Thursday, February 12, 2015

SI & LD tearing down in attempt to build up

As a member of Greek Life, I have recently experienced the more strictly enforced rules created by SI & LD. Their overall goal and purpose is to create a safe environment for those involved in a sorority or a fraternity when going out on the weekends, but are they counterproductive? The way SI & LD is enforcing them upon members of Greek life is more of an attack, rather than a safety concern. I understand what they're trying to do, and I support it, but what I do not support is SI & LD trying to single-handedely control Greek Life.
           A few rules that I am in support of that are being enforced are that events where alcohol will be present have to be registered through SI & LD, and that these events are limited to Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. What I do not agree with is SI & LD enforcing the rule that an event cannot last longer than four hours, and every guest present must be checked in, and their name must be on the guest list, or the entire house is responsible for the mishap. SI & LD has the right to show up unannounced to any fraternity house, any sorority house, or any apartment affiliated with a chapter, and regulate whether or not the enforced rules are being followed, and if they are not punishments will be given to the chapter responsible.
          With all of these rules, for not only those with leadership positions, but also those just involved in Greek Life, it is almost taking the fun out of going out. I understand that without rules, Greek Life would be chaos. I understand that rules need to be enforced to not only keep us safe, but also all students at NIU safe as well. It is making it a tedious task to incorporate other sorority/fraternity members with events, when unity should be enforced. SI & LD is just trying to do their job, but from what I've heard from previous years Greek Life has never been attacked this harshly before. Hopefully, SI & LD will find a way to enforce the rules without tearing down Greek Life in the process.
          I can relate this experience to social perspective. SI & LD is trying to shape what we think, what we do, our marginality, and how we socialize in our everyday lives. Although it does not effect those who are not involved in Greek life, it can be categorized as a social crisis for those that are, meaning that people that have personal problems and opinions toward SI & LD and their enforcement of rules are making it a public issue. SI & LD supports their enforcement through the handbook that all chapters have to abide by, attempting to provide a sociological theory, which is a statement of how and why things are related. Members of Greek life are taking a structural-functional approach towards the new rules being enforced. In other words, members do not like change, and are in favor of stability and solidarity. If SI & LD's regulations are not met, manifest function will be put into effect. When chapters are given a warning that SI & LD will be paying them a visit, at any time, obviously the chapter is going to take all necessary precautions to avoid violating regulations. This is an example of Hawthorne Effect, showing change in a subject's behavior which is caused by awareness that they are being studied.

Sources:

http://www.niu.edu/fsye/first-year_experience/resources/2014_15_student_handbook_1.pdf

http://northernstar.info/campus/niu-pushes-to-enforce-off-campus-party-rules/article_9a6caf18-a212-11e4-b0b4-dfc477118122.html

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