All existing Bloom Greeks may be banned
IF YOU WANT GREEK LIFE TO CONTINUE AS YOU HAVE COME TO KNOW AND LOVE IT…YOU MUST READ THIS POST, because there is a very real chance that Commonwealth University is planning to end it.
There is discussion happening at the University RIGHT NOW regarding how to INTEGRATE Greeks into the new structure of Commonwealth University.
Polls are being taken.
Data is being collected.
Greeks have their proponents and their detractors at the decision making level.
Outright disaffiliation of ALL Greeks at the Commonwealth University level is unlikely to continue. There are Greek systems at both Mansfield and Lockhaven, and to dissolve those systems would bring unwanted drama to an already dramatic situation and adjustment period. Also, it is becoming painfully obvious to Decision Makers that although Greeks might not be DIRECTLY named as a reasons folks attend these schools, they are definitively TANGENTIALLY connected, as “social life” is one of the main reasons students say they select these schools now comprising the Commonwealth system. The system cannot afford to lose any more students: so keeping some version of Greeks is the desired solution.
THIS IS THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM - It’s been pretty quiet on the Greek Alumni page… but SO MUCH IS HAPPENING behind the scenes. The direction for the next 50 years of Greek Life at Commonwealth University is happening right now! It’s either the end, or a new Founder’s Day…and we need to be prepared. That’s why a small group of Greeks OFFICIALLY launched a non-profit organization we are calling the Bloomsburg Greek Alumni Association. We adopted the Bylaws officially during Homecoming 2022 and have applied for our 501c3 status.
This organization has a FOUR PART MISSION:
Providing guidance to Active Chapters and helping them work together effectively and equitably toward the best possible outcomes.
Provide events and opportunities for Greek Alumni to associate, talk and have fun.
Philanthropy and Public relations to better the reputation of greek organizations.
Scholarship to Greek students in need who could use some assistance.
THERE ARE A SEEMING MAJORITY OF DECISION MAKERS WHO WANT TO OUTRIGHT BAN ANY GREEK ORGANIZATION EXISTING AT BLOOMSBURG RIGHT NOW…OR THAT EVER EXISTED AT BLOOMSBURG.
What that means is:
NO ASA
NO AST/TSP
NO Chi Sigma Rho
NO Chi Theta Pi
NO DEB
NO DePhiE
NO Delta Pi/Sigma Pi
NO KAPPA ALPHA PSI
NO Pixies
NO Theta Tau Omega
NO TKE
NO Tri Sig
NO SIO
NO DOC
NO Lambda Chi/Acacia
NO Zetes
NO ANYONE WHO HAS EVER BEEN A GREEK AT BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY…ever.
COMPLETE CLEAN SWEEP.
NEW BEGINNING…USING ONLY ORGS APPROVED BY COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY (With extreme prejudice against any group that was ever on campus previously).
And best of all… NO MORE CONNECTED GREEK ALUMNI. A zombie nation of Bloom Greek Alumni.
“War's over, man. Wormer dropped the big one.” ~ D.Day, Animal House
This is what we will be saying, if GREEK ALUMNI can’t rally and come together and support this Bloomsburg Greek Alumni Association. It’s literally the only thing that stands between right now’s “calm time of incremental improvement” and literal oblivion of all our organizations. There will be NO ONE SPARED…regardless of how much you might want to think “if we just play by the rules…things will be OK.” Those sniveling days are over. You won’t be spared, and to advise your active in this way is both stupid and organizational suicide.
So here is the good news: We are ahead of them, and we are organized, and we have better ideas.
As much as the “clean sweep” idea is appealing to administrator bureaucrats who don’t know anything about greek life (or care about American Constitutional rights to assemble)…the more seasoned Administrators know: it’s not workable. It’s not practical. And trying it will likely result in a kind of disaster not previously known on the Bloomsburg campus…or any other. The shit would literally hit the fan in so many ways as to damage Commonwealth beyond repair at a time when they can ill afford that kind of public relations nightmare.
So…what to do if you are a merging University system with a Greek Life problem that’s hard to fix “in house”?
…You outsource it!
The Greek Alumni Association would like to propose the following solution:
Instead of the school “going after” locals and nationals who obviously won’t disband: why not partner with an intermediary like the Bloomsburg Greek Alumni Association to play the role the school used to play with the existing organizations? Instead of using the Code of Conduct to disband and persecute these organizations, why not simply distance Commonwealth by using an intermediary (since this is really the desired goal)?
Local organizations are appealing to minority and economically challenged students, who might not be able to afford the high dues of national organizations. Would it be a “good look” to pursue and punish mostly minority and poor kids who want the advantages of Greek membership…as Commonwealth tries to attract more diverse students? Might that not look “elitist” and maybe more like the fraternities of years past, with exclusivity requirements that made it difficult for minority and poor students? Most savvy merger strategists would likely agree that it is not a good look to pursue punishment of local greek students in that scenario.
If the goal is promoting a renovated and updated Greek Life at the campuses of Commonwealth University (to entice students to attend and fill empty dorm rooms) why not combine that goal with the idea of a Greek Village on upper campus? This idea is still on the table because very few kids are living on upper campus presently and rooms are sitting empty.
It’s common knowledge that no one wants to live there (including Greeks), because it’s too remote and too far from the action. However, if Commonwealth gave Greeks floors of some of the buildings, or even whole buildings…that could work. This fixes the “empty building” problem, and gives Commonwealth the geographical control they want. The devil is in the details: but it would be worth exploring.
The Bloomsburg Greek Alumni Association would of course manage the Greek Village as an outside contractor so that some rules outside of campus rules (like alcohol on campus) could be navigated. OUTSOURCING THE WHOLE THING is the right answer…not blowing it up, and going after the students.
We are proposing an “outside contractor” organization, made up of dedicated Greeks, who know the specifics of Greek life at Bloomsburg, and who would be willing to take up the challenge on a volunteer, or alumni funded basis. This would give the University the middle man they want…and more. It gives them instant proficiency and competency on the subject, and keeps them from having to create a new dept., hire folks, take on all the time and cost associated. It gets all the parties to their desired goals with minimal liability and friction. It gives all the parties maximum flexibility and control of desired outcomes.
So, moving to the Greek Alumni Association….
At Homecoming, we adopted our bylaws, and are an official 501c3 organization in PA. We have a full Board of nine folks, but that number will functionally grow, as we are already putting together subcommittees and other groups to help all organizations get involved and provide input and feedback, so that they feel represented. We have our fledgling scholarship. We have a budget, officers, and some recent grads as our Active Liaisons. We have a lawyer on our Board. We have people from the Alumni Association on our Board. We have University recognized donors on our Board. The website is launched. We are legit. It took us about 10 years of “thinking about it”, but we have arrived…and just in time!
In coming weeks, you will be hearing a lot more about what we have planned for 2023, and how we plan to make it work. One of the most exciting things is an Intern, who we would like to see work as a part time (and later, full time) advocate and Director of greek life at Bloomsburg. Someone who won’t treat Greeks like something to be “controlled” but conversely….something to be promoted, accentuated and celebrated! We are very excited about the idea and the opportunity!
Projecting into the future…
If we can make a PRIVATE management company comprised of Greek Alumni for the Bloom campus, why couldn’t that be the solution for all three campuses of Commonwealth University? And then where might that all go? Maybe existing chapters at all three Commonwealth schools…but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Right now, we are looking into oblivion, so let’s deal with that existential reality before we start shooting for the stars.
