By JAZMIN GOMEZ
Beloit College, surprisingly, does possess the budget to house two sororities and three fraternities, creating a muted but effective Greek Life presence on campus. Theta Pi Gamma, a local sorority founded in 1896, promotes values of passion, love and strength whereas their neighboring chapter, Kappa Delta, pushes forward their national merits of leadership, personal development and academic success. For the fraternities, similar values are maintained. Born in 1855, Sigma Chi harbors friendship, justice and learning as core principles. The “Men of Excellence” reside in Phi Kappa Psi next to the international chapter Tau Kappa Epsilon where morals of culture, light and truth exist.
Outlining the values of each chapter attempts to give an idea of their ways of life. In hindsight, these principles provide a guideline to the sisterhoods and brotherhoods, a loose morality each chapter strives to live by. Yet, who enforces these rules? As a supposed collective, who possesses the power of authority? Is a final say reminiscent of a true democracy or can a hierarchy or power inherently dismantle free will? Posing these questions reveals the fragility of leadership, especially the presidential role, in Greek Life.
Fragility, not as in weakness, but vulnerability. If the sisterhood or brotherhood nominates one person to represent the house, their actions reflect on the competency of the chapter, as is true in every presidential role. Yet, the difference in Greek Life is evident in the closeness of quarters, opening the discussion of does a bad leader not only reflect individual incompetency, but a flawed house?
Last semester, the Sigma Chi house underwent scrutiny for an anti-LGBTQ+ incident that got leaked on Snapchat. In short, the video depicted the president of Sigma Chi engaging in hateful discourse. Other organizations, including neighboring chapters, asked for the removal of the Sigma Chi president and even the possibility of abolishing the Sigma Chi chapter entirely. In this specific circumstance, the president of a chapter threatened the existence of its brotherhood, insinuating the entire house shared the same prejudices. But, was the Sigma Chi house actually flawed?
Present day, the Sigma Chi house attempts to regain traction. Current Sigma Chi president Tyrel Spivey’24 explains how he inherited the presidential title saying, “The brotherhood began to fall apart because of different views. I think I was the type of leader that they needed at that time– someone that can bring people together, encourage them and listen to everyone’s point of view.”
Spivey speaks on the importance of the presidential role in a chapter. In times of need, the president seems crucial in regrouping the collective’s motivation and focus.
“Brotherhood is better since coming back from summer. We’re making relationships on campus again that were ruined last semester. I’m also setting up different trainings for us to do in light of the event that happened. It’s going to be implemented from here on out.”
Despite administering inclusivity training for the entire house, indicating a problem needing fixing, Spivey says, “Individuals make decisions based on what they’re doing, not based on what the organization or the house is doing. We’re human, we make mistakes,” sharing the idea of bad leadership only reflecting individual failure.
Mariko Tanada’24, president of Theta Pi Gamma, shares this idea saying, “I think there is an aspect of culture that can influence the effectiveness of a leadership position. I also think it can come down to what experience they had prior to being in this community. If I wasn’t upholding my siblings’ values, it was mostly a decision on my own.”
Detaching the leader’s values and actions from the rest of the house’s points to an instrumental flaw in the electing process of the president. Why elect an official with a different mindset from the rest of the house?
President of Phi Kappa Psi, Steven Hall Jr.’25, seems to support this idea saying, “If a leader cannot orient themselves or their fraternity around that and help people learn and help people perform effectively, the house is going to fall apart. If I as a leader fail, the house suffers.” This perspective views bad leadership as a result of a flawed house, as the president is the main factor of a house’s success.
This discussion poses more questions on the significance of Greek Life leadership. To prevent houses from falling apart, do sororities and fraternities need heightened leadership responsibilities and regulations to keep the house in check, or a stronger collective duty to keep members in check? Perhaps, a stable house requires a representative leader more than anything.
“You’re the voice to share everyone’s opinions and values, so you’re trying to make sure you’re representing all the members of the organization in a way that we want to be reflected outside of our organization,” Tanada says. Introducing the notion of the president as the face of the sorority, Tanada views herself as the voice of the members.
Further supporting this idea, Steven Hall Jr. says, “I am a liaison for the campus. If anyone wants to get in touch with Phi Psi they get in touch with me. There’s an expectation of competency. If there’s a problem, of course, I am expected to handle that.”
Both presidents stress the importance of being a gateway from the chapter to the community. Of course, presidents acting as a direct link from the house to campus that fail to uphold the chapter’s values as an individual will most likely reflect badly on the entire house. Yet, focusing on the liaison aspect, the president interprets the messages being received. Perhaps, bad leadership points to miscommunication and a flawed election rather than the house.
Spivey sums this point up saying, “When someone is put into a leadership position, they have the qualities that you’re looking for. Overtime, they can become bad leaders. But at that moment, you see who they are then, you don’t see them in the future.”
Certainly this year, especially for Sigma Chi, the chapters will continue to uphold their core values through serving their collective and community. Steven Hall Jr. says, “But at the end of the day, we are a group where no one person can do the job.”
Featured Image Credit: Beloit College
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