To join or not to join

Prior to students' arrival on campus in fall 2004, the University sent out a letter warning the parents of incoming freshmen of the dangers of students joining fraternities or sororities. The letter claimed that Greek life "can contribute to a sense of social exclusiveness, and in the cases of some fraternities, they detract from the quality of the residential experience by placing an excessive emphasis on alcohol." As pre-frosh stream onto campus this weekend and attention turns toward the University's future, we urge the administration not to take the same action this year.

Warning students that joining a fraternity or sorority will "narrow" their social life on campus is both false and out of line. In particular, we take issue with the characterization of Greek membership as something that necessarily limits one's social options. While there undoubtedly exist a few fraternity brothers or sorority sisters who associate only with each other, the vast majority of students involved in Greek life are necessarily involved in other activities at Princeton. In fact, the same "social exclusiveness" argument could be argued just as eloquently to discourage freshmen from joining varsity sports teams, some of which party more excessively than some fraternities on campus and all of which demand more time and dedication than any sorority. Any sort of time intensive group activity on campus will create a strong bond between its members; this does not mean, however, that members of those groups, limit their friendships based on certain group memberships.

Students do need comprehensive information about social life at Princeton well before they arrive on campus. However, this task rightly belongs to the USG, given that it is more representative and knowledgeable of current students and their social options. Since rush begins very early in the fall, it would be useful for the USG to give students information about the Princeton social scene over the summer to help them weigh their options. Fraternities and sororities should also be given the opportunity to write to the student body, explaining the reasons for their existence and their function among Princeton students. The University currently grants the Inter-Club Council such an opportunity. While doing so would require acknowledging the existence of fraternities and sororities, the University has already more than implied its acknowledgement this past fall.

Understandably, the University wishes to promote the wellbeing and safety of students on campus in all possible ways. But actively discouraging freshmen from joining Greek life for reasons that easily apply to other student groups achieves very little except student opposition. We hope this year the administration will trust incoming freshmen to make wise judgments about fraternities and sororities based upon knowledge of their own social needs, not upon warnings from the administration.