Why there’s no reason for a four-week freshman freeze
A proposal is being put forth this week by the Interfraternity Council (IFC) to cut down by half the length of the freshman freeze, the rule that drastically limits Greek activity during the first four weeks on campus. After being considered by ASG, the proposal is headed for William Banis, vice president of student affairs. Describing the rules as “out of date” and “doing more harm than good,” Lucas Artaiz, President of IFC, explained the motion to ASG on Wednesday. Instead of asking the University “please,” what IFC and the other Greek organizations are really, and justifiably, saying is “it’s about time.”
The freeze has been a thorn in the collective side of the Greek system since 1989, when the rule was established. The idea behind the concept was to introduce freshmen to the Greek system gradually, instead of it having a direct influence on students’ first month here. As Artaiz explains, the rule was “designed to account for the realities that existed in 1989.” When the rule was initially proposed, it was meant to promote deterred recruitment. Up until the establishment of the freshman freeze, it was common practice for houses to begin recruiting freshmen as soon as they arrived on campus.
The Greek system (to which I belong) has undoubtedly changed since then. Though dirty rushing — rushing before the prescribed time — still exists, Artaiz pointed out that new recruitment regulations have been put in place and that Greek houses are now dry. The negative aspects of Greek life present when the rule was established have either been done away with or regulated under the strict guidelines of Greek organizations like IFC, Panhellenic Association, the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), and the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The proposal submitted to ASG on behalf of the Greek community suggests that the freeze has long since completed its objectives and now hurts the houses by remaining unaltered.
There is no longer a valid reason to keep the four-week freshman freeze. Artaiz is correct when he says that the statute is out of date. One of the problems cited in the proposal was that the freeze does not account for MGC, which was created after the rule was established. The proposal calls for an inclusion of all Greek societies.
The Greek culture at Northwestern is not the least bit reminiscent of the infamous Delta House from Animal House. A house like that wouldn’t stay on campus for more than one party with IFC looking over its shoulder. Now that the Greek system has changed significantly and for the better, a measure as extreme as four weeks of freshman freeze just seems based on old stereotypes of the Greek system, like it’s some big, bad, scary thing that new freshman are too delicate to encounter in their first weeks of school.
One of the biggest problems I’ve personally experienced with the freshman freeze is the skewed image it conjures for the houses. As a freshman, I initially had little to no interest in rushing. The idea of freshman freeze made it seem like the university was trying to protect me from something. I couldn’t get an idea of what any of the houses were really about until a month into school, when houses had to scramble to put together the traditional Sunday night dinners to make up for lost time. Instead of a natural introduction to the Greek system, I had to take the plunge as soon as the freeze ended. As a Greek sophomore, I can now see why people who hold similar views on the Greek system that I once had don’t join a house. Because of this, they’re missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The biggest problem with the current state of the freshman freeze rule is that it entirely undermines any level of personal responsibility in the freshman class. We’re told that college is supposed to be a time of adulthood and deciding things on your own, but as soon as we get here, we’re told where we can’t go. Where is the freedom? The personal responsibility? I thought I left mom and dad back in the suburbs.
One of the biggest benefits of the potential repeal would be the ability to conduct and advertise for philanthropies. Under the current rules, Greek organizations can’t hold philanthropic events during freshman freeze, and they can’t even advertise during the four weeks for events that occur after the freeze. If anyone remembers, we’re supposed to be service organizations. I think that should be the first impression freshman get of us, not the “you can’t go there” mentality that the university instills in them as soon as they arrive.
This proposal should and hopefully will go through. What harm could really come from allowing freshmen into Greek houses after their first two weeks on campus? It will certainly keep them from flocking to sketchy off-campus parties, where cops have to get involved. There would inevitably be concerns of an increase in dirty rushing, but if IFC keeps it promises to regulate recruitment more closely, this shouldn’t be a problem worth halting the proposal for. Cutting the freshman freeze in half is the least the university can do for the almost 40 percent of the student population in the Greek system, and for the 2,182 incoming members of the class of 2013.
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“Greek houses are now dry.”
hahaha haha ha ha…
Really?!
May 20, 2009 at 11:44 pm
The freshmen freeze, while partially alcohol related, and which, by the way, doesn’t stop freshmen from getting wasted at frats, is also there so that freshman can establish social circles and lives at NU and not at the NU greek system, which can become a crutch for a new student since it is the only social outlet readily available. The freeze also doesn’t deter enrollment in the greek system anyway, as you cited the 40% participation, which is above average. There really isn’t a problem…
Try some objectivity
May 21, 2009 at 12:21 am
While this is a good article, your missing an essential point. According to a bunch of articles a while back about the new meal plans they were forcing greeks in dorms to take, the University gave IFC the ability to have greek members on full house meal plans and not university meal plans at all in exchange for Freshman Freeze.
As well all saw, clearly the university has some plans on going back on that agreement, a move that would destroy a lot of the funding many houses depend on. The stupidity of this move and the bullshit complaints the university claims to be responding to is for a different article. The point is simple, there was a deal made in 1989. If the meal plans go, then freshman freeze should too.
Also, before 1989 people were establishing social circles, and if the greek system becomes a crutch for a student its probably because they want to go greek. Also, 40% is a number. Without seeing what would happen without freshman freeze, you can’t just cite a number and say that enrollment isn’t deterred.
Last thing, your right, greek houses are technically dry, but everyone knows thats bullshit. HOWEVER, Greek houses have intensive risk management for every party, whereas off campus parties don’t, because nobody gives a shit. Which one do you think is more dangerous?
Greek
May 21, 2009 at 12:18 pm
“When the rule was initially proposed, it was meant to promote deterred recruitment. Up until the establishment of the freshman freeze, it was common practice for houses to begin recruiting freshmen as soon as they arrived on campus.”
Correction
May 21, 2009 at 12:38 pm
“When the rule was initially proposed, it was meant to promote deterred recruitment.”
The phrase the author is looking for here is “deferred recruitment.” The policy is not meant to “deter” freshman from joining Greek houses, but rather, to defer, or delay, that process.
Correction
May 21, 2009 at 12:40 pm
“Also, 40% is a number. Without seeing what would happen without freshman freeze, you can’t just cite a number and say that enrollment isn’t deterred.” In point of fact, participation in the Greek system has risen since the institution of the freshman freeze. “Correction” is correct that this is about deferring rather than deterring. If the freeze was intended as a deterrent to a student’s ever joining the Greek system, it has failed miserably.
As an aside, where the university’s policies have had a profound effect is drinking in dorms and res colleges. It’s anecdotal, but per my friends in the class of ’92, all student housing was essentially wet through their freshmen year.
Your allegation about the meal plans is very interesting. I wouldn’t put such horse trading past ol’ Arne Weber. That man did not miss a trick.
'94 alumnus
May 21, 2009 at 1:13 pm
34% of Northwestern students are Greek.
31% of males, 38% of Females.
Stop Saying 40%
May 21, 2009 at 4:35 pm
As any non-Greek on this campus knows, Greek life at NU isn’t hurting. There isn’t a thing to do on this campus on a Friday or Saturday night unless you go to a party at a frat house. Unless you’re lucky and get to go to the frat’s off-campus party. Greek participation at NU is very high compared to other universities and the freshman freeze is one of the only things keeping this participation in check.
If freshman are forced to do things for a few weeks without Greek affiliation, good. That way, they might try to make friends with students on their own instead of making friends with the frats/sororities that seem like they can offer the most or that are the nicest. We all know that Greek life can be very tempting due to it’s popularity and how nice everyone is to you when they want you to rush. Plus those few weeks will give the freshmen some time to think about Greek life, which they should do before being bombarded with “RUSH!!!!” campaigns. If anything, the freeze only made me more curious about Greek life.
The “freedom” and “personal responsibility” you are so concerned about freshman having is completely ridiculous. These are the same freshman forced to buy a 13 meal plan so that they don’t forget to eat, go through 3 locked doors to get to their rooms, and check in with a babysi–erm, a CSO, when entering most dorms after “bedtime.”
Come On
May 22, 2009 at 8:25 am
freeze protects them from john sullivan.
huzzah
May 27, 2009 at 12:56 am
The main issue I see is that of off campus parties vs. on campus Fraternity parties.
Chapters go through extensive risk managment plans to prepare for large parties. These make them more safe for the chapter and people attending.
At off campus parties there is no one to take ownership, no one looking out for parter goers.
It is safer to party in a Fraternity.
A Real Issue
May 27, 2009 at 12:23 pm
It seems like anyone not part of the Greek system is really against it, and anyone within it is willing to defend it at all costs. All I know of Greek college life is that it’s supposedly a group of students who compete with other frats/soro, do community service, and drink/party a lot on the side. Or maybe it’s drink/party a lot, do community service on the side. Then there are the negative stereotypes of how shallow the selection process is, which breeds even more shallow attitudes in those chosen. But these, again, are stereotypes that I’ve been solely exposed to.
I’ve never really been interested in joining a sorority, but i need to know: what exactly is the appeal of Greek life as compared to a non-greek one? Will this freshman freeze really affect my desire to join–is four weeks of delay that big a deal?
incoming frosh
June 27, 2009 at 8:07 pm
to incoming frosh:
it won’t matter one bit…since you are a girl, your rush process has nothing to do with fraternities
response to incoming frosh
August 18, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Two notes:
It’s not everyone who’s not part of the greek system that entirely against it- it’s about 10% of campus that are irrationally and blindly infuriated by it, and make themselves heard. The rest don’t care that much.
Second, freeze will be 3 weeks this year forward. That is all.
Information
August 19, 2009 at 10:06 am