Had SIUC administration implemented Select 2000 with the methods of University of Northern Colorado in mind, the plan to enhance greek life would not face the campus opposition that it rightfully deserves.

Select 2000 is the nine-part initiative calling for campus greeks of four pilot schools SIUC, UNC, Villanova University and Southern Florida College to gradually fine-tune their greek systems. The removal of alcohol from greek fraternity houses, the maintenance of higher grades and requiring hours of community service are some of Select 2000’s goals. These goals, identified by 26 national fraternities, are meant to be implemented by the year 2000.

The four pilot schools were contacted by the National Interfraternity Council and asked to become guinea pigs for the Select 2000 experiment not a bad offer considering campus greek systems across the country are under intense media scrutiny as of late because of binge drinking, hazing and other greek-related dilemmas. SIUC, fighting its suffocating party school image, accepted the council’s offer, as did the other campuses. But the way in which Select 2000’s goals were to be established on the pilot campuses was left up to the schools’ individual administrations. This is where the potential success of Select 2000 at SIUC and UNC begin to differ.

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UNC administrators were contacted about Select 2000 in early 1997 roughly at the same time the plan was introduced to SIUC. UNC educated its greek members about Select 2000 over a six-month period and allowed the greeks to vote on participation in the program. The greeks voted for Select 2000, a little more than a week ago as SIUC already was plunging ahead on implementing the program. The time UNC greeks were given to evaluate and choose Select 2000 was the key factor in its approval. This line of thinking was lost on Select 2000’s facilitators at SIUC.

SIUC greeks were told about Select 2000 and focus groups about the program were organized on campus so that greeks could evaluate and discuss its plans. While there was greek support and opposition of Select 2000 during this period, SIUC officials decided not to give the greek system a vote because administrators were afraid that Select 2000 would be opposed by the majority of greeks here. As a result, Katie Sermersheim, assistant director of Student Development, said the SIUC administration did not want to appear hypocritical by allowing greeks to vote on Select 2000 and then enforce the program anyway in spite of opposition.

Democratically challenged SIUC administrators did not become hypocrites, but their actions are suspect in comparison to those of UNC.

SIUC officials also took it upon themselves to figuratively rename the program Select 1998 by mandating that its chapter houses become alcohol-free by next school year. UNC officials have said that ramrodding the alcohol issue so quickly is not a good idea. Instead, UNC has opted to slowly phase alcohol out of fraternity houses while actively identifying alternatives to alcohol parties at chapter houses.

It is obvious that UNC administrators used better methods than SIUC’s to introduce Select 2000 to its greek students and the divergent paths students have taken in embracing Select 2000 at each school clearly shows where SIUC lost its way. SIUC greeks repeatedly have complained they were not asked for a vote, but are administrators listening? If administrators ignored the right of SIUC greeks to vote on Select 2000 before, maybe the actions of administrators at another school will force a rethinking of strategy. The issue here is a matter of courtesy extend greeks a true opportunity to make their voices heard as UNC administrators did. Greeks already have expressed the desire to improve the greek system from within. Work together with them and not against them because you both are working toward the same goal.