After ranking sixth on the Best Colleges Online list of the top ten colleges that “Get Greek Life Right,” Gustavus Greeks once again dove into their pledging periods at the end of September, but not without some feelings of frustration over pitfalls in communication and lack of student participation in decision making.

Gustavus has both local and national chapters that are regulated by the college administrators and the Inter-Greek Senate (IGS). IGS consists of two advisors and eleven students who serve in various positions as chairs and serve as a governing body and a liason between the administration and the presidents of the individual chapters.

While both local and national chapters are regulated by IGS, in the planning and execution of pledging local chapters have found themselves struggling to understand the decision-making process, wishing to express their opinions and have them taken into consideration for decision making.

Senior Public Accounting Major and Delta Phi Omega Pledge Leader Megan Miller expressed her frustration with communication and Greek relations with regulating administrators as campus Greeks undergo changes to their pledging processes.

Miller expressed appreciation for the existence of a governing body of students like IGS, yet expressed concern as well over the breakdown of communication as she believed the student component of IGS served merely as a mouthpiece for decisions made by others.

“They don’t work with us; they work to control us, and it can be disrespectful and rude when they don’t care what we have to say,” Miller said. “I don’t think change is bad, and I see why it needs to get better, but there’s a better way to go about it.”

Senior Economics Major and Scholarship Chair of IGS Blake Gust communicated similar sentiments. As a second-year member of IGS and active Epsilon Pi Alpha, Gust has seen the problems in communication develop and hopes that it will become a focus of discussion this year. His greatest frustration is the lack of information IGS receives, weakening the body’s ability to effectively communicate with the chapters and act as an effective liaison.

He believes there is a problem when he finds himself unable to answer questions posed to him by fellow Greeks on the rationale behind decisions and policy changes.

“It is frustrating and disrespectful not to be informed,” Gust said.

While wishing for further disclosure and explanation of decisions made by the administration, Gust also believes that IGS could play a more active role in determining the needs for regulation.

“Rules trickle down from the administration. We’re a governing body, but we don’t get to govern,” Gust said.

Director of Student Activities and Advisor to IGS Megan Ruble responded to a question on communication by urging chapters to engage their presidents to speak up for their needs at council meetings, believing the process “could be a much more interactive experience.”

Ruble stressed her desire to help both IGS and the chapters themselves move towards a safer and healthier pledging process.

“I want to be their advocate, but I do have to hold them accountable, and that’s challenging,” Ruble said

She sees the biggest challenge in overcoming baseline philosophies, such as the idea that a pledge must “earn their membership” to a Greek organization. Ruble cited an emerging trend among select colleges to end pledging before membership altogether.

“Some colleges have even done away with the pledging period, and instead integrate education on chapter history and engage in bonding activities while active members,” Ruble said.

Though not all changes need be as drastic as this measure, Ruble still believes there is work to be done. Members of the Greek community believe this as well, yet they desire more autonomy in the execution of change and the decision-making process. Senior Communication Studies Major and Delta Phi Omega member Brittany Boyd said that she was dissatisfied with the treatment by the administration that has appeared to her as a “parent/child” relationship where she thinks they deserve more credit and respect.

“This year’s group of actives has been more cooperative, and we have new girls in leadership. They [the administration] are stuck with a perception of the past,” Boyd said.

Junior Psychology Major and Epsilon Pi Alpha member Paul Thao felt similarly that assumptions made about the nature of his chapter were misguided as well.

“My chapter means the most to me  and to have other people view my chapter as ‘bad’ and question our character—I find it offensive. I want to communicate to them [the administration] that we aren’t terrible people. With the Greek community there are a lot of misconceptions,” Thao said.

When questioned on the subject of further student involvement in regulation, Ruble stated that with greater autonomy came greater responsibility. She chose to quote an esteemed professor who had spoken to this same issue of self-regulation with her in the past:

“Greeks have been criticized for not policing themselves . . . There needs to be more accountability in order to receive more respect,” Ruble said.

Ruble believes that with work on both sides of the issue on the part of students—both accountability and dialogue with their chapter presidents—the direction of IGS could bring about healthy and powerful change in Greek life at Gustavus.

“I want to stress that there are so many things to celebrate [about Greek life] and so many wonderful things are happening,” Ruble said.

The Greek members interviewed agreed that this goal could be attained with work on the part of the administration as well. With thoughtful dialogue and increased student participation, the students see a bright future for a modernized version of Greek life at Gustavus while maintaining the traditions that enrich their chapters, give pledging vibrancy and set them apart as student organizations.