It's no longer a nuanced and controversial opinion to believe that the Greek system is outdated and problematic. And at this point, it's starting to become a straw-person argument.

No one is out there arguing that the Greek system is perfect. The concept of perfection is in and of itself problematic. However, from my experience, the vast majority of Greek life's participants believe that the system has its flaws and wish to develop solutions such that as many students as possible could be able to reap Greek life's benefits without any of the drawbacks. Students who participate in Greek life recognize the system's flaws, but largely believe that the benefits of being a member of a Greek letter organization outweigh these flaws and that these flaws can be rectified via large-scale, systematic change.

Now, I definitely don't have a perfect solution in mind. In case you're unfamiliar with Greek life's controversial role on many college campuses, here is a piece that illuminates some of the Greek system's flaws. There are many points within the blog post with which I take issue including the oversimplification of the Greek system, ignoring the fact that hazing is strictly outlawed on campuses, refusing to acknowledge that broken systems can change, the author's inexplicable defensiveness, and the failure to make an argument that is inclusive of sororities and fraternities, to name a few.

In an era where think pieces litter the internet with redundant lines of reasoning and arguments that are devoid of originality, it's easy to become tired with the tropes of the oppressed. That is not to say that there are not real issues in our society that need to be dealt with, but rather that it is incredibly uninteresting to read unqualified, quasi-plagiarized opinion pieces and glorified personal essays masquerading as enlightened commentary time and time again. I've grown tired of defending the Greek system as I am much more concerned with making an actual concerted effort into righting some of its many wrongs.

I am just dying to find a think piece that not only breaks down the problematic elements of Greek life on college campuses, but that also seeks to have a productive discussion regarding how to eliminate those elements while still allowing for a space within which students are still able thrive on the community building aspects for which Greek life is known to its members. To suggest that the Greek system is so incredibly toxic that it must be entirely abolished is quite frankly myopic.

To be completely honest, I never thought that Greek life would be for me, but being a part of such a strong sisterhood on my campus has had an undoubtedly positive impact on my life. I've made lifelong friends that I likely never would have been able to connect with had it not been for my sorority. To put it quite simply, on a personal level Greek life for me has been an incredibly worthwhile, positive experience and I know that there are countless men and women who are thankful for their decision to participate in the Greek system.

One point that is frequently pushed aside when the validity of the Greek system is talked about is the importance of spaces for strong women to empower one another. I cannot think of any other venues within which so many women are able to join forces in pursuit of common values and goals than within the Greek system. Our society does a terrific job of building spaces within which men dominate the conversation and women often resign themselves to the fact that this is simply the norm. It can be difficult for women on college campuses to find spaces within which they feel validated, empowered, and supported. Because of this, when it is argued that one can find the same sense of community that women can find by participating in Greek life within a variety other campus groups I have a hard time agreeing.

Should steps be taken to make Greek life more inclusive and accessible? Yes.

Are there tragic, foundational flaws in the system? Yes.

Was the Greek system founded on some troublesome, problematic ideals? Yes.

Will there still be people who feel that the Greek system has nothing to offer them and who will lead successful lives sans affiliation? Of course.

Can we all work together to eradicate antiquated and problematic traditions within the Greek system such that all students who wish to are able to find a productive home within Greek life? I truly believe so.