Editorial Conversations: Greek Week
By: Benjamin Mumma
Question: Should Greek Week have been canceled for 2010?
Last year, Greek week was a week-long period of perpetual drunkenness for some, and near perpetual drunkenness for others. Understandably, this resulted in several inappropriate acts which the administration deemed sufficient to order the cancellation of Greek Week for 2010.
Was this fair? Absolutely not. By all accounts, the inappropriate behavior was exhibited by two or three of Lehigh’s twenty-plus Greek organizations. Canceling Greek week is a sanction that punishes all of the fraternities and sororities who participated, many of whom did nothing wrong.
However, everyone can also agree that last year’s Greek week was not ideal. It is the job of the office of fraternity and sorority affairs to try to fix that. Apparently, they felt that two years was needed to do this. If that is the case, canceling Greek week could be justifiable to avoid a repeat of last year.
Was this justified though? Absolutely not. We are looking at a situation with an easy remedy. Make the punishments clear, and let everyone know that certain behavior could result in an individual’s or an organization’s immediate removal from Greek week. If necessary, ban last year’s guilty parties from participating this year. Replace events that may encourage inappropriate activity with other events. This process shouldn’t take two years, it should be done by now.
Clearly, the cancelation was designed to be a statement and indictment against the Greek community, and was excessive based on what actually happened.
Therefore, the Greek community should respond. If the Lehigh is going to continue to tie Greeks down with unnecessary regulations and punishments until the system dies off, Greek life might as well go out with a bang, and this is the year to do it.
To Discuss this issue, please see all three of our editor’s viewpoints, and comment here.
