What Is Happening with Fraternity & Sorority Life at Franklin & Marshall College?

Re-Recognition 2002

What is happening with Fraternity & Sorority Life at Franklin & Marshall College?

The College completed the steps starting in 2002 to re-recognize F&M Fraternity & Sorority Life. This was done with undergraduate, alumni and inter/national leaders to recognize fraternities and sororities as official F&M student organizations. This action comes as part of a comprehensive strategic plan that includes a number of actions designed to enhance the quality of campus life. This decision brings an end to a period of “de-recognition” that began in 1988. Under that policy, Greek organizations had operated independently of the College, but they had remained a significant feature of the social lives of many students. Re-recognition came about as a result of a 16-month review process initiated by President John Fry. That review process was overseen by a strategic plan sub-committee and involved consultation with faculty, trustees, alumni and current students. During its review, the sub-committee found that the policy of de-recognition was not working. It concluded that there were too many negative consequences of a Greek system that was unregulated by the College. Particular problems identified by the sub-committee included risks to student health and safety, reports of hazing, and negative impacts on academic life and student academic performance associated with pledging activities. Finally, all who worked on the guidelines concluded that the rift in the Franklin & Marshall family that had been caused by de-recognition was an impediment to the future of both the College and the Fraternity|Sorority Community. Re-recognition will proceed under a set of guidelines that have been endorsed by the faculty, the Alumni Greek Council, and the undergraduate Greek Council and accepted by the College Board of Trustees, Franklin & Marshall's governing body. Underlying the guidelines is the common belief that Greek organizations should operate in a manner consistent with the College's mission and ethos.

Why Re-Recognition?

Alumni, students, faculty, trustees and administrators agreed to transform the Fraternity and Sorority system into a model system that operates in a manner consistent with the values of the College and its liberal arts heritage. The guidelines call for a Fraternity and Sorority system that "respects the centrality of academic life" and "demonstrates a fundamental respect for human dignity and a commitment to inclusiveness," concepts which are consistent with the traditional values of each Greek organization.

What are the guidelines?

Briefly, the guidelines call for: • A governance structure that provides for strong and consistent leadership from Greek alumni and faculty/staff advisers. • A set of standards designed to make academic achievement a cornerstone of the pledge/new member educational process. • Both the students interested in joining a Greek organization and the group itself must maintain specific grade point averages. • Measures to prevent hazing. Hazing is illegal under Pennsylvania state law and prohibited by the College's own code of conduct. A renewed commitment to community service that is in keeping with the College's overall commitment to Lancaster City.