True to “Animal House,” Greek life brings camaraderie, liveliness, and diversity to college campuses. Fairfield University, however, doesn’t have fraternities and sororities. Dean of Students Mark Reed said the university does not have a Greek system because “it has never been needed, necessary, or desired.”
It isn’t necessarily true that Greek life has never been desired at Fairfield. When asked about the pros and cons of Greek life at Fairfield University, students Terrence Todd ’06 and Nadya Encarmacion ’05 both said that the benefit of having Greek life on campus would be the added diversity to the student body. Nadya further stated that Greek life could add a network of people, closeness, social life, and a post-graduate commitment.
Other university students agreed.
“Greek life at a university binds the student body. A school with Greek life is more than just a place where you attend classes,” said Amy Gregorious ’06.
“I have seen Greek life add a great camaraderie to groups of students, along with an opportunity for joint studying and learning,” said Timothy Snyder, dean of the college of arts and sciences. “On the other hand, the same social links that make those benefits possible also open the gates for some of the problems and even abuses that some associate with Greek life, such as hazing events that go wrong or are illegal.”
Reed agreed and said that Greek life can result in the segregation of students into groups. He explained that Fairfield wants its students to be integrated as much as possible.
“A vibrant student life already exists on campus,” said Reed.
Students’ main concern about Greek life is that it could separate people on campus. They said the beach suffices for the college party scene.
“There is no need for a Greek life here because the beach houses are all like little frats and sororities, just without the huge cliques,” said Alison Sikora ’06. “I like the beach better because I always see people I know traveling from party to party. Sororities are like buying your friends. It’s too cliquey. No one branches out, and they’re stressful and expensive!”
Both Greek and non-Greek students at schools with fraternities and sororities report that Greek life benefits the community through service, brings sisterhood and brotherhood, and the promotion of asocial life on campus without having students rely on university events.
“Greeks have a strong network of people to rely on, people from diverse backgrounds,” said Wesleyan Greek Raphael Tapias, member of La Unidad Latina.
But there are still students who are strongly against the fraternities and sororities at their schools.
“Greek life doesn’t promote a sense of community,” said University of Connecticut student Meg Gannon ’06. “All of the frats and sororities here are very divided; they tell everyone that they are equals and then promote seniority. They have a complex that they are better than everyone else on campus and that their organization is more worthy of praise than most.”
Although Fairfield does not have Greek life, the university provides its students with many other ways to get involved and get to know their peers through clubs and organizations. And when students start to wish there was a Greek life, all they have to do is take a five-minute drive to Reef Road.
“I think Greek life would have been fun but I didn’t miss it because it’s hard to miss something you never had,” said Amanda Zebian, a 2004 graduate. “It was frustrating for my class because everything was taken away the year we started, such as ‘Clam jam’, so freshman and sophomore year was frustrating because you were stuck in dorms with strict drinking rules. But junior and senior year made up for it because we were on the beach.”
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