EMMANUEL OJUKWU, BRAYDEN FOX & ANDREW ROWAN

Every year thousands of students flock to universities all over Canada in pursuit of undergraduate goals. Some are on their way to careers in medicine, law and even government. However, the college experience involves much more than academics. It is a life-changing time filled with growth and social development. This is where the Greek system comes into play.

For those not familiar with the Greek system, it consists of fraternities and sororities, which mean brotherhood and sisterhood, respectively. These organizations have been a part of campus life in North America since 1776, when a group of men in Virginia gathered at a tavern and decided to create a different culture on campus — a culture of community and philanthropy. This attitude spread to Canada in 1879 at the University of Toronto.

Saskatchewan is one of only two provinces in Canada that does not have a Greek system on a university campus and every major university in Canada has some form of the Greek sSystem being practiced on their campus. So why does our university continue to lag behind on enhancing the social and developmental experiences of its students?

The Greek system encompasses all that university is really about. It is a model for creating better men and women to go out and become leaders in society. Students are involved in self-government, philanthropy, higher academic standards and social opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable. In North America, at universities where a Greek system is in place, “Greeks” statistically give back more financially to their alma maters than non-Greeks. Their marks are higher than average students and, perhaps most importantly, their rate of graduation is higher than students not involved in Greek life.

Of North America’s 50 largest corporations, 43 are headed by Greek men and women. Also, 30 per cent of all Fortune 500 companies are run by former Greeks. Prime Ministers Mackenzie King, Lester B. Pearson and Paul Martin were all fraternity men. Those who participate in Greek societies are very clearly more successful than those who do not. They build within themselves a network of leaders intent on making a difference in our world today.

With all the good that comes from Greek life, there is still lingering criticism. Too many people still assume fraternities and sororities are about pretentious young adults drinking to excess and slacking through school. This is simply untrue.

First, a student who is a part of a large family wherein success isn’t a goal but rather an expectation is likely to be confident. This confidence may be misinterpreted as pretentiousness. Greek students are part of a culture of success. It is not about thinking oneself better than any other person; it is about holding oneself to a higher standard and demanding more of oneself.

Second, the stigma that fraternity gentlemen are party animals is a misconception. Partying occurs all over the world with young people, and once of age it is more than permissible that students be allowed to drink socially. But the Greek system’s emphasis on high academic and philantrophic commitment make fraternity men stand for much more than simply having a good time.

Hazing is another stigma associated with Greek societies, but it is hardly limited to them. The recent hazing incident involving the Neepawa Natives hockey club in Manitoba shows that hazing exists in many other social organizations. It is quite ignorant to assume that a Greek system would involve more hazing than already exists in society. Indeed, in most fraternities hazing is discouraged and in many cases punishable. Movies like American Pie, Animal House and Old School spread these misconceptions even further by turning Greek life into a caricature.

Why the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina do not open themselves up to this potential community is a perplexing question. The potential for this Greek community — among the diverse communities already existing on campus — is huge. Even if you are not a member of these Greek systems, many put on events that all students may attend and be a part of. At a university that is trying to establish itself as one of the best in Canada — socially, culturally and academically — the U of S is leaving out one huge piece of the puzzle, a piece that could potentially bring more students to our campus and entice existing students to prolong their studies.

We spoke to many undergraduate students in September, students between their first and fourth years of undergraduate studies. It was quite clear that the U of S lacks a sense of community. Many students were not pleased with the “Welcome Week” experience. It did nothing to make students feel like they were a part of the something bigger than themselves. A free day planner and a hamburger does not say welcome.

Where were all the active student clubs? Where were all of the opportunities available to students to get involved or meet their peers and create new bonds? Where were all the people walking around excited to meet you, sit down and genuinely get to know you as a person and include you in their lives? The answer is obvious for those who know life outside Saskatchewan.

All of these people and opportunities were present at other universities across Canada — universities that have adopted a Greek system such as the universities of British Columbia, Alberta, Waterloo or Toronto. These schools had fraternities and sororities taking it upon themselves during Welcome Week and the whole year to foster an atmosphere of community.

When asked why the U of S does not have any of these Greek systems on campus back in September, the USSU answer was that they have never been a part of our history and no one has ever attempted to start one.

History has passed. It is time for present and future. It is time to enhance the experiences of university students here in Saskatchewan. The benefits of such a system far outweigh the disadvantages, at least enough to give the idea some consideration and exploration.

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Photo: Otzberg/Flickr