Taking it DZ

When I first heard about the great sorority cull at the Delta Zeta Chapter at DePauw University in Greencastle, IN, I was slightly shocked. I wasn’t surprised that a house would try to cut loose girls that didn’t fit the conventional mold, but for the national organization to take such steps seemed extraordinary (maybe I’m just naïve). National organizations are generally more protective of the Greek brand, often distancing themselves quite a lot from the negative stereotypes that go with sororities. This time, the orders came straight from the top.
If there’s an alternative explanation, they sure haven’t come up with a good one; and with a media freeze, we aren’t likely to get one.
What has most convinced me that the national organization is being petty and cruel is that I know one of the women asked to leave.

Former DZ president Carolyn Thatcher gave Newsweek an interview explaining the situation. I see Carolyn regularly at swing dances, and I’ve known her for years. Not only is she a fantastic dancer, but she’s super-cute. (Even better, she has an identical twin — watching them dance with each other is mesmerizing.) Despite her modesty in the article, she’s very friendly and warm. I’m always happy to see her, and she always has a ready smile when I greet her.
It’s hard enough to see how a former president could be deemed insufficiently committed to an organization, but the suggestion that she isn’t up to snuff is simply absurd. I don’t know what constitutes a good sorority sister, but if Carolyn doesn’t qualify, the criteria must be deranged.
What this means for the Greek system, I don’t know. I think it’s silly to cling to some of the hype about sisterhood (or brotherhood) and other lofty virtues. But one hopes that members get something out of the experience, even if it is merely a place to stay with interesting and friendly people. That an organization would actively work against the self-esteem and comfort of its members in pursuit of that hype is unconscionable.