Greek-issue teleconference held

"Phone lines are open! 1-800-852-0454," flashed across the television monitor in the Annenberg School, as University students participated in a nation-wide panel discussion on Greek life yesterday afternoon. The conference, entitled "The Greek System, An Institutional Asset or Liability?" was broadcasted from Oklahoma State University where five university-educators and a student from the University of California at Los Angeles discussed the importance of Greek life on campuses. Discussion was divided into three parts. The first part dealt with the ideal Greek system, the second part with the reality of Greek life and the third on how to narrow the gap between the real and the ideal. Panelists described the ideal Greek system as one which promotes leadership development, academic consciousness and fosters philanthropy. The panelists agreed that these ideas should become a central part of every Greek organization's agenda. Next, the panel discussed the reality of Greek life on campus and how to make this reality more like the ideal. This part of the conference dealt with how the Greek system fits into a diverse community. Panelist George Kuh, a professor at Indiana University's School of Education, said that fraternities disrupt any semblance of diversity at a university and he questioned their right to exist. But other panel members disagreed with Kuh, saying that Greek life mainly makes positive contributions to a university community. To achieve the ideal Greek system, panel members said that individual chapters should interact more with with faculty and non-Greek groups, and be more responsive to alumni and university input. Following the teleconference, the University's Greek Social Action Committee held a small discussion on how many of the issues discussed can be applied to the University's Greek system. Interfraternity Council President Jim Rettew said that the University's Greek system "does not stifle but encourages involvement" in University activities. Rettew added that it is confining when Greeks are streotyped as only dealing with other Greeks, thus perpetuating the stereotype. On the whole, University students said that they found the teleconference somewhat boring and ineffective. Panhellenic Council member Hae-Sin Kim said that she wished that the panelists had talked about more concrete issues such as views towards homosexuals, substance abuse, and sexual assualt. "[Nothing was said] that hasn't been said many times over on campus," the Wharton junior said. "It was like Oprah Winfrey without the humor or the confrontation."

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