What women want....(to see on your campus)

Nu Beta, UNH, playground construction

My job recently was to walk around Keene State College and ask sorority women questions. It's the middle of recruitment so they're all wearing letters and are easy to find.

So often we see sororities outperforming our fraternities. Professionals have linked this to brain development which influences maturity levels. Grade reports are often divided along fraternity and sorority lines, with sororities well above. I have my theories why but what do you think?

Mu Xi, Penn College of Technology

This generates a fascinating relationship between sororities and fraternities. Fraternities constantly try to develop strategies that are used by other fraternities when we can easily adapt what is successful within the sorority world in order to better our chapters. These are organization operating along similar theories that we are, replace sisterhood with brotherhood.

Some believe that the type of behavior sororities support on campus is reflected as the most sustainable behavior within our Greek communities. This gives rise to the idea that our sororities are in the driver's seat when it comes to what behaviors they would like to see of fraternity men.

[Note: this is applicable only at institutions with a substantial sorority population]

So I asked them... What is their ideal fraternity?

Stop reading and think...

What would you imagine them to say? The ones you know or don't know? More importantly, what came across your mind when you think about it?

The women told me they want respect. They want to be included, in the social sense and in the sense that people feel comfortable around fraternity men. In my experience, Phi Mu Delta is an organization that is socially much more accepting of men and therefore also popular with women. However, sometimes fraternities make women feel uncomfortable. I think we all know too well the stereotype about sexual misconduct and fraternities.

They want gentlemen. They want men who care about how the community operates. They want men who are able to create and sustain a community where all feel welcome. Again, these are not my words.

So often we, as men, look to other men in order to learn how to operate or how the world works but women have much to give. Seek and receive feedback.

What is the nature of your organizations relationship with women's organizations? Comment below. 

derrick.dubois@phimudelta.org