The idea of sororities and fraternities, and Greek Life as a whole, has always been a debate on university campuses. Whether universities — and their students — choose to accept these student-led groups, greatly varies from campus to campus.
At SFU, the history of these types of organizations has been a confusing one. Tim Rahilly, as Associate VP, Students, explained that “the story of fraternities and sororities on campus, as brief as it is, is tied to its evolution as a younger university.”
When the university first opened, the question of Greek Life Organization (GLO)s on campus came up almost immediately. The issue went to the university Senate, and, according to Rahilly, they believed that “fraternities and sororities were inconsistent with the values of SFU.”
SFU was then a new, radical campus. As a result of this Senate decision, the university determined that they would have no formal relationship with fraternities or sororities. While this decision came about 50 years ago, it still “presents a challenge for the university,” according to Rahilly.
According to Rahilly, on the one hand, they want to take into account that the acceptance of and attitudes surrounding the presence of GLOs at universities have clearly changed since the 1960s, but on the other hand he said “there’s still a fair amount of dialogue that needs to occur.”
For their part, fraternities and sororities are quick to add that they are not looking for much. They plan to work with the SFSS, and eventually SFU, in the hopes of gaining recognition from the university. From there, they are looking for table bookings, room bookings, and the ability to advertise on campus ,things granted to every other SFU club. However, unlike many other clubs, they are not looking for funds.
The GLO-Down
Fraternities and sororities are “Greek Letter Organizations” based on tradition and the facilitation of long lasting connections, friendships, and family. Typically, fraternities accept anyone who self-identifies as male, and sororities accept anyone who self-identifies as female.
Christine Jamieson, of Kappa Beta Gamma, explained, “when you come to SFU, there are so many organizations and clubs, but a lot of them focus on one activity or interest. Within Greek Life, there is a place for everyone to fit in. Your place might not be within KBG, it might be within another organization, but it’s not exclusive to someone who just likes fencing, or someone who just likes tea.”
All the organizations stress that it’s really about finding your right fit within an organization. There are many to choose from; if one doesn’t fit with you, or you them, there are other options.
“Having a third sorority on campus gives girls the opportunity to find their own fit, so they don’t have to join a sorority just for the sake of being in a sorority,” explained Panteya Niazi, of Alpha Pi Phi.
The main point the Greeks at SFU stressed when asked about their own experiences, and why they choose to pledge (join their organization), was a sense of home.
Bhav Bansi, of Alpha Pi Phi, spoke of her newfound home in SFU’s third sorority. “All I knew of sororities was what I saw in the media. I saw how amazing and how accepting everyone was. It didn’t matter if you were part of another sorority or another fraternity, everyone has each others’ backs. It’s such an amazing feeling of community.”
SFU is often described as a lonely commuter campus, especially to new or transfer students. This was something many of those The Peak interviewed had in common, though every individual has a unique story of why they ‘went Greek.’
Nader Kassem, the founder of Delta Kappa Epsilon, said he was inspired to start a fraternity at SFU after seeing how it made his friend at another university into a better man. Delta Alpha Theta’s Zaryn Lohrasbe shared the benefits of being in a sorority: “you never have to feel alone. It has made it easier to be at SFU. It gives me a reason to go to classes; I know I’ll see someone during the day.”
Brandon Wong, a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, said that he was skeptical before joining his fraternity. However, he now sees it as his brotherhood, and he knows that he can rely on any and all of the other 29 members.
“I had a bad image of fraternities,” Wong explained. Now, he says, he has “close friends to rely on [. . .] I can rely on any of those 30 guys and they can rely on me. It changed my view of what fraternities meant. To me, it is a brotherhood.”
All Greek to Me
As many people are aware, there are many common stereotypes associated with being a sorority girl or a guy in a fraternity. One GLO member said, “I would like to remind everyone of what it feels like to be stereotyped. I’m sure we’re not the only ones experiencing it.”
“The Greeks that used to exist don’t exist anymore, at least in SFU’s case,” explained SFSS At-Large representative Rebecca Langmead. “Greeks have a bad reputation — many schools in the last couple years have banned Greek Life on their campuses. It’s tough, with a bad reputation, to go forward from that.”
According to many GLO organizers and members, there’s a common misconception that people who are in fraternities and sororities are not smart, or are uninterested in academics.
Christine Jamieson of Kappa Beta Gamma explained, “I’ve run into those stereotypes every single time I’ve said, ‘I’m in a sorority,’ and people are like ‘I didn’t know you were dumb.’ It’s rude, and it hurts. I wish they would take the time to get to know us — we’re smart young women looking for a support system.”
Lohrasbe agreed, explaining that, being in a sorority, the girls she is surrounded with “make me want to do better in school just because I see how good some of them are.”
Giving back to the community is also a key part of the Greek Life, according to many of SFU’s GLO members. Different organisations approach philanthropy differently, but all of them keep it as a main focus of their community involvement.
Some, like Kappa Beta Gamma’s work with the Special Olympics, offers an international philanthropic connection. Others, like Phi Kappa Pi, chose their philanthropy based on what interests them. Their biggest fundraiser is their annual Movember campaign.
Some focus on mental health, some on local charities and organizations within the Vancouver area. All the organizations stress the importance of volunteering in student life.
GRID-lock
Many people don’t quite understand what has been going on between the Greek Letter Organizations and the Simon Fraser Student Society this year. The SFSS has a club mandate that applies to all SFU clubs, which states that clubs cannot discriminate against any person. By definition, GLOs do not adhere to this policy.
Fraternities and sororities state that they cannot accept members of the other gender, a main part of what makes them what they are, and this goes against the SFSS’s mandate.
For a club to be recognised by the SFSS, they have to accept anyone who wants to be part of them. A temporary organization, entitled GRID (Greek Representation and Interest Development) was established over the past year, and is in effect until September 2015. It encapsulates the president and an elected representative of each social fraternity and sorority (except the newest).
This group is working on addressing the SFSS’ concerns, and potentially approaching the university together for recognition.
On January 21, the SFSS held a Special General Meeting (SGM) with the discussion of Greek Letter Organizations on the agenda. In the non-binding opinion poll, students voted 77 per cent in favour of Greek Life at SFU.
Delta Kappa Epsilon’s founder and president Nader Kassem said that the positive outcome of the Special General Meeting made him “very hopeful for the future — it made me feel like that whole year I’ve put in wasn’t wasted.”
Tyler Bryant of Phi Kappa Pi said it was “nice to see that there’s a dialogue. There doesn’t seem to really be any outright opposition, just a lot of questions. This is a period of questions.”
All of the GLOs stressed that they are completely open and happy to answer any questions people may have. This year, they have tried to facilitate more open dialogue with the students, both through the Greek Town Hall last November and the SGM.
“I think if the fraternities and sororities want to [discuss recognition from the university], they’ve got to get going,” Rahilly told The Peak. “And there’s no guarantee it’s a positive outcome.
“We have to sit down and do our due diligence. We need to make a determination of what is right for the university.”
Going forward, it’s now up to the fraternities and sororities to continue to reach out to students, to break down the stereotypes and assumptions that have existed since the founding of SFU, and ultimately to decide if they want to move forward to seek recognition from the university and club status from the SFSS.
List of Greek Life Organizations at SFU
Sororities
Kappa Beta Gamma
Kappa Beta Gamma was the first sorority at SFU. They were established November 24, 2012, and serve as the Alpha Gamma chapter. Their international organization was established in 1917, and is made up of 19 chapters in Canada and the US. The SFU chapter currently has 59 active sisters, and 11 alumni.
Mission statement: Character, Culture, Courage.
Delta Alpha Theta
Delta Alpha Theta was the second social sorority at SFU. Established in Windsor, Ontario is 2005, the Beta (second) chapter at SFU is the only extension of the organization. SFU’s chapter was founded January 1, 2014 by 12 SFU students.
Mission statement: Passionate about creating outstanding female leaders by providing a modern environment conducive to academic excellence, philanthropy, team work and life-long sisterhood.
Alpha Pi Phi
Alpha Pi Phi is SFU’s newest sorority. It is still in the colonisation process, meaning it is yet to become a recognised chapter. Currently, it is made up of seven girls who hope for it to become a chapter later this year, and hope to hold their first recruitment period next fall.
Mission statement: To provide sisterhood through love, loyalty and friendship.
Fraternities
Phi Kappa Pi
Phi Kappa Pi was the first social fraternity at SFU. They have been at SFU since February 2012 and are a national fraternity, meaning their four chapters are all in Canada. They currently have 50 active members, and are the Omega Epsilon chapter of their organization.
Mission statement: To create a cohesive body of honourable men at Canadian Universities, having at heart the welfare of Canada, and to promote among them enduring loyalty to their respective Alma Maters.
Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon at SFU is the Tau Beta colony of the 171-year-old international fraternity. They began in September 2013, and hope to become a chapter by next September. In the last year, they have grown from five to 14 members.
Mission statement: Gentleman, Scholar, Jolly Good Fellow.
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon is a colony of the international Greek Letter Organization, with chapters in countries outside of North America as well. Their organization began in 1899, and they were founded at SFU in September 2014. They currently have 30 members.
Mission statement: Better Men for a Better World.
Professional
Alpha Kappa Psi
Alpha Kappa Psi is a co-ed, professional fraternity at SFU. Founded in Fall 2013, they currently have 20 members, and are still a club, not a chapter. Their international organization has over 100,000 members. Though they are a business fraternity, they are open to members of any department who are business-oriented.
Mission Statement: Providing resources for enhancing the educational experience of future business leaders
Phi Delta Epsilon
Phi Delta Epsilon is a co-ed, professional fraternity at SFU. They are an international medical fraternity and have over 35,000 members worldwide. They have 40 members at SFU, and are open to new members who have plans to attend med school in the future.
Mission Statement: Facta Non Verba: Deeds Not Words
