Fraternities

As the second article in a four-part series that deal with the status of women at Dickinson, this article discussed campus-affiliated organizations.The President's Commission on the Status of Women at Dickinson College had decided that Greek Life is most likely harming women's experiences at Dickinson and the atmosphere it creates allows for a "poor preparation for the kinds of relationships among women and men that they will face after College." The Women's Commission raised some important questions on Greek organizations, such as should Dickinson have Greek Life?

An opinion piece responding to many of the issues raised by the College's status of women report, incorporating discussion of the recent confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas.

The Dickinsonian discusses the changes resulting from having a sophomore (rather than freshman) year sorority and fraternity rush. 250 women rushed the five on-campus sororities.

 

Following up on the story from the previous week, The Dickinsonian discussed the continued controversy from the anonymous, anti-Greek publication "Stop the Violence" that accused Dickinson fraternities and sororities of crimes including hazing and even rape. 

The College Club and Peace Action co-sponsored an open forum in ATS to discuss the situation that was attended by over 400 members of the Dickinson community.  

 

During the Presidents' Council (Women's Interdormitory Council) meeting of October 31, 1962, the Council's representative to SREC (Social Rules Evaluation Committee) was selected and new proposals regarding women drinking and fraternity parties were put forth:

Lambda Sigma Pi, a "honorary science fraternity" was a recent extra-ciricular activity for female students at Dickinson College in 1941, as they began admiting female members the year before. The fraternity focused on raising student interest in the sciences by sharing their own scientific work and discussing current scientific events at their bi-monthly meetings.  In 1941, Lambda Sigma Pi could boast of three female members: Ruth Leavitt, Jane Raring, and Janet Thornley out of the twelve-person fraternity.

In her essay "Women at Dickinson College", Dean Meredith discussed dating, dances, and chaperonage at Dickinson College. She explained, "The college is sometimes criticized because boys and girls are together socially so much. Other criticism is not just but it is somewhat merited. About 8 couples can be so conspicuous that they give the college an unenviable reputation." Meredith argued that it is easier to control the relationships if the woman lived in Metzger, however, it was much more difficult to control commuters.

In her essay "Women at Dickinson College," Josephine Brunyate Meredith has a section in which she discussed "Women's Fraternities" (now referred to as sororities) at Dickinson College. Meredith explained that "We have never had such good spirit existing between the Fraternities as exists at present. Pan-Hellenic rules and rushing methods, the result of years of hard work and experiment are now fairly satisfactory to everybody." Pleased with the women's work, Meredith argued that the college must provide better housing for the female fraternities as they do for the male fraternities.

According to the April 9th, 1976 Dickinsonian, 21 female students would be moving into the fraternity quad in the fall of 1976. The women are independent, having no greek connection. The women hoped to change the college's current "social scene."