Good morning,
Today, I’d like to address different “Greek themes”…!
REPATRIATION OF ANTIQUITIES
There has been a lot of news recently about ancient antiquities being repatriated to their countries of origin. There are two basic justifications for this. The first is that they were stolen and spirited out without legal claim or right. The other reason is that the artifacts belong to the indigenous population. I would maintain that these treasures of history and art cannot be “owned” merely based on their geographic origin, any more than they can be owned because of conquest. They belong to humanity. The question as to where they rightfully should reside is a question for everyone—not just those who serendipitously currently live there.
There remain many historical and artistic artifacts that rest in European museums that were brought back by travelers (often in conquest of another land but sometimes the result of scientific/anthropological interest). These increasingly are being claimed by their countries of origin and their return is being demanded. I think we should stop thinking about these as belonging either to the British Museum or the Cairo Museum. Many current Egyptians have some long distant lineage to the ancient Egyptians but many current Egyptians migrated there over the centuries. The Greeks are related to the ancient Greeks and the Italians are connected to the Roman Empire but both of these empires spread widely in lands they conquered and their progeny can be found throughout Europe. The Romans spread from the British Isles to Africa and the Middle East. If an artifact was crafted in one of these far off lands, is its “rightful” home Rome or the land within the empire from which it came? And if something was crafted by an artisan practicing a particular religion within the Roman Empire, but the descendants of that religion now reside elsewhere, how do the “cultural appropriation police” intend to determine the appropriate ownership?
It seems to me that, from this far-off vantage we are ALL are descendants of the great Greek philosophers and the Roman artisans, whose ideas and works inform the works of successive generations. We are related to these ancient worlds; they don’t belong to any single current nation-state. The glories of those worlds should be shared across all of humanity and not just in Greece or Rome (and certainly not exclusively the Brits). These antiquities belong to the human race and should be dispersed more broadly—not less.
GREEKS AT COLLEGE
Then there are the “other Greeks,” whose adoption of the Greek alphabet and other Greek images really are bordering on an insult to the ancient Greeks…….
The spate of sexual assaults at fraternity houses nationwide is well-documented and few have had as much airplay as those at USC. And college administrations are complicit—it took weeks for the USC administration to share with the campus community some pretty devastating revelations. Now, after the headlines subsided and after a temporary halt to the parties, they are back on. A month or so ago there appeared an article stating that parties at fraternities would resume at USC; but the stairs to the upper floors would be guarded by campus police. Is this really how far our society has descended?
It is curious that that different people look back on their college experiences with various misgivings about the Greek system—all from different perspectives.
I went to USC, which has a robust Greek system. Pledging a fraternity was practically a given at the time. But I was pretty stubborn and would resist doing what “everyone else did” (I’m sure that will not shock too many of you). At the time, when asked why I resisted the Greek system, my snarky response was “I elect to choose my friends, rather than pledge them.” As the years passed, I have watched my affiliated friends maintain relationships with members of their fraternity houses in a way that we mere “dormies” have not. As I look back, I sometimes regret not having just sucked it up and joined. But then I remember the amount of hazing in those days and realize I wouldn’t have done well with that.
Then there are those who were members of a fraternity, who enjoy the relationships nurtured in that environment. In retrospect, many of them, however, wish they hadn’t joined. There was an inordinate amount of drinking (even more than in our day in college). But the primary complaint was that they were elite bastions that were by-and-large exclusionary of minorities (although I note many fraternities now boast a pretty decent number of BIPOC members). I think it fair to say that fraternities are hardly a melting pot of cultures, backgrounds, experience, and political views. And even the most open and accepting have histories that their national organizations refuse to acknowledge (particularly one that prizes its designation of Robert E. Lee as its “spiritual founder”).
I suspect both views are right. I regret not having the close friendships that many fraternities encourage. But I also note that my friendships from college, while perhaps not as large in number, were at least as rich and meaningful, if not as well organized.
I do not dispute for one moment that people are free to determine with whom they associate. And I recognize that this exclusivity of association is practiced throughout our society—whether with those who share our religion, our politics, our pastimes, or our relations. It exists in the charities we support, the clubs to which we belong, the neighborhoods in which we live. It is right for us to build community. Without subgroups of community we are left with no community at all. But it also is critical that these communities that we create for ourselves interact with each other. It is a fine balance.
On the broader topic of the value of a continued “Greek culture” on campus, I come out on the side that enough is enough. These communities are perfectly legitimate when they also engage with other campus groups, when their primary goal is becoming better people and sharing experiences together that do not otherwise involve alcohol, drugs, and hedonism. I believe that students should be able to choose their friends and their associations. We can’t force people one way or another. I think the Greek system, as an idea, works in concept but fails in practice. Were the Greek system a series of houses with different cultures, interests, community action programs, and even religions, and were they to have meaningful interactions with each other (and not just sororities for social events), it could be a great way to “have it all.”
The latest allegations of drugging women and raping them at a USC fraternity reminds us of the excesses, immaturity, and criminality of much that occurs under the culture of “brotherhood.” It is an egregious example but it is by no means an outlier. The culture of drugs, alcohol, sexual predation, racism and exclusion justifies the end of Greek culture on campus. The time has come to curtail their behaviors, limiting the ability to live in fraternity housing and subjecting their activities to closer monitoring.
I’m tired of hearing that the universities can’t control the fraternity houses, that students can live “wherever they choose.” The universities can and should require students to live in university-sanctioned housing for four years. Private universities certainly could condition enrollment on non-participation in the Greek system. But do they have the moral will to do so, in the face of students who will object and, more important financially, among the alumni who just might condition their donations to the university on the continued support of fraternities? I doubt it.
GREEK CUISINE
Finally, a reminder in these days when vegetarianism and “more fish, less meat” are the order of the day, Greek food has been focused on these areas for generations. There is nothing quite like fresh salads, delicious, simply prepared fish, and a good spanakopita.
Have a great day,
Glenn
From the archives:
Wow! That really combined a lot of “musings” today. Not sure how I feel about antiquities. A large part of me thinks they should be returned to their country of origin or people/tribes of origin. They definitely should be put on display…and traveling shows would be important. I was a USC graduate. I started at U of A and was an AEPhi there. I didn’t choose to join when I came to USC. I still have AEPhi friends from Arizona. And one or two whom I knew before for USC. Bad things happening at USC now. I personally think they should close the Greek system down at that campus.