The Bellomy Underbelly

Photo by Kimmie Johansen. A Greek house used by the Fraternity Cal Phi, one of the original fraternities that triggered the review of the Greek system in 2000.

Sticky floors, red solo cups and memories that will last a lifetime—all hallmarks of a college experience that thrives in the shadows of disaffiliation. While the administration and Greek life have parted ways, students like me have hugely benefited from it.

Santa Clara University and its unofficial Greek life organizations enjoy a strained relationship at the best of times, but this was not always the case. For the betterment of student life, the administration should reinstate Greek life on campus.

Despite the many conspiracy theories, there was no singular egregious event that prompted the University’s decision to disaffiliate from Greek life. Father Locatelli, then president in 2000, called for a strict review of the Greek system because of repeated issues with Fraternity hazing, excessive alcohol consumption and local complaints. The review actually recommended that Greek life should remain on campus with strict oversight. However, Father Locatelli ultimately decided to terminate the University’s relationship with Greek organizations in favor of a supposed more beneficial student life. 

Prior to the split, the administrations had the authority to set regulations regarding the behavior, recruitment and events of Greek organizations. Now the university has little ability to regulate Greek life outside of rumored attempts at buying up historical Greek housing. 

Father Locatelli attempted to replace Greek Life with Residence Living Community programs, or RLCs, to fill the social void this estrangement left behind. He believed that the introduction of RLCs in tandem with increased investment in on-campus social and recreational programs would better serve the majority of students. While Father Locatelli was well-intentioned, his vision remains unrealized.

A fourth of Santa Clara’s undergraduates are involved in Greek Organizations. Alas, Greek life has only grown in the wake of disaffiliation, and most Santa Clara students have little to no involvement with their RLCs—what were supposed to be the Greek life alternatives on campus. Like me, some students don’t even know which one they are in! 

I’m a part of a sorority and my experiences with Greek life have been overwhelmingly positive, but I’m not blind to the fact that there are many valid criticisms of Greek life in general. One study found that members are more likely to engage in behaviors like excessive drinking, unprotected sexual behavior, drug usage and other risky activities. Another found that women in sororities are four times more likely to report being sexually assaulted while in college than non-sorority women. 

There is no denying the implied risk of having sororities and fraternities on campus. However, I am a firm believer that mitigating risk is better than ignoring it. Greek life is here to stay, with or without the sanction of the administration. 

The lack of oversight allows Greek life to operate without consequence, putting students at greater risk. This is particularly troubling for women who attend fraternity parties, whether they are in a sorority or not. If something bad happens to them, the administration has no way to reprimand the fraternity to prevent future instances of misconduct.

But, what exactly would it mean to be reaffiliated? Raul Hernandez ’27, a member of Zeta Beta Tau, an off-campus fraternity, sees the potential safety benefits.

“I think if you value safety and regulation and the moral integrity that the school is supposed to be teaching, then those people would most likely want to reaffiliate with the school,” said Hernandez.

However, Hernandez also acknowledges that in recent years the Greek system may have benefited from independence: “The whole point of Greek life is to build a community that you can control, but at the same time develop and learn, and you can’t really do that if you have a ‘boss’ looking after you the whole time.”

The university should strongly consider reinstating Greek life, instead of remaining at odds with it. It has a responsibility to protect its students, and attempting to undermine Greek life’s presence on campus only agitates the student body. Reaffiliation would mean that the school would be able to regulate the behavior of Greek organizations. Greek organizations would also be able to host on-campus events and access campus resources. 

The Santa Clara University community would be stronger if all facets of it were given the opportunity to work together instead of against each other.