Wed 6 Jun 2007
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.
I have trouble getting as worked up about this issue as some, but I can see some of the frustration you’re facing with it. The school’s stance just doesn’t really make sense. SSDC doesn’t solicit new memberships except at the beginning of the term; are we being too exclusive as well?
The issue is not really about recruitment so much as equality in terms of facility use. There are philanthropy events, conferences, and just discussion meetings which we are not allowed to throw throughout the campus.
These are organizations consisting solely of UW students who which to assemble, associate, and express their views on campus, and this is being curtailed by the University.
There are lots of student organizations, more than a hundred I believe, on campus. There are lots of underfunded, under-supported, relatively unknown student organizations on campus. Why should greek organizations be more recognized? Many of these organizations support the community, and many have made contributions to the community and the university.
Why should the university recognize fraternities and sororities? How are these different from clubs, services, or the student societies? If these things are so important, why aren’t they just clubs, services, or society activities? Do not clubs an societies at the university fulfill these roles?
Why should the University accept an exclusive organization? Yes, Greek organizations are accepting of all folks, but will a fraternity allow women, or a sorority men? Although I might not want to, I have the freedom to join any club on campus, even ones with names like “Chinese Christian Fellowship” be I neither Christian nor Chinese.
That said, why should the university recognize Greek Organizations when it does a poor job of recognizing and other groups, like GLOW, or the Federation of Students?
Although its a bit silly, I support the university’s decision. There are plenty of ways for organizations to get involved on campus through clubs, services, societies, and organizations. Why must one join a fraternity? Cannot people rally around a cause? If fraternities and sororities are so diverse, why must their be a multitude of organizations that provide the same services and benefits?
A bit of a rant, but I think there are more important things to deal with on campus than the recognitions of fraternities and sororities.
Nick,
First let me start off by stating that recognition has nothing to do with funding. All of the student organizations you mention are recognized by the university. This article was written in support of a motion that Feds will be dealing with at their next meeting. The motion that will be going to Feds does not make Greek organizations more recognized, just equally recognized.
I sent out a clarification of the term recognition to council which may help you understand:
Recognition: Acknowledgment of Greek organizations’ existence at the University of Waterloo as well as provide privilege equality with other recognized groups and organizations, specifically advertising and facility use throughout campus. University recognition may additionally require granting “Accredited University Group” status as defined in University Policy 15.
Your comment “How are these different from clubs, services, or the student societies?” is particularly relevant. The difference is that they are not recognized while all of the other ones you mention are. They are not allowed to be clubs, services, or society activities. They are barred from campus and it’s use of facilities despite all members being tuition paying students.
Now as for your third paragraph, I believe my article addresses it with the University’s hypocrisy, but if you don’t mind rereading the section addressing exclusivity, it will explain it better. I will note that the University’s stance has never been about them being single gender organizations. Groups like the Women’s Centre throw single gender events, and Varsity Teams are single gender groups.
For your fourth paragraph, I think it it is just a misunderstanding of what recognition means. GLOW and Feds can book facilities on campus and advertise. Greek organizations cannot, and the Feds council motion will just fight for equality.
No one has to join a Greek organization, just as no one has to join the other groups if they don’t want to. But our Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows us freedom of assembly and association, which guarantees members rights to associate as a Greek organization. I see no other organization that provides the same services and benefits as Greek organizations do.
And for your final comment, this is an important topic that effects hundreds of undergraduate students and their rights. I take rights issues seriously just as last year I fought for support for Positive Space programs, and I sit on numerous committees and in many capacities that deal with Student Services, Education Policy, and contractual issues such as the Health/Dental Plan and UPAss. As a Federation Councillor and Board Member I have invested all of my time (all volunteer) to dealing with constituent concerns (one of which was Greek organization recognition).
Whatever you believe to be the more important issues, bring them to your Feds councillor. This is not the only thing I’m working on, and I’d hope that your councillor is investing the same level of energy in representing constituents and Feds shareholders as I do.
-Jeff
I thought “The Federation of Students represents the interests of approximately 22,000 full-time undergraduate students at the University of Waterloo.” not the interests of a type of external group that a few hundred UW students joined.
Why am I paying 34.67 a term so the resources of my student government can be WASTED on trying to get the EXTERNAL greek organizations (Note the word EXTERNAL as in no way affiliated with UW) recognized? FEDS is supposed to be working for ALL students, not the few hundred out of 22,000 that decided to sign up to a Greek Organization. Seriously, why should I be paying to lobby our University so that your EXCLUSIVE GROUP can be seen as an equal to a group that welcomes ALL students?
Last time I checked Engineering had more than a few hundred students, good to know you’re representing ALL of you’re constituents.
You deep down know that your stupid motion isn’t about helping students, it’s about helping the Greek Organizations.
Maria,
I believe you are misunderstanding the actual motion itself. Greek organizations will not receive any funding by the Federation of Students as a result of this motion. We have many external organizations that are recognized by the University, and as you seem to be interested in my constituency, I will note Engineers Without Borders, an international organization with a local chapter, is an external group that a few hundred UW students joined that is recognized by the University.
Greek organizations at the University of Waterloo consist only of fee and tuition paying undergraduate students, which the Federation represents. I believe you have a misunderstanding of the Federation of Students as well. There is a diverse set of groups on campus which we cater to, from individuals in GLOW, to members of the Campus Crusade for Cheese, to the Chinese Christian Fellowship. These groups DO receive funding from the Federation, but my motion just seeks recognition, and has nothing to do with funding.
As well, as given as example of the above groups, we serve all students by providing them with services, whether it be Service status, club status, funding, or lobbying. My motion falls in the latter. You can’t lump every student into one group and represent them all at once. You deal with it on a individual basis. To note, this issue was raised to me by two engineering students, and I have invested my own time to prepare a motion and provide documentation for council. Councillors are all volunteers and receive no pay for their work.
So,
1) You are not paying anything to lobby, it is my volunteer time, used to represent students in my constituency who have requested it of me. I did this last year with Positive Space programs when I felt they needed support, and I’ll do it in the future if another issue arises.
2) Please read my article to address the exclusivity argument. If I might note that the University itself is exclusive and does not let everyone in.
3) You can check my record of service to my constituents and you will find that I am the most active councillor from Engineering who strongly represents their interests. Along with regular Iron Warrior articles, updates at Engineering Society meetings, I represent my constituency’s particular issues by serving on the Student Services Advisory Board to ensure funding is allocated properly for my constituents, I am on the Education Advisory Committee and Academics Commission where I particularly represent the education policy stances which are relevant to Engineering, Science and Technical students who are usually underrepresented in policy discussion (I went to an OUSA General Assembly and argued along with the VP Academic of Queen’s Engineering Society against a stance that harmed the above mentioned students).
4) I am a member of the Board of Directors of the Federation and am obligated to act for a minority group, whether or not all of the membership is in my constituency, when I believe students’ rights are being curtailed.
5) While I am intrigued at how you know what I believe (incorrectly I might add) deep down, I am helping fee and tuition paying students who, under their right given by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, are free to associate and assemble in the form of Greek organizations. My motion (which I think is quite intelligent and informed if you read it), helps these students and that is the bottom line.
As a last note, my submission form requests an email address, which is not published, for spam related reasons. According to my statistics, I’ve received roughly 15000 spam comments in the past year. A valid email address would allow you to be stored on an encrypted list allowing you to post comments freely on my site in the future, saving me from moderation. So it is unfortunate that you provided a fake email.
-Jeff
Jeff, just a few other points:
“1) You are not paying anything to lobby, it is my volunteer time, used to represent students in my constituency who have requested it of me.”
Yes, it is your volunteer time, but if you put time into getting recognition for GO’s, you have less time to work on other issues. f that’s what your constituents want, that’s fine, but it does have a cost, if not monetary (and arguably it does have a monetary cost, considering I believe councilors are compensated for transportation costs? Pardon me if I’m mistaken).
“2) Please read my article to address the exclusivity argument. If I might note that the University itself is exclusive and does not let everyone in.”
Yes, the University is exclusive. However, what lies within the university is regulated, that is, FEDS has clubs, services etc., and those things follow FEDS rules, constitution, etc. How is the university supposed to control GO’s? They can’t can they. All of the clubs, services, societies, etc. are all the responsibility of FEDS, and if any of these cause problems, FEDS is equipped to deal with them, whether it be revoking their status, repealling their funding, etc. Additionally, to even exist as a part of FEDS, they must meet certain criteria. How are FEDS supposed to keep this sort of control over an external organization?
Regarding 3, your record of serving your constituents is important, but do you not recognize that they are only your constituents? That a similar issue hasn’t been brought up to other councilors is worrisome. Why should this issue be brought to all of FEDS when it has only been raised by two engineering students? Are there not people in other faculties who have this issue? If your constituents approached you, that’s great, but I don’t think that such a decision should be made in reaction to two students in one faculty.
With regard to your fourth point, nowhere in the ByLaws do I see anything about upholding the minority. From my understanding, they are to act in the best interests of the corporation, that is, FEDS. I fail to see how the thoughts of two students is enough to warrant all of FEDS supporting the motion.
“5) …I am helping fee and tuition paying students who, under their right given by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, are free to associate and assemble in the form of Greek organizations…”
This motion has nothing to do with a students freedom to associate with GO’s. Regardless of whether or not the motion passes, students will still be free to join or leave GO’s. Likewise, they are free to associate with them. FEDS recognition of GO’s has nothing to do with these rights. Also, if the university is opposed to GO’s, and FEDS decides to allow them, how is this in the best interests of students? I mean, wouldn’t this effectively cause a lot of tension between the university and FEDS? How is that in the best interests of all constituents?
Thanks Nick for coming back to continue debate.
In terms of less time, it’s not really less time for representation. It’s come out of me working late nights and just losing sleep. I don’t believe I’ve slacked on my normal representation duties. Councillors outside the KW region receive compensation, but since it is a mandatory meeting regardless of my motion, I see it as irrelevant to cost discussion.
In my definition of recognition above, I mention the University granting it Accredited University Group Status. By granting that status, if a Greek organization breaks a university policy, then they can just revoke the status. Simple as that. And I’d agree with the revocation of that particular groups status. The motion’s intent is to provide lobbying power with the university, not to make it fall under Feds. So, Feds won’t be involved in discipline, it would be the University, just as they would for other Accredited University Groups. I will also note that as an Accredited University Group they will not receive any funding.
The issue has been raised with other councillors. Members of Greek organizations exist in every faculty (and hence constituents for every councillor) and have put their support for this. I was just the driving force due to my position in student government. Recognition has been a topic discussed for 20 years on campus. It’s not a new issue. I’m just approaching it in a different way from previous attempts. I bring up any issue that a constituent brings to me if council is the appropriate place to discuss it. There are dozens of engineering students who support my motion, and not one I’ve talked to has told me they don’t (though I’d love to discuss it with one if someone will contact me).
I will note that we had a high turn over in councillors from last year and 3/4 at least have only had one meeting and don’t know the process. I’m a multiple term councillor with experience on the Bylaws, Policies, and Procedures Committee as well as being the most senior Feds Board member seniority wise, so I was able to draft this motion in a appropriate form. It comes with experience, so I wouldn’t hold it against other councillors.
I will tell you that this is the thoughts of hundreds of students, not just two of my constituents. Along with the hundreds of students in these organizations, who I have talked to and their membership has put their support behind it, many supporters I have found have no connection to Greek organizations but have read the logic and points I presented. I did a point vs. counterpoint article for the Iron Warrior so my entire constituency has the chance to see both sides of the issue. So again, I’ll reiterate, it is not just two students.
This motion has everything to do with freedom of association IN COMBINATION with freedom of assembly. Again, the motion is to say that Feds recognizes them (but won’t provide them with any support), but that Feds, as the representatives of students, believe the University should provide equality with other groups. I firmly believe this to be a rights issue.
Now your final point is an interesting one, as it has been brought up with my fellow board members. Feds is an activist organization and fight the University on issues every day. Feds and the University disagree on dozens of issues, and this will be one more. This is in the best interest of constituents because it is an issue that needs to be addressed and that is the whole purpose of a student union.
-Jeff
Jeff,
I just I would let you know that i like your article. It very inspiring to read that just because university has basis against frats doesn’t mean we just all back down.
I understand people concern is with exculsivity and cliqueness but if you look at other clubs on campus (apparity this won’t be a club though just recognized as a group) it is easy to see they exclusive too, just not on paper. If i go to some club on campus that doesn’t mean i get much chance to get invovled if people in club members already don’t like me, so i think clubs are just as exclusive a frat, and don’t they get money from feds?
Some of our fed money goes to the glow people and most people on campus are not gay and do not need glow what is wrong with frat being able to do stuff on campus if most people don’t need one.
I don’t think that it is right that universitys try to influence culture on students, they seem to go very easy on other student groups when they hold keg parties like bot and not punish people for hang 36 posters on campus. but last year they tried to stop people from wearing frat sweaters on campus.
I think it is wrong for a universitiy to dictate that it is ok to act gay but not ok to be in a frat? that doesn’t make sense to me.
Hi John,
Thank you for your support.
I would agree with you, that informally, many groups that do receive funding are more exclusive. As mentioned in my article, Greek organization here are extremely diverse.
I have mentioned a few times the topic of minority rights. And I feel this falls under that. Greek organizations would not receive any funding while other minority groups do. So in reality I’m seeking less than other organizations.
The University is selective in who they bias, just as you have noted. Now the Greek Letter sweater issue was dealt with in a similar way to what I am doing now, through a motion to create a policy. Greek members are now allowed to wear their sweaters.
-Jeff
If this issue is as important as it is claimed to be, why isn’t it put to a referendum rather hidden from the general public’s eye?
I think there’s a significant difference between choosing to join an organization (GO’s), and providing support for a minority that needs a positive space (GLOW).
how can you say this is hidden from public eye it is in newpapers, weeks in advance?
Is it in the student newspaper? No, its in the Iron Warrior, an engineering paper. Is it in Imprint? Is it on the Feds website? Is it in MathNews? Was it in the daily bulletin?
I don’t think it’s very public at all. I would not even know about this had I not stumbled across it on the UW Opinion site (which I would argue is not much frequented either).
Nick,
Thanks for you comments and discussion.
This issue is being advertised greatly. It has been in the Iron Warrior, I did an interview for the next Imprint (they weren’t able to do it at the same time as the Iron Warrior because of their summer biweekly issue, but expect an article), I sent the motion out three weeks in advance (instead of the usual 5 days), I’ve been writing articles, it was sent out over the Feds mailing lists, and other notable UW blogs have picked it up. This is not hidden at all from the general public’s eye and I’ve been working hard to advertise it.
To address your question on referendum, policy issues generally fall under council due to the fact that theoretically there is full campus representation. A referendum would cost at least $2000, as well as waste the time of the Feds Exec. As with past policy issues, this is the normal procedure.
The Math News editor offered to publish it as well, but we felt that the article didn’t need to be repeated there. I talked to Chris Redmond, the Editor of the Daily Bulletin and he suggested posting it like that on UW Opinion, so I followed his advice.
-Jeff
Readers,
I have made a very hard decision, made difficult due to my strong beliefs in liberty and freedom of speech.
This week I have a midterm every day and I will not be able to stand by my computer to wait for comments to come in and respond to them. I am going to leave comments open but I am going to require myself to moderate each comment before it will appear and address them as I approve them and they are published. I will approve every comment (unless it is libelous or blatant misuse of my open discussion policy) but my response rate will be slowed due to my studying.
At anytime if you wish to ask me questions, you can email me at jeff@jeffaho.com and I will respond at the earliest convenient time.
-Jeff
To say that GO’s are being significantly hindered is somewhat specious. They can organize events on campus through the FSA. How is the FSA (keeping the GO’s insulated through a Feds club which must abide by University policy) insufficient?
The real issue comes down to what advantages or privileges this would entail for GO’s.
1)Will they still be able to organize alcohol related events? Because for clubs, that’s banned, or at least highly regulated.
2)Will they still be completely answerable to Greek HQ (whatever you call it)? Seems to me part of the controversy over the ESA thing ages ago was about student versus student control.
3)Will they be merit-based inclusive, or will there be a perpetuation of racial and other biases (the “Jewish Frat”, whichever of the three it is).
4)Will they be allowed to obtain external funding and manage it externally (as clubs are not allowed, but often do anyway)? University recognition of an organization with questionable business practices tarnishes their reputation.
5)And most of all, and this is the real exclusivity argument: If there isn’t a club that I feel includes me, I can start my own. If I don’t get in to any frats on campus, can I start my own? Or will I be discriminated against based on my (lack of) membership in extra-university organizations?
To support something like this, your somewhat nebulous “recognition” has to satisfactorily answer these questions.
Thanks,
Tim Foster
Thanks Tim, I’m glad to see someone from the Debating Club weigh it.
In fact this motion has nothing to do with FSA, but I will talk briefly about it. FSA (Fraternities and Sororities Awareness) is a club that is supposed to be allowed to meet to provide awareness of Greek organizations. The problem is that FSA is the only Federation Club that Associate Provost Scott has barred from booking facilities outside of the SLC. As well, any event in the SLC cannot be a single fraternity throwing it, like AOPi bringing in a guest speaker. Any individual Greek organization has no rights of assembly anywhere on campus, even the SLC.
To address your numbered points:
1) The recognition outlined for council is not for club status. Despite that, clubs can hold alcoholic events if they are thrown on campus paying the regular rental fees, pay for servers, security, etc. There is also the ability to throw alcoholic events events off campus. It requires lots of paper work, and unfortunately most just throw informal ones. For the University recognition status sought after, I believe it will allow alcohol related events on campus following all regular University procedures.
2) All of the Greek organizations are bound by their Headquarters rules (and breaking any of them, like anti hazing policies), will have their Charter taken away and they will cease to exist. They are also answerable to the larger Interfraternity Committees.
3) They are values based organizations. To address your question of the predominately Jewish fraternity (AEPi), non-Jewish members are allowed to join. They are all entirely inclusive, as it is a policy of the international overseeing bodies.
4) The only place they receive funding is from members. They will not receive any funding from Feds or the University. There is a clause that allows Clubs at the discretion to manage their own finances on approval of IAC, but again, the motion is not to become a club. The Greek organizations have strict financial rules and report to their Headquarters or be suspended if there is mismanagement.
5) Any one can start their own Greek organization, or colonize (become a chapter of an existing Greek organization that does fit your values) an existing one that does not currently exist at UW (of which there are dozens). I don’t see how you’d be discriminated at all.
I hope that addresses your questions.
-Jeff
Nick, and I guess Jeff…
I put something up on the uwaterloo community on livejournal so further get the word out…
the link is here
http://community.livejournal.com/uwaterloo/445463.html
Although there are other issues, I’m going to address the issue of exclusivity. As an example, we’ll use Sigma Chi (which I believe is your fraternity of choice, Jeff, though I don’t recall you mentioning it. Some full disclosure may have been appropriate, but I guess you’re more familiar with FEDs than I am).
Perusing the website of Theta Psi, I found a “Rush Questionairre”. You can find it here:
http://uwsigmachi.ca/index/index.php?option=com_facileforms&Itemid=18
What I can’t figure out is the relevance of most of the criteria here. Point by point:
1. Faculty and Major
-For records, or something, I suppose.
2. CGPA
-Totally irrelevant, unless Sigma Chi plans to administer some kind of tests. It says optional, but its mere presence suggests that a higher GPA will increase your chances of acceptance (If you think this is okay because the university does it, you’d be wrong. See below).
3. Any Scholastic Honours
-Just as irrelevant as the CGPA
4. Leadership Experience
-I guess every group needs leaders, but not everyone.
5. Community Service Experience
-I guess thats not a big deal, but I’m not sure why its important.
6. Talents or Activities
-I can touch my tongue to my nose, does that count?
7. Why are you interested in joining Sigma Chi?
-This, to me, is the only question that should even be on here.
8. Is anyone in your family a Sigma Chi?
-This is an important one, I think, and underlines exactly where the blatant exclusion comes in. What is this, Divine Right? Shouldn’t be a factor at all.
9. Name of person who recommended Sigma Chi:
I certainly hope there isn’t some kind of commission. If there isn’t, this question is irrelevant, or should at least be re-worded to ask for people that you know at Sigma Chi.
Now, as for that point I was mentioning earlier. Jeff has brought up the fact that other organizations, like athletics and even the University of Waterloo itself, are exclusive. Given what Jeff has said about what GOs actually do (personally, he hasn’t really said as much as I’d have liked. Charitable activities and social events?), I believe this fact is irrelevant to the matter at hand. Athletic associations need to discriminate based on athletic ability because that is the nature of the position. If you can’t run very fast or long, you certainly shouldn’t be on the track team. Likewise, UW has to make sure their students can make it through university, so they discriminate based on academics. What do GOs do that justifies discrimination based on academics? Nothing, as far as I can tell (please do correct me if I’m wrong).
On another note, Engineers Without Borders is not a fraternity, so no, the same rules about recognition should NOT apply to them simply because they both happen to have international organizations. EWB is a completely different (non-exclusive) type of organization, so please stop making claims that frats should have them same rights as it does. If you want to make the argument that another group has rights that GOs should have, then that group should be sufficiently similar to warrant that comparison. If there aren’t any accepted groups on campus that fit that criteria, then that point should be left out of the argument. At least, I won’t accept it.
Anthony,
It’s general knowledge that I am a member of Sigma Chi as I display a link off my web site and note it on my open Facebook profile. Councillors/Friends who know me are familiar with the fact. I wrote my article and motion as a councillor, not as a member of Sigma Chi. Even if I wasn’t in a Greek organization, I’d pursue the issue at the request of my constituents, because it is the right thing to do, just as I have done in the past for other issues of concern.
The rush questionnaire, open to anyone to fill out, allows us to find and learn about people interested in joining. The information allows us to be able to contact them as well. As you can see, the average is optional. There is absolutely no discrimination based on academics. As per number 8, it is something we like to know because it shows that they are probably interested because their family member is in it. And number 9, is just so we know who to talk to to learn more about the person. You don’t need a recommendation, and there is no commission.
Now, what we do actually have for requirements are made public in the International Sigma Chi bylaws. If you read the letter on the home page of our Chapter’s site, it explains it. Better yet, read all about the Fraternity and its bylaws in a book called the Norman Shield (pdf copy). The Greek organizations are very transparent if you even try to seek out the truth.
What more do I need to explain about what we do? We throw philanthropy events, conferences, attend leadership workshops, have social events, and regular chapter business meetings. Informing people of what we actually do helps to dispell the myths about Greek organizations. We don’t discriminate based on academics as I explained above.
I never said EWB was a fraternity, I said it was an external organization that the University has recognized. That was to give precedent for the university recognizing external organizations. As you agreed, the University and Varsity Teams (and the Campus Response Team) are exclusive. I’ll repeat it once more, as I’ve done to numerous people, the goal of this is to get recognition, which would allow freedom of assembly in combination with freedom on association on campus for tuition and fee paying students. Greek organization members are not allowed to assemble on campus, and that is blatantly discriminatory. That’s what it all boils down to. Liberty and Equality.
-Jeff
Jeff, what’s the deal with the FSA booking a room in the SLC, then all of a sudden Sigma Chi was having their national conference there? I’ve heard this story from multiple people, and it would be interesting to hear what your side of the story is.
As a corollary, why, in your opinion, is the FSA not allowed to have full booking rights at UW?
PS: CRT is a JOB, not a club. To a certain degree, so are the campus sports teams. Sigma Chi is not a job.
Finally, your link to the Norman Shield is broken.
You’d have to talk to FSA about the issue. I am not a member of FSA, nor was a member of Sigma Chi when the sanctions were placed on them. The executive of FSA may be able to answer your questions. From what I have heard it was a regional, not national conference.
FSA is not allowed to book outside of the SLC because Associate Provost Scott said they can’t. That’s the simple truth. She discriminated based on the club, which is absurd. All Feds clubs should have equal rights. I will note though that my motion has nothing to do with FSA.
CRT is a volunteer service, not a job. Varsity Sports are not jobs.
The Norman Shield link works for me…
-Jeff