Does the history of Greek-letter organizations (GLOs) matter? I just finished looking for some information on a fraternity and I realized that its website contains nothing about the organization’s very rich history.
Some tell me that while history may be interesting, it’s not appealing to today’s members. Others say expecting members to learn the history of their organization takes too much time and creates stress for already overprogrammed new members. That makes me sad. If we do not teach our members about their own organization’s history while they are collegiate chapter members, they will never get it anywhere else. If they leave college without that spark being lit, it will stay unlit. A very sad state of affairs, indeed.
Don’t new members need to know that the organization is not just about them? Don’t they need to know that there were other young college students who stood where they are standing now? Those students may be long gone from that chapter, that campus, and perhaps even this earth, but their efforts on behalf of that chapter and GLO are important. As someone who was quite clueless when she joined a GLO, I know that it is indeed possible to go from thinking “what can this organization do for me” to “what can I do for this organization.” I am certain I would not have made that transition without the realization that I was just one small link in a very long chain of women. That thought made it real for me. And then it became my duty to leave the chapter better than I found it.
Greek-letter organizations have always, and I mean always, from the 1800s until this very minute, had haters – students, administrators, and legislators who have wanted GLOs gone from a campus, state, or the higher education landscape entirely. The bad news makes the 24-hour newscycle, the good news hardly ever does. Is it really time to abolish us all, a stance that The Atlantic magazine recently took? Will insurance issues do some of us in anyways? Will the haters win? I truly hope not.
The vast majority of the collegiate members of GLOs are, by and large, good kids. It helps if they are mentored by dedicated and knowledgeable chapter advisors. This weekend, I will be doing the accounting at an American Cancer Society Relay for Life in town. The GLOs support the effort wholeheartedly. It’s only one of the many community efforts they support wholeheartedly. The Greek groups are counted on to support college and community efforts although GLO membership at SIUC has only been about 10% of the student body.
I belong to a couple of community organizations. They, like a good many community organizations, are lamenting membership declines. These organizations do good works, supporting the community and spearheading philanthropic endeavors. In recruiting members for the organizations to which I belong, it always helps me to know if the potential member belonged to a GLO while in college. It means, at least to me, that they should understand meeting procedures, the need to attend meetings, the reporting to the organizational headquarters, etc. GLOs can be excellent training grounds. Members are provided with leadership opportunities, education, and the chance to be a vital member of an organization. I believe that the loss of GLOs will mean a loss down the road for community organizations.
Does GLO history matter? I truly believe it does, and I hope I am not a voice in the wilderness. Knowing who we are and where we’ve been helps us get to where we want to be.
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© Fran Becque, www.fraternityhistory.com. 2014. All Rights Reserved.
