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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 1987)
10 academic excellence. “The purpose of a sorority is to help a young lady develop to her fullest potential through a group of friends who love and support,” says Christine Van Osdall, a member of Chi Omega. “It doesn’t force you to grow just like them. It allows you to grow on your own and to be the kind of person you want to be. ” But Williams stressed that the Greek system is not for everyone since many people already have their own forms of socializing. I, .ndeed, many students are publicly opposed to the Greek system, as is evident from the numerous T- shirts and signs seen on campus. “Rent a friend: Join a frat,” which has become the motto for residents of Davis-Gary Hall, stems from the opinion that the money paid out for dues and activities by fraternity and sorority members is an attempt to buy friendship. Curtis “Capp” Couch, a junior resident of Davis-Gary, says that he is opposed to the Greek system because its members don’t want to get involved with anything non- Greek. He says fraternities tend to be too secluded and centered around their own activities and don’t want to get involved with the dorm or with other non- Greek students. “It all stems from the way it’s interpreted here,” he says. “There’s too much dissention. They (Greeks) divide the University. Their main purpose is supposed to be cohesion. That’s where they fail. ” Joe Pickell, a senior resident of Schuhmacher Hall, says that fraternity members differ from non-Greeks because of their attitude and because they are socially exclusive. “I think that the T-shirts say it all. Some guy is walking around with no friends and figures if he can come up with a certain amount of cash, he can have a bunch (of friends),” says Michael Fox, a sophomore resident of Schuhmacher Hall. “I think that’s the lamest excuse there is.” Members of Delta Zeta sorority prepare for a Valentine's dance. photo by Marcena Fadal H .owever, Van Osdall and Williams both agree that beyond the basic requirements, involvement in the Greek system takes only as much money, time and effort as each individual wants to devote. “You get out of a sorority what you want to put into it,” Van Osdall says. She agrees that the ‘sorority- girl’ image is realistic, but says it doesn’t necesarily ring true for all sorority members. “If you come into a sorority and meet a small group of friends and say T want to be just like them and I want to do everything they do,’ yes, you will turn out to be the mold,” she says. “But a lot of people don’t join sororites to fit into the mold. They still have their other lives and their other friends.” Williams says that he is not happy about the opposition to the Greek system, but that with University recognition, the good qualities can be promoted. “The fact remains that there are fraternities at A&M,” he says. “They shouldn’t be shunned by the students. They are a part of the school. ” First ‘Greek Week’ planned by Jeanne Ferris Greek Week, March 2-6, is an event sponsored by the Interfratemity Council to promote a positive Greek image on campus. “We’re trying to let everyone know that we are here and we are involved on campus,” says Bill Alston, a member of the IFC and Kappa Sigma fraternity. The Interfratemity Council is working with Bryan-College Station Collegiate Panhellenic Association, the local governing body for sororities, for the first time for a common goal — Greek unity. There are many Greek activities that usually involve only one or two groups in some type of competition. Greek Week is something that all fraternities and sororities can work on together, says David Smallwood, member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. On Greek Letter Day, March 3, all Greeks will wear their Greek letter shirts to show fellow students actually how many Greeks are at Texas A&M. “We think the exposure alone will help out a great deal,” Alston said. “Many people here don’t realize that the greek population is so large.” “People also have the wrong idea of why we are here,” Alston said. “We’re not here just to party. We’re here for academic reasons also.” On March 5 there will be an awards presentation for outstanding Greeks on campus. An award will'go to the Greek most involved on campus. Awards will also go to the fraternity with the highest grade point ratio and to the individual with the highest grade point ratio, Alston said The theme of Greek Week is “Greek is it ”