To whom it may concern,
Over the past months there has been a number of discussions throughout the campus community about some of the issues that have been continually brought forth in campus publications since last December. The issues of Greek life being exclusive, elitest, and heteronormative, and the absence of open conversations about these issues are not new phenomena. Two years ago, a large group of the Greek Community sat down in the Murray Board room with the express purpose of addressing the issues of heteronormativity and homophobia within Greek life. This was a start in addressing the issues outlined in campus publications, but the lack of outside perspectives greatly reduced the effectiveness of that conversation. The lack of input and informed conversation has lead us to where we find ourselves today.
These issues are only compounded when we, as members of the campus community, refuse to have personal conversations about issues of inclusivity, elitism, and heteronormative behavior. One would be hard pressed to find a member of the Greek System who is unwilling to have an open dialog about these topics. We encourage members of Greek Life and the larger community who have concerns about Greek Life’s heteronormative status and exclusionary environment to be willing to have personal conversations with members of the community which you are concerned. It is the obligation of all involved parties to begin these conversations.
We are well aware that isolated conversations will not solve, or even begin incorporate all aspects of these issues. Moving forward the IFC and Panhellenic councils plan to create a campus wide forum, where members of Greek life and the larger campus community alike will work to form a more inclusive campus.
In an effort to spur productive conversations, we as a Greek community endeavor to initiate a campus wide dialogue. We encourage members of the campus community to come to the open Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council meetings, held on Thursdays at 9:00pm in Thompson 188 and Wednesdays at 9:15pm in sorority chapter house respectively. If a more informal conversation is more comfortable, contact Pete Bergene (pbergene@ups.edu) or Lauren Kochanowski (lkochanowski@ups.edu), or any other member of Greek Life.
Signed,
The Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council
