2008 Woodie Awards
Going to Bat for the Greeks
Peter Nelson
Issue date: 10/14/05 Section: News
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With Colgate's acquisition of fraternity and sorority properties all but complete, debate over the future of Greek life at the University has been scarce in the first weeks of the fall.
According to Tim Sanford '58, however, the issue is far from settled.
Sanford, the founder of Students and Alumni for Colgate, Inc. (SA4C.org) and a former member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, returned to campus over Homecoming Weekend to voice his ongoing concerns with Colgate's purchase of fraternity and sorority properties.
According to Sanford, Colgate's property acquisitions bring the University a step closer towards eliminating Greek organizations entirely.
"When the ownership of the properties goes to the college, the fraternities have lost a great deal of power," Sanford said. "In a battle for survival, when you are removed from the control of your property, it is the kiss of death."
Sanford said that the University's administration of this year's rush was also indicative of Colgate's plan to do away with Greek life.
"We understand that the administration has taken over the administration of the rush process, making it less attractive and more difficult for the fraternities and the sophomores themselves to get together," Sanford said, despite recent figures published in the Maroon-News that indicate that this year saw more new Greek members than ever.
Sanford pointed to a series of votes by the faculty in favor of doing away with Greek organizations and a similar recommendation by the Task Force on Campus Culture as additional evidence of the University's ultimate plan to abolish fraternities and sororities.
"What we see is that the school has set up a situation where, over time, because of the way they control rush and the catered parties and because of the purchase agreements where they require 80 percent occupancy in fraternity and sorority houses, the school can decide to get rid of Greek life due to a lack of interest," Sanford said.
According to Tim Sanford '58, however, the issue is far from settled.
Sanford, the founder of Students and Alumni for Colgate, Inc. (SA4C.org) and a former member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, returned to campus over Homecoming Weekend to voice his ongoing concerns with Colgate's purchase of fraternity and sorority properties.
According to Sanford, Colgate's property acquisitions bring the University a step closer towards eliminating Greek organizations entirely.
"When the ownership of the properties goes to the college, the fraternities have lost a great deal of power," Sanford said. "In a battle for survival, when you are removed from the control of your property, it is the kiss of death."
Sanford said that the University's administration of this year's rush was also indicative of Colgate's plan to do away with Greek life.
"We understand that the administration has taken over the administration of the rush process, making it less attractive and more difficult for the fraternities and the sophomores themselves to get together," Sanford said, despite recent figures published in the Maroon-News that indicate that this year saw more new Greek members than ever.
Sanford pointed to a series of votes by the faculty in favor of doing away with Greek organizations and a similar recommendation by the Task Force on Campus Culture as additional evidence of the University's ultimate plan to abolish fraternities and sororities.
"What we see is that the school has set up a situation where, over time, because of the way they control rush and the catered parties and because of the purchase agreements where they require 80 percent occupancy in fraternity and sorority houses, the school can decide to get rid of Greek life due to a lack of interest," Sanford said.