North Jordan Survivor

As of last week, Pi Kappa Alpha joined the ranks of the former greek houses on this campus that are no longer around. As a senior, I have been witness to several different houses getting thrown off, numbering a total of six so far in my three going on four years here. In fact, this is the second time in my time here that Pi Kappa Alpha has been thrown off. \nAll that these dismissals have me thinking are two things. One, CBS should come here for their next "Survivor" show and profile our greek system. Two, it might very well be time for the University to re-think their interaction and policies with fraternities and sororities. \nI know, you are probably thinking, "Oh, another independent who is all in favor of the banishment of the greek system." No, actually that is not my stance. While the fraternity scene is not what I wanted here during my time at IU, I know many people who are involved and enjoy it a lot. I have no problem with them. I've even been known to party at a house or two during my day -- granted, it was back freshman year when I would gladly drink Natty Light. \nThe fraternities and sororities do a lot of good things, such as philanthropic work and the camaraderie that is built by being in a house. But at the same time, two different kids have died from drinking at frat functions, as well as a couple of others who have drank quite a large amount. So precautions need to be taken.\nI think steps need to be taken by both the administration and the greek system in order to prevent a couple houses getting thrown off campus every year. One, the administration needs to realize a couple things. They are dealing with college students. They want to party, and party frequently. That question is no different if you are an independent or a member of a house. Attempting to hold the fraternities and sororities to higher standards is ridiculous. They should be seen as no different than off-campus housing, with the same positives and negatives. \nIn the same breath, though, it is important for the members of these houses to be responsible with their partying. While off-campus incidents are reported less frequently, you also don't hear about students dying at off-campus parties. It's important for the leaders of the houses to watch over the younger kids at the party and try to avoid incidents that have become too frequent.\nThe greek system plays a huge role in the life here at IU from participating in events such as Dance Marathon, IU Sing and Little 500, to also being the home to many a student's first college party. Thus it is important that steps be taken to ensure that this aspect of IU is maintained well into the future. \nIn order to do this, though, both the administration and the members of the houses themselves need to take steps to ensure that they can remain. The greek houses have to tone down the drinking and stop putting students at risk, and the administration needs to stop holding the houses to higher standards than the rest of the students and remember that they are college students just trying to have a good time. Then maybe CBS will have to get going to some other exotic and desolate new location instead of North Jordan.