"Students involved in a fraternity or sorority at the University of California Merced have been instructed not to use the terms “Greek,” “rush” or “pledge” because they are “appropriating Greek culture” and are “non-inclusive,” several students told The College Fix.In particular, they’ve been told:
Replace “Greek Life” with “Fraternity and Sorority Life”
Replace “rush” with “recruitment”
Replace “pledge” with “potential new member”
“Greek Life” is an ubiquitous term that for decades has represented and encompassed fraternity and sorority activities and organizations nationwide on college campuses.
But in recent years, fraternities and sororities have come under intense pressure and scrutiny by campus leadership — students and administrators alike.
The groups are frequently charged with cultural appropriation for the themed parties and fundraisers they host.
At UC Merced, the students said the prohibition of the term “Greek” has been handed down largely by Fraternity and Sorority Life staff coordinator Richard Arquette, who did not respond to repeated requests seeking comment.
....The word “rush” was last used in the 2011-2012 academic year.
Its use was prohibited because it “promoted a negative stereotype of fraternities and sororities.”
The word “pledge” was last used in 2012 because it is considered “a form of hazing.”
Arquette now strongly discourages the use of the word “Greek.”
The student, a former member of the Fraternity & Sorority Council who asked to remain anonymous because he didn’t want to run the risk of his fraternity being punished, told The Fix that Arquette told students in Fall 2015 that using Greek Life is “appropriating of Greek culture, perpetuated bad stereotypes, and not an inclusive term...”
