Responsible action

MSU Greek system made the right move

A simple vote revived the tarnished image of Greek systems nationwide last week. At an emergency late-night meeting of the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils, representatives from most of the fraternities and sororities at Michigan State University voted almost unanimously to make the Greek system "non-functional" for 30 days. The decision came in the wake of an investigative report aired by WJBK-TV in Detroit that showed negative footage of fraternity parties and on the same day that the administration at Dartmouth College elicited fervent objections from students when it announced that Greek organizations there will become co-ed.

Under the moratorium, all official parties, functions and social events will be canceled for 30 days in order to allow fraternity and sorority members a chance to focus on how to promote their professed values and address the Greek system's problems. An Interfraternity and Panhellenic alcohol task force has been formed and plans to have a functional policy in place by the time this semester ends.

The moratorium reflects the Greek system at its best; upholding the values of leadership, responsibility and self-determination that it has always said lie at the heart of Greek life. Hopefully, fraternities and sororities at MSU will take advantage of the opportunity afforded by the "non-functional" period and produce long-term solutions to deal with the shortcomings of the MSU Greek System.

In light of the increase in alcohol-induced deaths and date rape in party situations at universities across the country, other beleaguered Greek systems should consider following the example of MSU's fraternities and sororities. Social moratoriums may prove to be the quickest, most effective and easiest ways of confronting the problems facing Greek organizations nationally.

If all goes well, the results of the mature independence exhibited by the Greek system at MSU will contrast sharply with those of the heavy-handed reforms handed down by the administration at Dartmouth College towards its own Greek system. The anger of Dartmouth students towards their administration, which has not recanted on a decision that polls say 83 percent of students oppose, is understandable. Members of Greek organizations are all adults and can competently mend their weaknesses independently, without the imposition of strict and unpopular measures.

The vote of the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils at MSU reflects a positive state of affairs for Greek systems across the country, and simultaneously casts journalists in a poor light. While the emergency meeting was not the result of the WJBK-TV report, the story clearly played a large role in triggering the meeting. WJBK's unnecessary use of an undercover reporter and hidden cameras was both intrusive and unethical.

The self-imposed social moratorium on MSU's Greek system is testament to the capacity for responsible independence not only in members of the system itself but also in students as a whole. If fraternity and sorority members use the "non-functional" period wisely, it should prove the obvious to University administrators - that students are best governed by themselves.

02-19-99