Recently, news broke out regarding the JMU sorority woman who was sexually assaulted by three former JMU fraternity members in Panama City and the verdict that resulted from her case. (If you haven’t heard about it yet, here’s a video)

Needless to say, people have been outraged. And while I’m just as saddened by the situation and as disappointed in JMU as the next person, I’m even more disappointed that yet another sexual assault case has involved members of the Greek community – specifically members of an all male fraternity. Even further, I’m ashamed to admit that fraternity involvement in something as horrible as this case is actually unsurprising to me, given its frequency.

Note: Although Sigma Chi nationals thankfully revoked the memberships of all three boys involved in the incident, the media has chosen to continue identifying the individuals as “fraternity members.” Let this be a lesson to members of the Greek community that even your actions which occur over 800 miles away from school will always be seen in the wake of your letters. You are always wearing your letters.

When asked why the three boys were given a harsher punishment by the fraternity than by the university, Sigma Chi simply responded by saying the fraternity has different standards. Higher standards, if you ask me. Every Greek organization has explicitly laid out high standards and certain behaviors expected of its members. Sigma Chi is no exception to that.

“I believe in fairness, decency and good manners. . .I will endeavor to so build myself and so conduct myself that I will ever be a credit to our Fraternity.” – Sigma Chi Fraternity creed

Being Greek means being a part of something far bigger than yourself. Not only are you part of a community, but you’re also part of a history and a tradition. From the moment you’re initiated until the day you die you’re expected to honor your founders, breathe your values, and live your creed. While it takes someone special to receive a bid, it takes someone even more special to become an official member of one of our organizations. Being Greek is both a responsibility and a privilege.

But let’s back track. Do the three boys involved in this case sound like responsible or honorable people? Do you really think the three boys filming themselves happily sexually assaulting a helpless woman were “living by the creed” I quoted up there? Absolutely not. And there lies our greatest issue.

Truthfully, I think my biggest fear in going Greek (before I was exposed to recruitment – then recruitment became my biggest fear. Maybe it secretly still is?) was that the Greek system was going to somehow change me.

Contrary to popular outsider belief, wearing my letters has not been about being better than anyone else or becoming a different person; it’s been about being and becoming a better version of myself. In that sense, the Greek system has changed and continues to change me.

Today my biggest fear is no longer of the Greek system but rather for the Greek system – that maybe one day it will cease to exist. Despite our ongoing issues and mistakes, we are capable of offering so much. What’s so unique about being Greek is having the opportunity to completely be yourself while still constantly developing for the better (with the added bonus of experiencing that with 140 of your closest friends) Going Greek was the best decision I ever made and has offered me a wealth of opportunities. I’d hate to see that option taken away from students to come.

But in the face of constant court cases and bad press brought on by our behavior, schools are understandably beginning to opt for “Greek bans” to eliminate us and our issues altogether. It is now our responsibility to start continue acting in ways which reflect positively on our Greek community. It’s really not a joke anymore and our behavior is embarrassing.

Forcing pledges to pour hot sauce on their genitals? Drinking until you’re sick – perhaps even while in your letters? Treating women differently based on their appearances and always with a lack of respect regardless? Showing up to charity events drunk? Repeatedly being the subjects of legal controversy?

The Greek community has been the subject of negative media attention for years because of that sort of aforementioned behavior. It’s unfortunate that we can’t be recognized for our philanthropic efforts, our academic accomplishments, or our successes away from campus because we allow our negative behavior to overshadow all of that.

I could go on for hours about it and that’s a shame. And that’s not what we’re about. By definition, if you’re participating in that kind of behavior then you’re not Greek – you’re an embarrassment to our community and you’d be better off shopping at Sears.

How can we seriously expect others to respect us if we can’t even respect others or ourselves?

What is our solution? It lies in the lines of the creeds we mindlessly recite all the time. Listen to the words and really think about them the next time you say them.

So, #WWOFD (What Would Our Founders Do?)

Super corny. Feel free to tattoo it if you’d like. I totally understand times are very different than they were in the days of your organization’s founding, but values are timeless. I can state with absolute confidence that your founders would not pour any hot sauce on anyone’s genitalia (I’m sorry I’m still stuck on that, but what?) or force them to eat any sort of animal shit (again, what?) Why? Because those acts are not loving, courteous, courageous, respectful, honorable, etc.

Our founders created an ideal way of life and would never condone half the absurdity that occurs in too many of our houses these days. When will our wake-up call be? When we’ve all lost our charters and can no longer exist?

Estimates suggest that nearly 30% of all reported sexual assaults now occur within the walls of fraternity houses – a place on campus women should feel safest – and fatalities and hospitalizations continue to result from Greek hazing “traditions” because our values are being entirely disregarded.

When you disregard your values, you disrespect your founders. And when you disrespect your founders, you’re ultimately disrespecting yourself, disrespecting your chapter, and contributing to the deterioration of our community.

I’m proud to wear my letters and lucky to be a member of a beautiful chapter that doesn’t haze, acts responsibly around campus, and is respectful to the campus community (among other, far more mentionable things) but realistically those should all go without saying. I hope you’re fortunate enough to say the same about your chapter. Maybe you’re not and maybe the future of Greek life lies even more heavily on your shoulders than it does on mine. But I have faith that we can turn our reputation around together.

The reality for any group is that you’re only ever going to be as strong as your weakest link – and the same applies to the Greek community. It really shouldn’t be too challenging to act in accordance with your values and if it is, perhaps the Greek community it not the place for you. It’s time to realize that it is your responsibility as a Greek to work to redefine our stereotype and if you’re not willing to put in that work (or hold your chapter members accountable for that work) then that’s fine, but I’d kindly ask you to leave.

Start expecting more from one another. Maybe your brother is planning to do something he shouldn’t do or your sister put up a picture that reflects badly on everyone last night. Is someone being forced to do something they shouldn’t? Stand up for yourself, your chapter, and our community. Large-scale change can’t happen overnight but small actions add up. Honor your founders, breathe your values, and live your creed.