After my first Viewpoint about Tufts social life was received with such open arms and eager ears, my housemate poignantly pointed out to me that there would surely be some backlash against the cause and against me for mobilizing people behind it. Then the Facebook group took off, students began bouncing ideas off one another and things actually started moving.
We have had numerous meetings, we have talked to the administration, a pub will be opening up on campus in the near future, and the Tufts cops who came at 1:00 am to break up the party I was at on Friday night even did so with courtesy and previously unprecedented respect.
So when a sorority girl publishes a viewpoint, three weeks after this little movement began, inviting all of the alleged "ignorant complainers" to direct all their questions on this subject to her, I can't help but think of 10 or 20 questions of my own.
First, I, and all the other students working on this issue recently have been trying to be as goal oriented as possible at handling this situation. We have been responsible, we have not gotten drunk and thrown bottles at administration buildings, and we have gotten real results.
Nothing can be done by falling back and saying, "Well, things might be tough, and the cops might be out of line and overzealous. But we shouldn't waste time complaining. We should just make the best of what we have." If we do that, nothing gets changed, and we end up with the same problems next week and next year.
Now please do not misunderstand me. I am an optimist and I think it is just dandy that Miss Ladd strives to be a positive person. But when things are wrong, you can't just sit there and tell yourself to stay positive and make the best of it. Sometimes, you have to change things. Now is one of those times. And, I wonder how one can see that the social scene is lacking without seeing how little the Greek system is doing to help matters.
There are plenty of forums for members of the Greek community to come together and join our cause. On the Facebook group, we have all but begged the presidents and members of fraternities and sororities to join in and help in any way they can. It is obvious that the fraternities and sororities should have a big voice in this.
However, those in charge cannot rest on their laurels and tell us that the fraternities are filling the void just fine when they are not. And they shouldn't mislead students by saying that sororities provide a substantial social outlet for all students when they really mean sisters and guests.
Now if anyone wants to start scrutinizing the minutia of the details in my articles, and if you want to go ahead and correct all the misprints or typos in the Daily Viewpoints section, then you should go ahead and do it and we'll probably see you again in two months. Sarah does however, make it clear that she's more informed than I regarding Greek life at Tufts and points out "...eight fraternities that are able to have parties and provide the Tufts community with a social outlet." Well, Miss Ladd, if they are ABLE, then why don't they?
The truth is, it does not matter which frats are open and which are closed, which are dry and which ones are not. What matters is whether they can fill the social hole that, due to an increased police presence and probation sentences, has been opened wider in recent years. We are all on the same side here so after agreeing that there are problems, we should agree that the best thing is to do all in our power to solve them.
As I said already, it does not surprise me to see that there are people out there who disapprove of my message or the tactics that Erik Aurigemma and all the rest of the excited members of the Facebook group are using to promote positive change. But, believe me, I hope as much as the next fun loving Jumbo that the Greek system bounces back and becomes the central social locale that it used to be. If they can hold open events for non-Greek students, that would be a huge step. But the reason they don't is because they have to tiptoe around the trouble-seeking police and the administration's hard-line policies. This is what we are trying to change.
I am a senior this year. So whatever progress is made on this front will be progress that I most likely won't be able to experience as a Tufts student. That does not mean I do not care. I do. I just urge all who decide to take on this issue to always look objectively at what is going on. See the big picture.
Do not be satisfied with a pub opening up in Hotung or an open semi-formal scheduled in December by the social chair of the Greek Council's executive board. These are only small parts of a solution to a big problem. Everyone should have as much fun as they want at college and if you feel like your life is being hindered during your precious four years here, then at least for the sake of those who came before you, please...
Stand up and fight back.
Eli Cohn is a senior majoring in political science.
