greek life strongly discouraged @Pton

Colleges & Universities Princeton University
1

<p>by the administration. Pton does not recognize their existence or officially permit them to operate on campus…</p>

2

<p>one of its strongest selling points, in my opinion.</p>

3

<p>ditto…</p>

4

<p>Who are you kidding? The “eating clubs” are the functional equivalant of watered-down fraternities.</p>

5

<p>the clubs serve meals, all are co-ed, half are non-selective, and none practice hazing - hallmark of the frat experience.</p>

6

<p>Byerly forget food, let us talk COHFE study and the declining NIH grants</p>

7

<p>let’s not and say we did. for one, you’ve already soundly lost the NIH point. the COFHE one’ll only generate pages of posts.</p>

8

<p>Isn’t hazing barred at most clubs or frats now, whether at Princeton, Dartmouth or anywhere else?</p>

<p>Furthermore, although they don’t like to talk about it - and don’t official recognize them - isn’t it true that upwards of 15% of current Princeton students join fraternities???</p>

<p>“The University’s interest in minimizing the role of Greek life comes during a major revamping of the undergraduate experience. The appearance of four-year residential colleges in two years and other efforts to divert attention from the Street — some students and administrators see fraternities and sororities as feeders into selective eating clubs — emphasize the administration’s desire to make undergraduate life as inclusive as possible and largely based inside the colleges.”</p>

<p>“The administration’s concern is that freshmen feel pressured to join Greek organizations when they are socially vulnerable…”</p>

<p>Deignan said hazing — banned under New Jersey law and University policy — presents another danger.</p>

<pre><code>“I am aware of many situations where freshman pledges (mostly in fraternities) were put at physical risk or were subjected to humiliating hazing rituals as part of their pledging,” (Dean of Undergraduate Students) Deignan said. “This is very distressing, not only to those of us who are charged with the wellbeing of undergraduates, but also to roommates and others who often worry about their friends.”
</code></pre>

<p><a href=“http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2005/05/09/news/12888.shtml?type=printable[/url]”>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2005/05/09/news/12888.shtml?type=printable&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

9

<p>the eating clubs don’t haze. fraternities everywhere do.</p>

10

<p>Hazing is a violation of New Jersey state law. If either the “eating clubs” or the fraternities engaged in it, one assumes they might be prosecuted.</p>

<p>Indeed, the “eating clubs” <em>were</em> prosecuted a few years ago in order to force the end of discriminatory practices.</p>

<p>SEE:</p>

<p>Frank v. Ivy Club, 120 N.J. 73, 576 A.2d 241 (1990), cert. denied, 111 S.Ct. 799 (1991) (desegregating Princeton eating clubs under New Jersey anti-discrimination law)</p>

11

<p>perhaps you could bring a suit against the (still) all-male final clubs at harvard? here, i thought cambridge was progressive…</p>

<p>an interesting criticism of the frank decision, by the way (“an almost defiant exercise of raw judicial power” notable “for its indifference to traditional legal analysis”):</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.mccarterhiggins.com/LOOKBEFOREYOULEAP.htm[/url]”>http://www.mccarterhiggins.com/LOOKBEFOREYOULEAP.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

12

<p>In my judgment (and I’ve had some experience in these matters) the “eating clubs” were deemed discriminatory and directed to cease and desist because their effect on social life at Princeton was (and remains) so pervasive. The same cannot be said of either the “final clubs” at Harvard or the “secret societies” at Yale; hence they do not practice “invidious discrimination” and the right of free association adheres.</p>

<p>SEE: <a href=“http://www.harvardindependent.com/global_user_elements/printpage.cfm?storyid=305117[/url]”>http://www.harvardindependent.com/global_user_elements/printpage.cfm?storyid=305117&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

13

<p>I’d like to offer an alternate viewpoint here. At Princeton – and at Harvard, for that matter <a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/20/fashion/20SORO.html?ex=1266555600&en=7965a1ac701967ba&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/20/fashion/20SORO.html?ex=1266555600&en=7965a1ac701967ba&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&lt;/a&gt;
– sorority and fraternity members do not necessarily conform to the stereotype. (Harvard may soon recognize its fraternities and sororities, btw <a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=507242[/url]”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=507242&lt;/a&gt;)</p>

<p>It is true that at Princeton these are not official university organizations, but for some students who may never have thought they would consider joining one, they can be one of many fun social outlets and can offer an extra network by which to connect with upperclassmen. Although I agree with the administration that it is unfortunate that rush happens so early in freshman year, there is no factual basis for tarring all fraternities and sororities with the same brush. Here is a sensible editorial on the topic from The Prince: <a href=“http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2005/04/15/opinion/12550.shtml[/url]”>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2005/04/15/opinion/12550.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>And the Prince article Byerly cites in his post #8 is actually more balanced than his quotes suggest.</p>

14

<p>My parents got that letter yesterday about the role that fraternities play at princeton. It even seemed like the letter promoted eating clubs. But yea, I don’t think the letter helps to discourage anyone from joining the greek scene…now more people know about it…</p>

15

<p>Zant, is it long? Would you be willing to post it here? Students on campus are curious…</p>

16

<p>It’s not that long-- double-sided, one page. I didn’t even read through it. I’ll type it up later for you when I get home (I’m at work now and the letter is in my house)</p>

17

<p>yes it is kind of long. 1.3 page. I wrote the punch line. It seems that administration asked the greeks to delay their rush till spring. The Univ. was hoping that few months in the residential life system will help students decide things more fairly, but the greeks refushed to delay their rush.</p>

<p>The letter also strongly advises students to first explore residential life and then decide.</p>

18

<p>here is an extract from the last para
“while we do not prohibit students from joining fraternities and sororities, we strongly discourage such membership and, as we indicated earlier, we do not formally recognize these organizations or officially permit them to operate on campus.”</p>

<p>from the letter it sounds that pton asked them to postpone the fallrush (so that students go into it more informed) by few months and they declined to do so.</p>

19

<p>Here is the entire letter:

</p>

20

<p>zantedeschia: You have too much time</p>