This is What’s Going On with Greek Recruitment

By Lauren Brose ‘15

According to a Daily Trojan article released November 17, “the Academic Senate unanimously passed a proposal to defer Greek recruitment for freshmen to the spring semester and require transfer students to wait until they have obtained a USC GPA before participating in the process.”

It became really clear how controversial this entire situation is for many students and professors at USC when it was brought up in one of my classes today. I heard arguments from both members and non-members of the Greek community agreeing with this proposal as well as passionate arguments that defended the traditions of Greek. I want to show both sides to this argument and let you decide for yourself what you, after all thing’s considered, would do.

Arguments Why USC Should Defer Greek Recruitment to Spring 

• Coming to college your Freshman year is difficult for many and they’re looking to provide a softer place to land when they arrive.
• Data from Department of Public Safety reports suggests that issues of mental health, irresponsible alcohol consumption and sexual assault affect first year students significantly. 
• This will give freshmen students the chance to make friends with students in the entire community instead of primarily their Sororities or Fraternities. 
• The first week of college is too hectic for first years if they are participating in recruitment which causes a lot of stress on the students. 
• Men in fraternities are more susceptible to missing classes and earning low grades due to the high demands and rigor of their pledge semester. 
• When new students enter college, the last thing we should place upon them is the possibility of being rejected. By moving recruitment to spring, we will be preventing the possibility of being denied from the house of their choice or all houses during their first week of class.

Arguments Why USC Shouldn’t Defer Greek Recruitment to Spring 

• There are benefits of being in a sorority such as a minimum GPA requirement, strict alcohol safety guidelines and support from older members in their organization. 
• It doesn’t seem like there is much student involvement in this proposal but members of the faculty expressing their concerns. 
• Most students who enter college are legal adults. Many believe they should be able to decide for themselves. 
• Sheltering students from the possibility of rejection is a weak argument as the real world is faced with much rejection.
• Fraternities have rush during the fall and spring semesters, giving students the option to choose which semester fits the pace of their transition into college. 
• Sororities are much larger than fraternities with pledge classes reaching 70 students out of 230 total members. Having both fall and spring semester to experience their first year of college together serves as a powerful support system both within the pledge class and beyond. 
• Many spring admits will have to wait an entire year before being able to rush. Additionally, many transfers take advantage of the Greek system to meet new people because they are entering college during their sophomore or junior year of college.
  

On September 30, the proposal to defer greek recruitment Academic was passed by the Academic Senate. Leaders of both the Interfraternity and the Panhellenic Council disagree with this decision because it invites dirty rushing as well financial pressure on smaller houses. Ainsley Carry, VP for Student Affairs, said he would propose an alternative to  deterring Greek rush after meeting with students, parents and advisers to discuss ways USC can make transitioning easier for new students. Both sides have solid reaons behind why they feel so storngly about their view. Hopefully they find a middle ground but until then all we can do is wait for the next time they meet.