The McGill Tribune, McGill University Student Paper - September 13, 2005

Silhouette: Animal House be damned!
The real truth behind the scenes

by Julia Raponi, The McGill Tribune

Mention the word "fraternity" and if the uninitiated are around, they're almost guaranteed to bring up images of hazing and toga parties gone horribly awry. With all the stereotypes floating around, it's no wonder that the Inter-Greek Letter Council has gone into overdrive over the last few years to present McGill's sororities and fraternities as hard-working, socially active organizations.

From putting together a large team for October's Run for the Cure to organizing the basketball pool, the IGLC and its 250 members have turned their attention to raising money for many local, national and international causes. "We are always doing so much philanthropy," says Jessica Jekkel, IGLC president. This past week they even went so far as to attempt the thankless-dare we say, Herculean-task of cleaning up the McGill Ghetto.

You'd think that with all this charity and goodwill, some of us "independents," or non-Greeks, would know a bit more about the IGLC. Not so, according Jekkel. "We're trying to make McGill more aware of our existence."

One way to do that is throwing a massive party at one of the most popular student hangouts, which is exactly what the IGLC did when they hosted Keep the Beat last March. The hugely successful charity concert and fundraiser for War Child Canada was practically held in our own backyard by way of Café Campus, with strictly local talent taking the stage.

In addition to helping out in the community, the IGLC also has its work cut out for it in dealing with the four sororities and nine fraternities recognized by IGLC on campus. "There's no present organization that encompasses everyone," says Jekkel. "So how can we communicate if we're not all together?" The group serves as a coordinating force for all individual Greek houses, from benefit events to the hectic fomal recruitment period. The group's executives act to enrich fraternity and sorority life, through cultural and social activities, academic standards and, of course, philanthropy.

Getting involved in the IGLC is as simple as joining any one of the Greek chapters on campus. Anybody expecting initiations involving barnyard animals, grain alcohol or both will be sorely disappointed; every house at McGill has signed a contract that specifically states their opposition to hazing in any shape or form. However, frat houses near campus host about two parties per semester and sell alcohol from their house bars. You won't meet a Greek who doesn't love to let loose.

Even with the partying, it's mandatory to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, a standard that's included in the recently re-written constitution's "good standing" clause.

Despite the charity efforts and Activity Night outings, McGill's Greek community still has a profile that ranks a few spots beneath low-key, something that Jekkel chalks up to the wide variety of social scenes available off campus. For now, the IGLC and its members remain dedicated to their good causes and high standards in the hopes of erasing the wilder expectations of Greek life. Togas are still cool, though.