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Elections are right around the corner, and I don’t mean the kind that involve millions of dollars and political affiliations.
Sororities, and many fraternities, are about to change hands. Many old members of executive boards will be moving out, having served their time on Milledge faithfully, and fresh faces are preparing to lead their chapters with new ideas for 2008. The University’s Panhellenic council also is taking on the challenge of finding the new leader of the pack.
Although Reese Witherspoon is one of my favs, her Legally Blonde legacy doesn’t quite do justice to the time and energy it takes to run an organization of 200 women and/or men. Running for president of a Greek organization, or even just a member of the executive board, can be a full-time committment. The president is responsible (legally!) for everything that goes on for an entire year. He or she would represent their organization in a court of law should anything ever go wrong, serves as face of the organization to any outside parties, is responsible for any internal problems chapters face, and ultimately is responsible for the overall success of his or her organization.
Yes, at the end of the day it is “just” a sorority. Children still are starving in Africa, and no, despite our best philanthropic efforts, we most likely will not achieve world peace by the end of the year. But these are not positions to be taken lightly, and often I feel that they are under appreciated.
Electing these new officials, at least within my chapter, is not a simple process. It spans a month and begins with straw balloting in week one, a “pledge class caucus” discussion in week two and leads to a selection of the “slate” — one person for each position whom the chapter feels would be best — in week three. Members then can run against this slate in formal elections at the beginning of week four.
This process can be a controversial time for chapters. We laugh, we cry, friends run against friends, members are disappointed because of positions they aren’t elected to and people aren’t always happy with elections results. But so is the way with any form of elections, and life on Milledge always goes on.
Good luck to all those running in 2008 elections, and may the best “sorostitutes” and “frattiest” frat boys win!
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“The president is responsible (legally!) for everything that goes on for an entire year.”
Maybe my memory fails me, but I don’t remember any legal action that was taken against the Chi Phi President or ADPi President following their respective chapter’s shenanigans last year.
Once again, someone in the Greek system trying to make it sound more important than it really is…
Can I just ask who really gives a f***?
There was no legal action taken in either case because, well, there would be no case! Quit believing you know everything because not everything is published in this fine piece of “journalism.”
Don’t worry about what these mean people say about your blog, Christina. I think it is a great idea, and I love your writing! I am also a member of a sorority, and honestly, the idea of trying to educate non-greeks about what really happens in our organizations is really constructive and novel. Unfortunately, there are always bitter people who are jealous. Keep writing!
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