2008 Woodie Awards
Zoning bars Greeks from off-campus living
Marist Greeks lack separate housing; hurting for new pledges
Sarah Spainhoward
Issue date: 11/30/06 Section: News
If Marist provided off-campus housing for Greeks, it would raise several issues. According to Sansola, you must consider all the options and amenities students are provided on campus, such as the issues of safety, security, and college control.
Kristen Bretz, a mentor in the first year programs at Marist College, said the reason that off- campus housing is not provided or recognized brings up issues of liabilities. Sansola on the other hand, said he believes it's much more than that.
"We don't want to give access to special groups on campus or off," he said. "Everyone should be eligible."
One sorority sister who wished to remain anonymous said that by withholding the option of housing on campus, or even off campus, the school is restricting members from receiving the full Greek experience.
"The college gives you the option to live off campus as an unrecognized organization but now the city is telling you can't live there either," she said.
Sansola disagreed with the idea that students can't experience the Greek life without the living arrangements.
"It doesn't take away from associating with a group", he said, "It doesn't prevent one from still engaging in organizations."
Sansola spoke about various studies that do say Greeks are one group that tends to have more risky behavior in association with alcohol but, he said, studies also show that Greeks give more services back to the schools and communities no matter where they're living.
Kristen Bretz, a mentor in the first year programs at Marist College, said the reason that off- campus housing is not provided or recognized brings up issues of liabilities. Sansola on the other hand, said he believes it's much more than that.
"We don't want to give access to special groups on campus or off," he said. "Everyone should be eligible."
One sorority sister who wished to remain anonymous said that by withholding the option of housing on campus, or even off campus, the school is restricting members from receiving the full Greek experience.
"The college gives you the option to live off campus as an unrecognized organization but now the city is telling you can't live there either," she said.
Sansola disagreed with the idea that students can't experience the Greek life without the living arrangements.
"It doesn't take away from associating with a group", he said, "It doesn't prevent one from still engaging in organizations."
Sansola spoke about various studies that do say Greeks are one group that tends to have more risky behavior in association with alcohol but, he said, studies also show that Greeks give more services back to the schools and communities no matter where they're living.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
jgrif
John Griffiths
posted 11/30/06 @ 10:38 PM EST
I'd like to make a minor correction. Greek life existed at Marist before the late eighties. In 1979 a chapter of the nation's largest fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, was founded at Marist. (Continued…)
pxwhittle
Patrick Whittle '00
posted 12/01/06 @ 1:21 PM EST
Quite an interesting story. Preventing groups of more than three nonrelated people from living together would seem to violate Equal Housing laws. Poughkeepsie could be digging itself a real ditch here. (Continued…)
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