As I was walking to my first class this morning (which turned out to be Senior Seminar, if that's not a wake up call, I don't know what is), I saw on the sidewalk the words (or something very similar) "Good luck on your first day!" and "Good-bye summer, hello school!" followed by variations on "<3 Greek Life". I also wandered around campus a little bit and found that the well wishes from Greek Life had been altered or erased in some places. Someone had changed "Greek Life" to "Greek Death" in one place and drawn dead fish around it. And others wrote that "good luck" and "go Greek" are unrelated.
Now. Let me throw something out there. I'm not in a Greek organization. I have no desire to join a Greek organization. Well, not a social sorority. I'm in an honors fraternity for English, but I don't think that counts. Anyway. No desire. So a little part of me was annoyed when I saw that all the well-wishes were surrounded by hearts from Greek Life and also suggested that the reader "go Greek!" I'm a senior, I'm not joining your sorority, I feel like I've earned enough years to be a little annoyed that you're bombarding the campus with what I'd like to call propaganda...but a meeker force tells me I shouldn't. So I won't. Even though the thought and sentiment are there.
Anyway. Despite my slight irritation, I still enjoyed the messages provided by Greek Life. I'm not stupid enough to hope that I have a horrible day just because Greek Life says that I should have a good day. Maybe it's me, but even though I don't connect having a good day with going Greek, the thought is still there. Someone, presumably a stranger, wished me well this morning. So I appreciate that. I'm just going to ignore the "go Greek" because 1. I can't and 2. I'd rather not. Which is a personal decision that I'm perfectly fine keeping to myself. Other than this blog post which just happens to be advertising it...no one reads this blog anyway, right? (Melbourne...) Point being, I'm going to have a good day. I appreciate the thought, so thank you, Greek Life.
To the person or group who decided to alter/change/erase those positive (though subliminally advertising-y) messages, there is a time and place for your ire. I understand that you're upset. I understand that you want to make a statement. If Greek Life had only put "go Greek!" everywhere, sure, go ahead and change those if you're really upset about it. But are you really going to be so petty as to alert everyone to the fact that having a good day isn't connected to being in a Greek organization?
People who want to join a sorority or a fraternity are going to join regardless of whether you cross out "life" and replace it with "death" on the sidewalk. If they're super dedicated to the idea of joining, that might even cause them to defend the Greek system against your wrath. Partly because it's childish. And partly because their loyalty has already been won. So maybe I'm telling you it's a hopeless cause...but really what I'm trying to say is that it's a personal decision. They have to choose for themselves, and ultimately it doesn't matter how many "go Greek!" flyers or chalk drawings they see, they're going to choose whether or not they join. (for the most part, I'm not going to go into the Recruitment process because that's not the point)
What I'm saying is: back off. There is a time and place for your anger, but the first day of school on chalk drawings that say "good luck" is neither the time nor the place. Please, I beg of you, don't spread negativity on words that were meant to be innocently positive. I remain optimistic that the people who were responsible for the original chalk messages meant first and foremost to wish everyone on campus a good day. Their intentions were mostly pure. Don't alter their messages just because you don't agree with who wrote them. Would you do the same to Habitat for Humanity if they wrote inspiring messages and then asked you to join them? No. Probably because you would have to be really silly to do that...but come on now. We're all adults here.
Aren't we?
Elle: I promised her, and I can't break the bonds of sisterhood.
Professor Callahan: Screw sisterhood! This is a murder investigation! Not some scandal at the sorority house!
- Legally Blonde
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