are currently leading the campaign to advocate Greek life on the UIndy campus.
Hillen said that the idea came to him after spending time at his girlfriend’s sorority at DePauw University, a predominately Greek campus.
“I just think it would be an all-around better experience for students and give us another option,” Hillen said. “It seems like something that would really benefit our school.”
The group began meeting with university officials last year, including Executive Director of Student Services Dan Stoker and Athletic Director Sue Willey, in addition to meeting with representatives from Phi Delta Theta.
“We chose the fraternity [Phi Delta Theta] to represent us because it has the same values as the school,” Hillen said. “Both are dry, have religious backgrounds and an emphasis on academics. Both have very high standards.”
According to Stoker, the implementation of fraternities and sororities on campus is not something the university can consider lightly.
“This would be a very significant change for our campus,” Stoker said. “It’s not just accepting a new organization, it’s first accepting the decision, ‘Is this what we want?’”
In the past, fraternities and sororities on college campuses have earned a bad reputation. Everything from drugs and alcohol, to brutal hazing has been linked with Greek life, making university officials even more cautious about the implications on campus.
However, many forms and models of fraternities and sororities exist, proving that many of the connotations are simply stereotypes. Many fraternities are required to perform a certain number of hours of community service–stressing fellowship, leadership and community.
“We really want to push the non-‘Animal House’ concept because that is such a stereotypical idea,” Hillen said. “The majority of Phi Delta Theta fraternities in the nation don’t have a house. They just have meetings, like what would happen in the basement of Schwitzer.”
UIndy’s lack of Greek life has become one of the university’s defining characteristics. According to Vice President of Student Services & Enrollment Management Mark Weigand, many students seek out a non-Greek atmosphere.
“We do know that there are a number of students that come here because we don’t have fraternities and sororities. So a huge part of the issue about changing is if we were to change who we are, how would we go about it?” Weigand said.
Although some have concerns that implementing a Greek system would create an exclusive club not open to all students, Hillen argues that his idea could unite students.
“UIndy is open to everyone. Some people think that having Greek life would make us seem elitist. At the same time, it’s the same thing as being on a sports team,” he said. “You have to maintain your grades to stay in. It has nothing to do with money or social standing; it has to do with how you perform throughout your life.”
Despite the campus’ defining attribute, there seems to be a strong student support for fraternities and sororities. Hillen, Schwipps and Miller created a Facebook page last April for those interested in starting a Greek system on campus. Currently, the group consists of more than 350 UIndy students.
“A lot of people think it’s awesome, and even if they don’t want to join they believe it would benefit the school,” Hillen said. “We’ve heard nothing but positive responses.”
Currently, the trio is only working toward implementing fraternities on campus. However, they are welcoming support for sororities as well.
“We’re focusing on fraternities, but we’re also advocating to girls who would like to start sororities that we are more than happy to help with that,” Hillen said. “We’ve already talked with several girls who would be willing to help with that cause, both at UIndy and from other schools with Greek life.”
Stoker said that there has not yet been a formal proposal submitted to begin the process of creating a new student organization. However, when a proposal is submitted, the process will look a little different than normal.
“The president and the board of trustees would need to be involved to look at the larger issues that surround fraternities and sororities,” Weigand said. “We haven’t really developed a process to look at that size of an issue.”
Whether or not UIndy goes Greek, Hillen, Schwipps and Miller have opened the discussion once again to the student body.
“We want this idea to get out, because it is a real idea,” Hillen said. “It’s becoming not an idea anymore, but something that could really happen. Every day we talk about it, and every person we talk to makes us more confident that this could become a reality.”
To join the discussion and voice concerns and comments, visit the trio’s Facebook group, UIndy Greek Life.
