Serious improvements in risk reduction have occurred within Greek life during my three years of fraternity membership at UNC. The Interfraternity Council has broadened its mandatory meetings with fraternities’ new members; One Act for Greeks was established; and Delta Advocates, a program that aims to provide resources in a safe environment to Greek survivors of sexual assault, was implemented.
Unfortunately, even this year, fraternities and sororities have positioned themselves far too often as target practice for the rest of campus and The Daily Tar Heel.
Too few would be shocked to know that hazing remains endemic within the Greek community despite public outcry.
Further conversation is needed regarding the hypocritical and potentially unsafe power imbalance created by sorority rules regarding alcohol and boys within sorority houses.
Pledging still exists, and it remains unclear whether deaths tied to the practice have altered attitudes toward it at all. The University’s method for policing chapters and handing down punishments remains hazy and inconsistent.
These issues and more are the reality of Greek life at UNC. The need for dialogue about how best to make Greek life rewarding, and more importantly, safe, will exist far beyond my time here. I can hope only to see the ball begin rolling.
We owe it to ourselves to act proactively against future tragedy.
