It's Not Easy Being Greek

Being involved in Greek life at Plymouth State University can be a struggle for this reason. Since 2003, PSU has been committed to a policy that prohibits any new fraternities or sororities from becoming recognized by the University.

Still, PSU embowers an active Greek life culture, despite their lack of official school recognition. President of Plymouth's Sigma Tau Gamma chapter Andrew Morse says that, "Greek life makes up about 5% of the campus."

Of the 5% of the student body that constitutes Greek life, a sense of discrimination courses through many of them.

Morse says that he and his brothers "are received negatively" on campus, and not just by students, "but by faculty and professors as well."

Meredith Schulman is a sister from Kappa, one of the three sororities that are recognized by the University. Schulman says that, "Many people have a negative view of Greek life," based mostly on the image that is perpetuated by popular culture.

"Before becoming involved in Greek life I was never really aware of the discrimination against it," said Schulman, who, since joining Kappa has experienced it "first hand."

"I see my fellow brothers and sisters who are not recognized looked down upon," said Schulman.

But the University and the administration have a slightly different view of Greek life.

Terri Potter, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, was formerly the advisor for Greek organizations on campus.

"I think that, if there's discrimination that does exist against the Greeks, it's in part because of what people still see represented in Greek life nationally... We still hear of hazing deaths, we still hear of alcohol poisoning, and those things hit the media and perpetuate a stereotype," says Potter, "but the administration does not view the students that way."

"The reality is that Plymouth State University has withdrawn their granting of recognition" of fraternities and sororities, said Potter.

The University stopped granting recognition to new Greek life organizations in 2003, after a hazing incident led to the death of a student. At that point, a number of Greek organizations were active and recognized by PSU, but were put on a four-year probation.

The terms of the probation required that if, in those four years, any of the fraternities or sororities was to jeopardize their good standing with the University, their chapter would be discontinued. Since then, only three organizations have remained, Kappa Delta Phi NAS, Delta Zeta, and Tau Omega. 

"I think there's this natural sense of an 'us versus them' mentality" on the part of the fraternities and sororities, says Potter, but that this sentiment is not shared by the administration to the extent that Greek students feel it is. "When you feel that you have been wronged, you take on that victim mentality."

"At the same time, [the University] has to promote recognized organizations," says Potter, but sympathizes with Greeks, saying "it doesn't feel good if [students] are a part of something that's really important to them, yet can't talk about it."

Because of this, Potter says, "there's always going to be a certain degree of tension."

For the brothers and sisters that belong to the Plymouth community, this tension adds to the discrimination they feel. Schulman says she believes that people "aren't educated to the full extent to see the wonderful things that [Greek organizations] are capable of doing."

"In my experience," says Schulman, there are "many positives that Greek life offers the community." Almost all of the Greek life organizations on campus that are part of national chapters are based in philanthropy. 

Despite this, the University's policy does not allow individuals to hold a fundraiser or an event if they are operating as a fraternity or sorority. They have to operate as a group of students.

"Still," says Potter, "no one is going to say, 'you can't wear those letters.'"