Sorority and fraternity members say that because of their social status, they sometimes are treated unfairly by professors. Is this view perceived, or are they victims of
GREEK DISCRIMINATION?
Story by Lisa Petr • Photo Illustration by Tyler Wirken
Many students who belong to greek organizations think that their teachers treat them unfairly because they are in a fraternity or sorority. But professors say the real problem is the research paper files that they and other organizations keep.
ast semester, Wichita junior Julie Myrick and two women from her sorority enrolled in Religion 106, taught by Robert Minor, professor of religious studies. But during one class
But during one class period, Minor's lecture was not on Living Religions of the East. Instead, he denounced the greek system.
According to Myrick, Minor had been grading a batch of papers and recognized one from a previous semester. It turned out that the paper was copied, and its two authors happened to be members of the greek system.
"I don't think my grade would have been compromised just because I was in a house. But I felt like if I would have confronted him or contradicted what he said, I felt like he would have held something against me."
"He gave a huge lecture on cheating and how he thinks greeks have no integrity and how test files should be destroyed," Myrick said. Test files are collections of tests taken by students in previous semesters. Others can look for old tests given by professors whose courses they are taking now
Julie Myrick Wichita junior
it made me defensive and mad because I felt like he was judging the whole group on one example." Myrick said.
Myrick, a member of the Chi Omega sorority, is not alone. A growing number of greek students say they have felt intimidated or uncomfortable in the classroom because some instructors disapprove of the greek system.
However, instructors say they do not frown upon the entire greek academic system.
"I don't have a problem with houses having test files," Minor said. "It is the paper files that I have a problem with. I understand that some of the housing units on campus keep term papers on file so students can take the same paper later, change the name on it and turn it in as their own. That's academic misconduct, and I do have a problem with that."
Myrick and several classmates considered writing Minor a letter but decided not to. Part of their semester's grade was based on attendance and participation. Myrick's grade was a borderline A.
"I don't think my grade would have been compromised just because I was in a house."
she said. "But I felt like if I would have confronted him or contradicted what he said, I felt like he would have held something against me."
Chris Whalen, Salina freshman,' was enrolled in a history class last year when a miscommunication on Whalen's part resulted in his sleeping through an exam. When he went to the professor and explained his situation, Whalen got an unexpected response.
"He said fraternities have changed from what they originally started out as," Whalen said. "He said they were a social more than educational organization, and it was a way to get out of doing work by using tests from older brothers. It was understood by me that he thought the frat system shouldn't exist anymore."
Whalen, a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, also did not challenge his teacher's comments
"Honestly, I kissed his butt." Whalen said. "He was nice enough to let me retake the exam that I couldn't really say anything."
Other students said their teachers never said outright that they did not like the Greek system but that they made it clear they did not like the system's test files.
KU residence halls keep test files for residents, and several instructors leave tests on file at libraries.
Bill Nelson, associate director of the Organizations and Activities Center and coordinator for greek programs, offered one reason.
"Right now I think a lot of greeks feel they are in a catch-22," he
Why do greek students feel singled out?
said. "They hide the fact they are greek for fear of unfair treatment."
Alicia Janesko, Wyandotte junior, agreed. "I think it is the whole one-bad-apple scenario," Janesko said. "You get one stupid kid that is in a house who panics and cheats, and it gives the entire system a bad name."
Some fraternities and sororites on campus have developed ways of dealing with the negativity. Others have decided that there is not a real problem and do nothing.
"I've never been told to do anything about it," said Janesko, a member of the Sigma Kappa sorority. "I don't think anyone in my house has ever had a problem with it."
However, other houses have an unwritten policy of refraining from wearing the house's letters or other Greek apparel on campus. Matt Elwell, Leavenworth junior, lives in such a house.
"When I pledged the Sigma Nu house, they told us not to let our teachers know if we were in a house or which one it was," he said.
Kelly Beckley, Albuquerque, N.M., senior and member of the Chi Omega sorority, said her house also was cautious about wearing letters on campus.
"It seems kind of silly and makes us look ashamed of being in a house, but the fact is, some professors think less of the greek system," she said. "Why jeopardize a grade unnecessarily?"
Allison McClure joined the Alpha Chi Omega sorority during her freshman year at
KU is not the only school where greeks feel uneasy about their professors' opinions of the system.
It's not an isolated problem
Texas A&M and now is a student at the University of Texas. She said the problem existed at both schools.
"I've gone to Texas A&M and UT, and at both schools people talked about professors who look down on the greek system," she said. "I never ran into it myself, but I completely believe it happens."
Is it really a problem?
Steve Bromert, Des Moines, Iowa, junior,
said the main problem professors had was
test files in general — not just greek test
files.
"I don't think there is a problem with professors discriminating against greek students," he said. "But I've heard professors say that if anyone has old tests, they should throw them away because they won't do any good. It's usually just before a test that a professor will make a point to say that old tests or test files will be useless on the exam."
Sally Frost-Mason, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said she was impressed by Greek academics.
"There are houses on this campus that I am familiar with that place a high emphasis on academics and have study hours and tutoring programs to encourage academic achievements," she said.
Fixing the problem
According to Nelson, the problem is manageable, and those who are truly concerned about negative attitudes are taking steps to change opinions.
"There have been forums and professor panels in the past where the presidents of all the houses come and discuss issues like
" Honestly, I kissed his butt. He was nice enough to let me retake the exam that I couldn't really say anything." Chris Whalen
Chris Whalon
Salina freshman
this," he said. "What you find, though, is that there are professors who are very supportive of the system and deplore their peers who are responsible for the stereotype that all professors dislike greeks and will treat them unfairly."
Nelson also said the greek students who were strong academically were the ones who needed to start changing the system's image.
"The men and women who do go to class and sit in the front row and ask questions need to be wearing their letters on campus," he said. "They are the ones who will help change any misperceptions that might exist."
Myrick said both instructors and students needed to discuss potential problems.
"I think if instructors just got to know us, things would improve," she said.
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CAN'T POSSIBLY BE TRUE
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INEXPLICABLE
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