Social life at Princeton is unlike any other institution in the country, with eating clubs presenting the most popular social option for upperclassmen. But recently increasing numbers of freshmen have been turning to Greek life early in their University career.
President Tilghman expressed her concern about the proximity of rush to the arrival of freshmen on campus.
Fraternity and sorority recruitment adds to the pressure of freshman week, she said at a USG Senate meeting on April 7. Still unaware of the diversity of social outlets on campus, students might make rash, poorly informed decisions regarding whether to join a frat or sorority, she said.
One attraction to Greek life, Tilghman added, is the network that virtually guarantees members admission to some Bicker eating clubs.
Tilghman's comments have since sparked dialogue among University students about Greek life at the University.
"Without limiting my options, Tri Delta has made and continues to make Princeton more accessible and fun," said Meg Gerbasi '04, president of Delta Delta Delta. "Tri Delta gave me the opportunity to meet a diverse group of upperclassmen as a freshman."
Tilghman also voiced concern that Greek groups encourage excessive alcohol consumption, endangering the quality of life for undergraduates.
Fraternity and sorority representatives have not generally agreed with Tilghman's assessment of their role on campus.
"In addition to normal social functions," said Mark DuRocher '03, president of Phi Kappa Sigma, "we participate in a lot of community service, raising money for such organizations as the Leukemia Society and UNICEF, both of which we've raised thousands of dollars for, as well as frequently working with Habitat for the Humanities and local elementary schools."
Recognizing that all Greek organizations are not necessarily community service oriented, DuRocher said the University does not even allow his organization to do charity events on campus.
"It is rather frustrating that the only thing standing between our philanthropic initiative and student resources is the Office of Student Life," he said.
At the USG meeting, USG president Nina Langsam '03 briefly discussed an option to push back rush to sophomore year to allow students to make better informed decisions about social life.
"They would be making very informed decisions based on experience at Princeton," Tilghman said, "as in fact they do at the end of sophomore year when they make the decision whether to join an eating club and which one to join."
In the past, University officials have refused to recognize these groups and have even taken measures to restrict their presence on campus.
Despite University policy not to support Greek life, Tilghman said fraternities and sororities are not incompatible with the Princeton experience. She still wants to incorporate them in a diverse social network of Princeton.
"I hope, at some point, to sit down with the leaders of the fraternities and sororities and talk very openly and frankly about these issues," Tilghman said. "The greater degree to which we can get their participation in thinking through the appropriate place for them on campus, the better off we are."
Support for fraternities and sororities in the community is generally perceived as lukewarm because Greek houses tend to drive down property values in a neighborhood.
Nevertheless, Alfie Kahn — proprietor of Abel Bagel and former landlord of fraternity houses on Olden Street across from the Engineering Quadrangle — said the opportunity to participate in Greek life is one of the greatest opportunities in a university education.
Until the fall of 1999, Kahn owned the "Tiger Tenements" on the corner of Olden and Nassau streets.
"I really miss the frats being over there," he said. "A handful of people who did not like the kids having fun in their neighborhood decided they didn't want to tolerate the student tenants there."
Kahn said he had pressure from other Township landowners and the University to drop the students as tenants. However, personal reasons forced him to sell the houses, he said.
The tenements, Kahn said, offered students a chance for more spacious housing arrangements for the equivalent price of University options.
Former Zeta Beta Tau fraternity members were considerate of him as a landowner, Kahn said, adding that he thought the complaints were unfounded.
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