Cheers to chartered change

When most people think of sororities and fraternities, images of togas, kegs and late-night house parties spring to mind. However, Greek organizations at Luther are working to avoid this connotation.

Some negative associations with Greek organizations surfaced from last spring’s Trout Fry controversy, when Wellness Director Greg Lonning stepped in with other members of the community to change the event’s alcohol availability.

However, according to alum and former President of Pi Sigma Omicron Colin Sweeney-Marnach (‘09), the controversy with Trout Fry didn’t negatively affect the fraternity.

“Our numbers have actually increased,” Sweeney-Marnach said.

Lonning said Trout Fry was challenged because of its size, not because of the alcohol or the Greek associations.

“It wasn’t because of Pi Sig [that Trout Fry was changed],” Lonning said. “As numbers get bigger at a celebration like that, there are more and bigger problems.”

Sweeney-Marnach is determined to keep the event going, especially since the 2010 Trout Fry will mark the event’s 30th year and denies that Trout Fry is the huge drinking fest that some believe it is.

“There’s more drinking at a typical weekend at Roscoe’s than at Trout Fry,” Sweeney-Marnach said.

However, for chartered Greek organizations, the Trout Fry controversy has led to more paperwork and continuing restrictions. Chartered sororities and fraternities must abide by campus rules, whereas unchartered or underground groups abide by their own guidelines.

“To us, we don’t view the rules as restrictions,” Alpha Beta Psi member and Intergreek Council Vice President Emily Looft (‘10) said. “The groups who see the rules as restrictions are underground because of that.”

Sweeney-Marnach sees more advantages to being an unchartered fraternity than being chartered.

“We don’t do anything different from other fraternities, but we can wear our letters and show our pride wherever we want,” he said.

Chartered Greek members can’t wear their letters in bars.

Both chartered and unchartered Greek organizations are often falsely labeled as partiers and drinkers.

“The stereotype is so wrong,” Lonning said. “Greeks get labeled as big partiers, but it’s usually the people who aren’t involved in organizations that get into the most trouble with drinking.”

Chartered organizations have specific rules they follow to eliminate underage drinking at their socials.

“We have dry pledges, which means pledgers can’t drink at our events while they’re pledging,” XOP Secretary and Treasurer Kara Morrissey (‘10) said.

In addition, Greek members under 21 cannot attend on-campus events with alcohol, which means sororities and fraternities must think of other ways to include all the members.

Morrissey also explained the sorority’s “Sober Sis” policy, in which at least two members stay sober at events with alcohol to make sure people aren’t drinking dangerous amounts and that partygoers have safe ways to get back to campus.

However, some things are out of the sorority heads’ control.

“They card and they give over-21 wristbands, but at bars or parties, people can find others to provide alcohol for them,” Tau Delta Gamma member Katelyn Ronneberg (‘11) said. “Sorority heads don’t have control over everyone who comes.”

Ronneberg stressed the importance of self-responsibility at such events.

“In the end, you have to be willing to deal with the consequences, but it’s everyone’s choice whether they want to drink or not,” she said.

Morrissey stated that there have never been any issues with alcohol at XOP events.

“In our meetings we talk about being smart and making sure the party is fun for everyone,” she said.

Additionally, many Greek organizations are focusing more on service work than social lives.

“Once you’re in the organization, service projects come first, and social events come second,” Looft said.

Organization members and administration are both proud of their successes.

“The service work they do is unbelievable,” Lonning said.

The Intergreek Council is working to promote the Greeks’ service projects, which is what they want to be known for.

“Drinking is not the basis for being in our group,” Looft said. “The girls want to be involved with the events and the service projects Alpha Bet Psi is known for.”

Both chartered and unchartered groups are trying to move away from the stereotypes. Sweeney-Marnach doesn’t think Greeks party any more than anyone else.

“The only difference between fraternities and other groups that party is that we wear letters,” Sweeny-Marnach said. “That’s it.”

Looft also said that being a Greek member encompasses much more than just partying.

“If people just want to party, they can do that on their own,” Looft said.