It’s the classic GW paradox: the Student Activities Center spends months planning for the expansion of Greek-letter life on campus while Student Judicial Services places three fraternities on social probation. Although the circumstances surrounding the probations and the expansion are not connected, the University’s attitude toward Greek-letter life frequently falls into this pattern of juxtaposed objectives.

In a similar paradox, GW constructed state-of-the-art Greek-letter townhouses, yet enforces strict rules that place numerous bureaucratic hurdles in front of fraternities and sororities attempting to host parties. Likewise, the University has marketed itself as friendly toward Greek-letter life while placing restrictive rules on mixers and social gatherings. Last year, Student Activities Center Director Tim Miller even came to campus on a Sunday afternoon to break up a philanthropic kickball game because of participation by members of unrecognized fraternities.

The University cannot have it both ways. As the University looks to expand Greek-letter life on campus, the numerous departments – the Center Alcohol and other Drug Education, SAC and SJS – that have a hand in shaping pertinent University policies toward Greek-letter life need to form a unified front and finally decide whether they wish to promote or stifle fraternity and sorority growth on campus.