Column:
Snobby Greek students may be on to something
Greek students may be annoying, but they've got their good points.
Published Feb. 12, 2009
Everybody hates the people who act like what they're doing is more important than what everyone else does.
On this campus, it's the partying fraternity men and sorority women who don't particularly like the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association, who are the ones who reprimand them when it gets out of hand. Sure, IFC and PHA do most of the work so the 5,052 people in the MU Greek community can brag about how special what they're a part of is, but what's not to hate? Here's what people say:
All they are there for is to get us into trouble.
Yeah, good point. These IFC and PHA leaders are college kids, just like you and me, are in fraternities and sororities of their own and all they do is sit around and look for ways to tattle tale on everyone else.
"Yes, it is our job to manage all 28 fraternities and 15 sororities, and a part of that involves dealing with disciplinary matters on occasion, but that is only about 5 percent of what we actually do," IFC President Danny Jonas said.
Sometimes people have trouble realizing that business isn't personal.
"So much work that the board does is overshadowed by the notion that we are just the police," Jonas said. "Sometimes it's difficult to know that you are putting so much work and effort into something that the people you're serving don't realize."
How can they be so proud being in charge of a bunch of drunken fraternity men and sorority women?
Actually, those drunken fraternity men and sorority women, statistically at least, get better grades than the rest of the student population. The all-Greek GPA is 3.1, and the all-MU GPA is 3.0. That might not seem like a big difference, except when you're dealing with about 30,000 people.
But those are just grades. Most of what you learn in college is out of the classroom. So it wouldn't even be fair to mention the 40-something philanthropy events Greek organizations hold each year, or they how they put together the most popular and historical Homecoming year after year, even back when the football team sucked.
If I didn't know any better, I might actually think what they're doing is pretty cool.
They think they're better than everyone else.
"When I was in sixth grade I learned how to juggle and ride a unicycle," Jonas said, reiterating how snobby Greek students, and their leaders in particular, can be. "I was also really good at making balloon animals."
But balloon animals aren't all they gloat about. They readily brag about how the numerous organizations they're in charge of have easily the most money donated to charity on campus, by far the largest and most competitive intramural sports leagues, unarguably the most prolific social scene and without question the best-looking girls. They could at least be mindful of others and stop living in their own little world on the outskirts of campus.
All the organizations they're in charge of do is party and haze each other.
It's completely understandable that people feel that way. It certainly does seem to be true. The only time you see Greek students is when they're out being social. But then again, the only time you really see someone you haven't met before is when they are out being social.
According to the results of 2007 Student Life survey that were posted on MUGreeklife.com, "Members of social Greek letter organizations are significantly more involved in activities and/or organizations outside of Greek Life than non-members," and "Members of social Greek letter organizations volunteer significantly more often than non-members."
So maybe these guys aren't so bad after all. Maybe Greek students, and their leaders, are just normal people with interests similar to everyone else. Maybe their annoying pride could be seen as strength in their organizations, and not just a condescending attitude of the individuals in them.
"Sometimes it would be nice if the media portrayed us in a little bit more positive light," Jonas said.
But why the hell would we do something like that?
