Community Council approves first-year rush

Author: Michelle Constant

On April 7, the Community Council approved a motion to ask President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz to allow second-semester students to pledge social houses. For an hour and a half, over 30 faculty members, administrators and students gathered to debate whether the pledge process should be extended to include students from all four classes. All five social houses were represented at the meeting.

The Community Council has recently had a number of discussions regarding social house issues. Last week, the Inter-House Council provided the Council with its agenda and defense for allowing second-semester students to pledge social houses.

Council student representative Dean Atyia '08.5 raised two of the first questions regarding the new proposition. He questioned whether allowing second semester students to pledge social houses may result in members that lack commitment or may cause these students to miss out on other opportunities.

"Any organization that requires extended commitment to a group will always be a large part of your social life," responded Omega Alpha member Alpheus Chan '08. "I don't think that it detracts from my involvement in college or community activities."

Social house members argued that joining a house is no different than joining a sports team, performing arts group or student government association.

"Everyone chooses their level of commitment in a social house in the same way as someone involved in an IM sport," said Omega Alpha President Natalie Sammarco. "You can go to every game or you can show up occasionally."

However, Student Council Appointee Molly Dwyer disputed that when students joins Varsity sport teams, they are aware of the expected level of commitment because they have been competing in their sport for many years. Pledging a social house is an unfamiliar experience.

Community Council members voiced many other concerns about extending social house membership to first-year students. They questioned how first-years can get involved in social houses without becoming members. Council member Michael Glidden suggested a "members without pledge" category for students. Social house members could add first-years to their mailing lists and invite them to events, while not allowing them to pledge until sophomore year.

Council members were concerned with whether pledging a social house as a first-year detracts from student' abilities to find other "families" on campus. Dean of the College and co-chair of the Council Tim Spears added that allowing first-years to pledge would also further divide September from February students. When February students enter the College, their September first-year peers may already be committing themselves to a social group.

In response to social house members' claims that joining a social house is no bigger a commitment than joining a sports team, Spears argued that first-year students will not choose to pledge a social house instead of a sports team, but in addition to their other activities.

"We will be adding yet another layer. More pressures will ensue," said Spears. "I am concerned about the opportunity cost to locking into a social group in your first year. What are you giving up? Pledge is a deep process that requires emotional and time commitment."

Despite Council members concerns of first-year students over-committing themselves, social house members made their own compelling arguments in favor of advancing the pledge process.

"If you pledge freshman year, you get to know a broader range of people under an umbrella of unity," said Sammarco.

Social house members also responded to Community Council concerns about how advancing the pledge process will benefit the community. Delta House President Chris Angelini '08 said that his house has cookouts, tailgates and other events that are open to the whole community, not just members. For example, they had a cookout at Bread Loaf during Winter Carnival ski races, at which anyone could eat and learn about Delta House.

Omega Alpha member Ellie Molyneux '08 added that being part of a social house helps to organize for community events like Relay for Life that require large groups of volunteers.

Social house members responded to Spears, arguing that that pledge process does not add pressure to students. Instead, it helps students to balance their lives and prioritize their work and activities. A few students claimed that their grades were actually higher in the semester during which the pledged.

The Mill President Xander Manshel '09 wants first-years to have the opportunity to view social houses as more than "fraternities."

"The bread-and-butter of social houses are not the big parties," said Manshel. "It's the study sessions, the informal dinners, the coming-together of multiple affinity groups."

According to members of Xenia, an overwhelming number of second-semester students came to the house to rush this spring. Despite their interest, these students were told they could not yet join. Xenia members argued that if first-years were allowed to pledge, more students would know about the social houses. This would improve the overall social life of the College.

After a long debate, social house members convinced Community Council members that allowing second-semester students would add to the experience of the individual students, the house and the community as a whole. By pledging social houses a semester earlier, students may advances their chances of finding their places at the College and begin helping the community.

"When you join a social house sophomore year, you are really ready to get involved," said Angelini. "Then you go abroad, sometimes for a semester, sometimes for a whole year. There is no opportunity to get involved early and to take on leadership roles."

If Liebowitz approves the recommendation of the Council, second-semester students will be permitted to pledge social houses next spring.