I would like to take this opportunity to express my displeasure with the manner in which the Activities and Organizations Fair during Open House was organized. The Fair is designed to introduce prospective freshmen to the numerous clubs and organizations on the WPI campus. The basic setup of the Fair was extremely organized and productive for the groups that were represented there. However, I feel that a large portion of the campus was not allowed to be present at the Fair.
At the Fair on Wednesday each group or organization on campus was allowed to set up a table and display its qualities to the incoming freshmen. This allowed the organizations present to impact a student's decision to attend WPI and once here to join a specific club or organization that he or she became interested in. Every group known throughout campus, and frankly some I never even knew existed, were able to let these prospective students gain some introductory knowledge of their specific club or organization. Each organization was presented with one table in order to effectively organize their display to convey their club's qualities in the best manner possible. There were, of course, some exceptions to each club getting their own table, but none so blatant as the 12 fraternities and 2 sororities being forced to share a single table. To some this complaint may seem irrelevant or immaterial, but the important thing is that this follows from a deeper issue, an issue of respect for the fraternities and sororities and their members, and respect must start somewhere, and here seemed like a good place.
The Greek system here at WPI is a major element in any student's college career. We, as Greeks, make up over 30% of the undergraduate population of the campus and house greater than 20%. We are some of the oldest establishments on this campus, outdating most clubs and organizations present today. The Greek system sponsors speakers on campus; we organize, fundraise, and participate in numerous charities such as the Worcester City Cleanup, The March of Dimes, the Special Olympics, etc. Members of fraternities and sororities take important positions in other organizations on campus, including holding a number of positions on SGA, and play a major role in the shaping of the future of the WPI campus. The point here is, the Greek system as a whole and each fraternity and sorority individually are no less important and deserve no less respect and notoriety than any other club or organization on campus.
Getting back to the specific purpose of this letter, the Activities and Organizations Fair; it does not seem reasonable to leave out, from such an important yearly event as the first opportunity to meet the incoming freshmen, a third of the undergraduate population by forcing them to be lumped into a singular group. Granted the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and the Panhellenic Council (Panhel) are individual organizations and should be properly represented at any such organization fair, but the fraternities and sororities should not be excluded from such an event individually. The fraternities and sororities were discriminated against publicly on the sole basis that they are fraternities and sororities. They were not simply thought of as organizations like the Japan Association, Navy ROTC, The Wireless Club, etc... but collectively as frats, which by definition is discrimination. As I understand it, each club or organization falls under the (for lack of a better word) domain of the three large councils: IFC, ISC, and SGA. Now each of these organizations had their own setup and were allowed to be present at the Fair. The discrimination arises when groups fall under ISC and SGA were asked to setup tables while not one group belonging to IFC was individually asked to be present. The Japan Association (ISC), The Wireless Club (SGA), Bacchus (SGA), Black Student Union (ISC), and numerous others were given their own tables along with SGA's and ISC's table while IFC had one table being shared by its 12 fraternities and 2 sororities. This is clearly a discriminatory policy and one can only imagine what would happen if none of the ISC organizations were given individual tables. I understand that it is nearly impossible to have every single individual group fully represented with one table at this Fair, as the number of groups is extremely large. But the fact remains that a percentage groups under ISC were invited and a percentage of groups under SGA were invited while zero percent of the groups under IFC were asked to present. This is clearly a problem. Whether it be a problem with the location of the Fair, the organization of it, or the attitudes of the people in charge of it towards the Greek community, this problem needs to be dealt with and resolved.
All that I hope to come out of this letter is a change in the manner that the fraternities and sororities are looked upon and treated by the Administration of this campus. I would be happy to discuss any possible solutions to this problem or hear your views on this issue. I would appreciate any feedback on my views as well. Thank you for your time and your consideration.
Note: These views are my own and this letter was sent with the support of my President and my fellow brothers of Phi Sigma Kappa and may or may not be the views of the other fraternities and sororities on campus. They are encouraged to write individual letters expressing their views and concerns about this issue.
Sincerely,
Brian S. Wilson, Rush Chairman, Phi Sigma Kappa