| Giving Back
I am a member of the Greek community, and I like it. Wait, don't get defensive and turn the page yet. This is not just for Greeks or non-Greeks, but the issue lies within. As a close friend of mine said, I go to my "club" meeting every Monday and knock nine times while I recite chants in front of the Grand Poo-Bah. Here's the problem though. As I was reciting the so-called chants during meeting last Monday, I took a look around at all of the different personalities and looks there, but all of whom shared the same color. There was not one black person in that room. It was not a new revelation, but for the first time, it was unacceptable. So I mentioned this to a friend, and he said in a sort of "duh" manner that the Greek system promotes segregation. No, I beg to differ. I would be ashamed to support a community that might send us back into the 1940s. However, I do think that the Greek system fosters an environment of segregation. Think about that statement before getting angry. Our campus offers 19 recognized national fraternities and sororities and five recognized National Pan-Hellenic fraternities and sororities. But that's not how most students recognize the separation. The five National Pan-Hellenic organizations are otherwise known as the black sororities and fraternities. As of now, there is not one black person in the 19 national organizations and not one white person in the five National Pan-Hellenic organizations. I do not contribute this to discrimination. There are a lot of legitimate factors that go into the separation of the fraternities and sororities. It would be beneficial if the recruitment process between the two councils could be combined so students have the opportunity to decide without feeling like they might be looked down upon. But the recruitment process is different in that national organizations have houses; National Pan-Hellenic organizations do not. Some National Pan-Hellenic organizations require potential new members to have as many as 24 hours under their belt before they are allowed to go through recruitment. Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils do not require any hours before recruitment. Those are a few logical reasons why the recruitment process between the two councils has slim chances of being combined into one. What's even more sad is that I have to sit back and wonder if this is even a realistic goal for TCU. I am also a little awed at the fact that no one even winces when you talk about a historically black sorority or fraternity, but if a sorority or fraternity were deemed "historically white," all hell would break lose. Unfortunately, those two titles fit the TCU Greek descriptions all too well. It goes both ways, though. I asked a friend in a historically black sorority at TCU what people would think if a black person went through regular recruitment. She said most blacks in the historically black fraternities and sororities would probably shun that person. I'm sure everyone who is anti-Greek is probably smiling right now if he or she has even made it this far into the column. But the segregation does not reign just within the TCU Greek system. Just walk into The Main and notice where people sit; all is not unity in there either. My question is, why not? I don't want to just acknowledge that there is a problem. I want to deal with it. As a white girl from Missouri, I'm not sure I have many answers. But at least I'm not going to ignore it, and I suggest you don't either.
Courtney Roach is a sophomore broadcast journalism
major from Springfield, Mo.
In Raquel Torres' article, she claimed she felt like "Jesus was out to get her." She said her problem was that she was simply "not interested." Raquel, the beautiful thing about your article was that you answered some of your own questions. Jesus is out to get you, and whether you are interested in him or not, he most certainly is interested in you. You said "until he comes and tells me what he wants from me, my life is not going to change much." Speaking as a former enthusiastic agnostic, allow me to respond. You are right. Your life will not change much. But something will happen. He will come. It is different for everyone. Nevertheless, you will experience a moment of clarity, and everything that you know to be right and real will tell you that he is asking for you to relinquish the power, that we so relish, and turn it over to him. In return, he will reveal to your consciousness a level of understanding and wisdom that supersedes all you have ever known. When this happens, you will know. You will see that all of these questions that you (and all of us) ask in our ignorance must be asked so that we might respect our newfound vision. Then your life will change. You will begin to grow. I really liked your article. Your questions remind me of myself. Perhaps that is why you are someone's "favorite agnostic." I am so excited for you. Your questions are knocking on a door that never goes unanswered. Seek, ... and ye shall find.
Dusty Hill senior speech communication major |
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