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Greek-Life

Despite factors leading to recruitment being largely online, Miami's pledge numbers have stayed consistent. Photo by Zach Reichman.
NEWS

Greek Life maintains pledge class size amid pandemic

By Alex Cox | March 5, 2021

  Miami University’s spring recruitment for fraternities and sororities garnered a similar number of students joining Greek Life compared to previous years before the COVID-19 pandemic.  “Our numbers were relatively the same,” said Kimberly Vance, director of the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. “We had a slight dip in the men from 2020 to 2021, as far as accepted bids. But they still had more accepted bids than they did in 2019 … For the women, it was pretty similar.”

OPINION

Sisterhood shouldn't be so stressful

By Kate Stumph | February 10, 2021

And though fraternity hazing is publicly criticized for its outward displays of toxic masculinity and violence, sorority recruitment acts as an alternative form of hazing plagued by toxic and detrimental female stereotypes.

CULTURE

Miami Greek Life takes on digital sisterhood and brotherhood

By Cosette Gunter | September 24, 2020

  The usually full social calendars for the members of the Miami Greek community are virtually empty with pandemic safety precautions limiting gatherings of more than 10 people.  With coronavirus continually changing our social world as we know it, Miami Greeks are trying to find as much normalcy as they can during these unprecedented times. Instead of the normal mass gatherings for chapter, weekly chapter meetings are now conducted virtually through a screen. 

As the pandemic surges on, Greek Life recruitment has been pushed to an all-virtual platform.
NEWS

Miami Greeks under 10-day shelter-in-place order

By Cosette Gunter | September 1, 2020

In an email sent to all members of Miami University's Greek community on Aug. 29, the Interfraternity Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and Panhellenic Association detailed a new 10-day shelter-in-place order for all Greek Oxford residents as a way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

CULTURE

Rushing, then Rushing Back Home: Sisterhood and brotherhood from a distance

By Maya Fenter | April 23, 2020

  Both of first-year Jordana Luther’s parents were involved in Greek life when they were in college and still keep in touch with people they met through their fraternity and sorority. Luther came to Miami wanting to join a sorority, hoping to find a group of close friends like her parents had. In early February, new members received their bids after days of recruitment. Luther got a bid to join Phi Sigma Sigma and rushed to greet the group of smiling faces of the girls who were now her sisters.  About a month later, almost all of the events that she and the other wide-eyed new members had been looking forward to got canceled — socials, Big/Little Reveal, date parties, semi-formals, moms and dads weekends and formals.

NEWS

One year later: Delts hazing survivor tells his story

By Tim Carlin | March 17, 2020

Laura Perino awoke to a barrage of text messages on Sunday, March 17, 2019 — one year ago today. The messages were from her son Tyler’s girlfriend. As her eyes began to focus on the bright screen, words began jumping out in her mind: hospital, police, he’s okay.  A feeling of panic washed over her. She would later find out that her son was hospitalized with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.231 — three times over the legal limit — after being violently assaulted at his fraternity’s big/little brother reveal event.

Fraternity potential new members say they aren't concerned about hazing.
NEWS

Fraternities take new steps to move past Delts hazing and build trust

By Leanne Stahulak | February 11, 2020

“We can't just sit in an office and make rules,” Vance said. “We've got to provide education and hear the voices of the students, the alumni, the various stakeholders in the community, and bring people together around common ideals. [We have to] help people focus on the fact that we’re values-based organizations, and what is it that we really value?”

MULTIMEDIA

Behind the Brick — Episode 4: We're Not in Texas Anymore

By Julia Plant | October 20, 2019

 In this episode your host, Julia Plant, talks with senior Maggie McIlroy about her experiences as a transfer student at Miami, who spent her freshman year in Dallas, Texas at Southern Methodist University. Maggie struggled her freshman year at SMU, but didn't find that the transition to Miami was much of a walk in the park either. Maggie and Julia talk about about navigating Greek life and mental health, specifically focusing on the importance of finding helpful coping mechanisms, like yoga. 

OPINION

If this isn’t the full story, then what is?

By Editorial Board | October 15, 2019

Earlier this month, 18 former members of Miami University’s Delta Tau Delta (Delts) fraternity were charged on hazing and assault charges. The charges came after an anonymous first-year new member was bludgeoned on his buttocks with a spiked paddle, forced to drink alcohol, smoke weed and was subjected to additional physical abuse during a Big/Little Reveal event last spring.  After the men were charged, reporters from The Miami Student reached out to members of Miami’s administration, leaders of Miami Greek Life, representatives from Delta Tau Delta’s national headquarters and the 18 individuals who were charged asking them all to comment and share their side of the story.  A few individuals gave vague and brief responses, some said they could not comment on the matter but most did not respond to our reporters at all. 

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