Did you know that we have three fraternities and three sororities at the University of Waterloo? If you didn?t, it?s most likely due to a great injustice perpetrated by the University. Our university does not recognize Greek organizations (fraternities and sororities) on the premise they claim of being ?exclusive by nature and practice and promote exactly the opposite of an open and welcoming community campus?. The problem with this official position is that it is absolutely fallacious. The University of Waterloo should recognize Greek organizations on campus and give them the same rights of any other group.
Greek organizations at the University of Waterloo and their diverse membership make significant contributions to student life, leadership, and philanthropy at the University of Waterloo and in the community-at-large. Members of our current Greek organizations have diverse ethnicities, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, and backgrounds. They are extremely open and welcoming of anyone who is interested. You can go to their events without any expectation to join. Along with philanthropy events for local charities, their members frequently are volunteers for on-campus events; in this way they contribute significantly to student life on our campus. Take for example last term?s Out in the Cold, participated in* by members of Sigma Chi to raise awareness and funds for the homeless people in the Kitchener Waterloo Region. These organizations are nothing like the stereotypical Greek organizations you see in pop culture, such as Animal House.
The truth is that some of the most active students on our campus have joined a Greek organization, from Feds executive, council and board members, UW senators and governors, executive on student societies and clubs, frosh leaders, and dons. There are hundreds of students in UW?s Greek organizations, but despite their contributions, the University treats them as second-class students because they choose to associate with a particular organization. The University is a public institution, and should above all treat its customers with respect and tolerance, respecting their rights of association, assembly and expression. In contrast, take another international organization with a recognized local chapter, Engineers Without Borders. They can, throughout the campus, throw conferences, run philanthropy events, book rooms, and advertise, but Greek organizations are banned from any of those activities.
Greek organizations are members of larger governing bodies and are bound by their resolutions. For fraternities, the North-American Interfraternity Conference condemns hazing, and alcohol abuse, and supports diversity and inclusiveness, all of which are codified in policies that can be found on their website, along with other policies on freedom of association and defense of a single gender organization. For sororities, the National Panhellenic Conference condemns hazing and has several resolutions relating to alcohol, which are also codified in resolutions on their website.
In fact, the university?s stance is hypocritical. The University of Waterloo?s own Policy 33 in its General Principles states that ?the University aims to ensure an environment of tolerance and respect and that the right of individuals to advance their views openly must be upheld throughout the University,? and cites the Ontario Human Rights Code as support. Non-recognition of Greek organizations at the University of Waterloo inhibits Greek organization members? rights at the University of Waterloo to advance their views openly throughout the University because currently they are restricted only to the SLC. Despite the Ontario Human Rights Code, Part II, Section 18 allowing Greek organizations to have selective membership, the University ignores that section. Even more hypocritical, the University recognizes Varsity sports teams that are themselves selective membership groups!
Leading universities throughout the continent recognize Greek organizations. Some examples in Canada are our close neighbor Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of British Columbia. Laurier goes as far as even having a Dean of Greek Life. Unfortunately, a senior UW administrator dismisses this by saying that universities who recognize Greek organizations ?are the antithesis of a modern university?. Can hundreds of North American Universities be so off base on the topic? Since the first Greek organization at Waterloo began over 20 years ago, there has been opposition by administration. What happened to the ?Spirit of Why Not?? Where have student freedoms on campus gone? It?s horrible when one of the Fraternities couldn?t even throw an event called Wax for Kids in the SLC Great Hall to raise money for a children?s charity called KidsAbility. Our Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Section 2) guarantees our rights of expression, association, and assembly (individually or in combination), and I would hope that a public institution would respect such rights.
It is quite clear that the only course of action for the University is to ameliorate their unjust and hypocritical stance on Greek organizations by unequivocal recognition of Greek organizations. Recognition, that is, in the form of equal treatment like any other recognized organization on campus. Freedom to throw conferences, run philanthropy events, book rooms, and advertise. Until that time, our university is not only violating their own policies, but it is treading in the waters of rights violations for Greek organization members. If you yourself think that Greek organizations have no place, I plea for you first to research them, meet the members, and learn the facts of the University?s discrimination. Only then can you make an informed decision on this issue.
Note: This is an extended version of an opinion article published in the June 6th issue of the Iron Warrior and reprinted with permission.
*Edit: I had a factual error, which I have corrected. While one member of Sigma Chi did help in organization of Out in the Cold, and many Sigma Chi members participated, my wording was such that it did not give credit to the other organizers. I sincerely apologize for my error.