2008 Woodie Awards
Speaker discusses ways to unify, uphold values of Greek life
Amanda Stauber
Issue date: 11/17/08 Section: Campus
It was quite an experience for ASU Greeks listening on Oct. 30 to CampuSpeak member David Stollman lecture about Greek life and its values-friendship, service, leadership and scholarship.
Stollman in his funny but blunt way of speaking hit on a variety of different subjects with his main topics touching on obtaining unity for all Greeks and a stronger bond through chapters.
Unity throughout all fraternities and sororities was the core of the presentation.
Stollman said all Greeks hold a special bond that no others can understand unless they are Greek.
Drew Harrel, a senior exercise science major of Augusta said he agreed with Stollman and unity on campus should be improved.
"Certain members from certain groups get along, but our Greek system as a whole doesn't have much unity. Instead of just being competitive, most groups seem to actually hate each other on this campus," Harrel said.
Stollman encouraged certain kinds of competition among Greeks, but putting other organizations down was something Stollman did not take lightly.
He explained how each organization stands for something good and has a special philanthropy that helps out thousands across the globe each year.
Stollman also stressed friendships throughout the chapters and the need for hazing to stop. His examples were either from personal experience or pictures he had of individuals that were either badly hurt or even killed through hazing.
"Hazing shouldn't be a part of the process. The point is to learn about your fraternity or sorority, not to see how much punishment you can take to prove you want to be a part of it," Stollman said.
Stereotypes were another subject Stollman was passionate about and determined to break. Stollman said Greeks should be leaders on campus, and not be looked at as a negative effect to students and colleges.
"What things come to mind when I say fraternity boy or sorority girl," Stollman asked the audience. The audiences' response: All were negative representations, which included frequent words such as whore, jerk, alcoholic and easy.
Ashlyn Kohler, a sophomore radio television major of Jonesboro, said, "I agreed with the point he made about breaking the Greek stereotypes rather than enforcing them."
"If we try to uphold the standards our founders set for us, then the Greek community wouldn't have negative stereotypes," Kohler said.
Stollman parted with ASU Greeks with one last question: "If your chapter had to make the choice between giving up your ritual and never having alcohol at any function again, what would your chapter choose?"
"What you choose determines the future of your chapter and where your values are," Stollman said.
Stollman in his funny but blunt way of speaking hit on a variety of different subjects with his main topics touching on obtaining unity for all Greeks and a stronger bond through chapters.
Unity throughout all fraternities and sororities was the core of the presentation.
Stollman said all Greeks hold a special bond that no others can understand unless they are Greek.
Drew Harrel, a senior exercise science major of Augusta said he agreed with Stollman and unity on campus should be improved.
"Certain members from certain groups get along, but our Greek system as a whole doesn't have much unity. Instead of just being competitive, most groups seem to actually hate each other on this campus," Harrel said.
Stollman encouraged certain kinds of competition among Greeks, but putting other organizations down was something Stollman did not take lightly.
He explained how each organization stands for something good and has a special philanthropy that helps out thousands across the globe each year.
Stollman also stressed friendships throughout the chapters and the need for hazing to stop. His examples were either from personal experience or pictures he had of individuals that were either badly hurt or even killed through hazing.
"Hazing shouldn't be a part of the process. The point is to learn about your fraternity or sorority, not to see how much punishment you can take to prove you want to be a part of it," Stollman said.
Stereotypes were another subject Stollman was passionate about and determined to break. Stollman said Greeks should be leaders on campus, and not be looked at as a negative effect to students and colleges.
"What things come to mind when I say fraternity boy or sorority girl," Stollman asked the audience. The audiences' response: All were negative representations, which included frequent words such as whore, jerk, alcoholic and easy.
Ashlyn Kohler, a sophomore radio television major of Jonesboro, said, "I agreed with the point he made about breaking the Greek stereotypes rather than enforcing them."
"If we try to uphold the standards our founders set for us, then the Greek community wouldn't have negative stereotypes," Kohler said.
Stollman parted with ASU Greeks with one last question: "If your chapter had to make the choice between giving up your ritual and never having alcohol at any function again, what would your chapter choose?"
"What you choose determines the future of your chapter and where your values are," Stollman said.
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