New Greek rules aimed at community relations

Toward the end of August, the student body received an email from Rachel Drennen, Greek life and orientation coordinator, regarding forthcoming binding off campus residency regulations, as well as a standardization of expectations for Greek organizations.

In her email, Drennen expressed the Office of Student Activities’ plans to strengthen the overall student experience at Hopkins by focusing on further building the Greek community.

“Greek organizations have and will continue to contribute to the strength of our student experience,” Drennen wrote in an email to the University.

During the 2013-2014 academic year, the Office of Student Activities plans to focus on further enhancing the Greek community at Hopkins, and how Greek life fits into the grand scheme and overall goals of President Daniels’ Ten by Twenty plan. Another priority related to Greek life and the Ten by Twenty plan is President Daniels’ aim to strengthen relationships with the Baltimore community.

One of the Office of Student Activities’ primary goals for this academic year is to place greater emphasis on celebrating the achievements of Greek organizations on campus. In order to better measure organizations’ successes, Drennen explained that the University will create a committee of undergraduate fraternity and sorority members — as well as advisers and area alumni — who will gather to construct a body of standards for all Greek organizations at Hopkins.

“The group meetings for the Greek Life Standards Committee begin at the end of this month and the group or students, advisors and alums will meet every other week for the rest of the semester,” Drennen wrote in an email to The News-Letter. “My ultimate hope is that the Greek community will create some kind of basic standards for recognition in addition to some kind of process for recognition of excellence.”

Drennen is committed to ensuring that the process is student-driven.

“We will take as long as we need to create a body of standards that makes the most sense for our community,” she wrote.

These standards will help Greek organizations set and achieve goals during the academic year.

Drennen acknowledges that instigating such changes in the community will not be a fast or easy process, but feels confident that the community is capable of moving toward positive change.

“As we move forward and make progress toward our goal of creating the “best” Hopkins fraternity and sorority community, I want to be sure that students are driving the change,” she wrote. “I want to be certain that the change is meaningful and necessary; and I want to be sure that the students’ experiences in the fraternity and sorority community are rewarding and fun.”

“Students and community members alike have a responsibility to contribute in positive ways to the neighborhoods and communities surrounding the Homewood campus,” Drennen wrote.

The Strength in Neighbors Agreement details concrete actions students can practice on a regular basis in order to build and maintain positive relationships within the community and comply with Baltimore City and University policies.

“If students are regularly communicating with their neighbors and creating these positive relationships, there will be a great deal of intrinsic reward for all parties,” Drennen wrote.

The Strength in Neighbors initiative arose from talks between community members and the University. Resolutions ask that community members and Hopkins students engage in behaviors exhibiting the qualities of a “good neighbor.”

“All of these things are common sense behaviors that comprise a reasonable definition of a good neighbor,” Drennen wrote.

However, some of the fine print was contested. One of the more contested points of the agreement requested that students notify their immediate neighbors, neighborhood association president and Jon Walter, the Student Community Liaison of any upcoming parties they plan on having.

“I think giving notice to University administrators and neighbors is helpful for everyone,” Drennen wrote. “If you, as the student hosting the party, let your neighbors know two days prior to your party or gathering that you are hoping to have it on this date and time, then you, the host, have time to make adjustments to your event if your neighbor disagrees with some element.”

Some students were especially weary of notifying the current Neighborhood Association President prior to hosting parties. Drennen explained that this was an especially important part of the agreement.

“If issues result from a party or if neighbors have concerns with other residents, they go to the association president,” she wrote.

Another contested point bans organizations from hosting parties on consecutive days.

“It is reasonable to expect that students in the community should avoid disturbing neighbors for two days in a row,” Drennen wrote. “Whether or not this was contested, it is common sense for students to be courteous of their neighbors and conscious of their impact on the community.”

None of the above points were taken out of the agreement.

The University also aims to strengthen the Greek community by encouraging students to join only registered student groups. Prior to orientation, the Office of Student Activities emailed incoming freshmen specifically discouraging participation in underground Greek organizations.

“To my understanding, the group of women who comprise “IX” chooses to operate as a student group without seeking recognition as such from the University,” Drennen wrote.

Drennen wrote that the University does not encourage students to join unregistered organizations because the University is unable to provide resources or oversight to such groups.

“Should the group known as “IX” wish to become a registered student organization, they would be welcome, and they would be subject to the same policies followed by all of our other registered student groups.”

Drennen believes that all student groups contribute significantly to the creation of community on campus.

“If students are able to join a group where they feel at home and welcome, then that group effectively strengthens the Hopkins community,” Drennen wrote. “However, if any group of students, registered or unregistered, violates University policies and places the students in the group in danger then there is no question that the group does not strengthen our community.”