Syracuse University is an institution with a diverse body of students, and statistically this is relatively true, but when you look around it is easy to see it is a “diversely-divided” intuition.  What I mean by this is, is that while we have numerous races and ethnicities represented on Syracuse campus, many of us remain within social circles where the majority of the people are the same race as us; this is most easily seen in the Greek System.

SU has six councils with more than 50 organizations divided between the six, however the five social Greek Councils are the ones I am most referencing. While history has created these five councils under the ugly segregation laws of the past, it does not mean that we must socialize and support only those within our council. With the conclusion of Greek Week, I would like to reflect on the lack of unity seen in the Greek community and even more outright the almost inexistent support across councils at philanthropy and social events.

In order to mitigate the lack of unity and support, I am purposing that everyone in the Greek Community work together to increase support at philanthropy/social events across councils, partner with an organization in another council to hold events together, and increase participation in events involving the whole Greek Community. The first part I am purposing- increasing support at philanthropy/social events across councils- is the simplest yet most critical aspect of mitigating these issues. By increasing support at these events members will have an increased opportunity to meet new people and network while also creating an environment that is more inclusive to those within the Greek Community. The second aspect I am purposing, is to have organizations partner with an organization outside of their home council with which they could hold social, scholarly and philanthropic events with. With increased relations between organizations in different councils, members will have an opportunity to make connections with new people, find commonalities amongst them, and build new friendships. In an atmosphere where there is a mutual interest in new friendships people are more apt to go outside of their comfort zone to get to know people. Finally, the university has created opportunities for the Greek Community to come together in unity, regardless of letters, gender or council, so why are we not taking full advantage of these opportunities?

Willow A. Faulkner
International Relations and Citizenship & Civic Engagement at Syracuse University ‘16