UpZete 4.10 - Recruitment results good throughout

Generalities, clich�s and stereotypes...every culture, organization and community has them and many of these cross organizations. The fraternity system has its own share of these that in many cases present "barriers" to our operation.

Probably the single, seminal event of 20th Century fraternity stereotypes was National Lampoon's 1978 Animal House. In one single cosmic event, the hippies of the 60s, the free lover 70s & 80s, much of the Greek system itself, and, even the "silent majority"-- all, had in one place, the quintessential "Wikipedia" of fraternity knowledge.

We are still trying to turn that one around! In fact, Wikipedia notes "In 2001, the United States Library of Congress deemed the film "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry."

There is nothing wrong with satire and comedy as art forms. Part of their success depends on a base of truth extruded to it's irrationally humors end. Animal House had all that.

Let's look at some of the more germane dialogue:
[Watching Flounder take abuse at ROTC]
Otter: He can't do that do that to our pledges.
Boon: Only we can do that to our pledges.

Otter: Flounder, I am appointing you pledge representative to the social committee.
Flounder: Gee Otter, thanks. What do I have to do?
Otter: It means you have to drive us to the Food King.

Dean Vernon Wormer: Zero point two... Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son. Mr. Hoover, president of Delta house? One point six; four C's and an F. A fine example you set! Daniel Simpson Day...HAS no grade point average. All courses incomplete. Mr. Blu - MR. BLUTARSKY...ZERO POINT ZERO.

Everyone reading this has probably seen the movie, at least once, 50% chance at your chapter, and are laughing at the memories of each of these scenes in the movie!

Truth, taken to its absurd extension, is satire; some truth, expanded to cover all members of a class, is stereotype. And, we, gentlemen and brothers, (for most of the non-Greek world) are stereotypes!

Any of us can produce the litany of Greek "truths"-all we do is drink and party; nobody pays attention to academics; misogynist exploitation is the norm; pledges are hazed, demeaned and browbeaten at will.

Regardless of the facts, that none of those are acceptable today; that Greeks continuously over time have excelled as leaders, academics, and philanthropists; that no organization, Greek or otherwise, could exist with those characteristics in today's litigious society---it is still the first subliminal image that prospects, parents and administrators view in their mind's eye.

How does this relate to our rush and pledging practices today? Directly!

Our "rolling rush" program emphasizes meeting and developing a friendship with a prospect initially. Our International policies prohibit hazing of any sort and our discipline process has dealt with those exceptions. Academics are emphasized, as is philanthropy, for individual and fraternal success.

WE now that an 18 year old candidate that joins Zeta Psi will enhance his college experience, connect to brothers and elders in a way he has never before experienced, and succeed at school and the "real world" because of his Greek experiences. But THEY don't know that!

Our single biggest responsibility as Elders is to ensure our chapters, their parents, and educators all understand that a significant amount of their Greek "knowledge" is being filtered through Animal House's prism. We must emphasize the positive, successful, developmental enhancements that a Greek experience can, and does, bring to those who truly embrace it for its breadth of influence.

It is all of our responsibility, and no more so than with the active officers of our chapters to which each of us has a continuing commitment, to limit the adverse stereotypes to the screen. And to promote and conduct the very positive, life changing reality that is a Greek experience today, and Zeta Psi's in particular.

How do we ensure that? I'd tell you but I am already over the editorial limit! Next time!

Always in Tau Kappa Phi,