In an April 30 article of the Long Beach Press-Telegram, it discussed how Sigma Pi, a Cal State Long Beach fraternity was “cleaning up its image.” The fraternity was responding to neighborhood complaints about the rowdiness of fraternity members and visitors who, according to the article, would leave beer bottles and used condoms in the neighboring areas and would have noisy parties into “the wee hours of the night.”
Instead of Sigma Pi cleaning up its image, a different solution would behoove the fraternity and CSULB as a whole – creating a frat row. Many other universities in Southern California have rows of houses rented out solely by fraternity members and are all neighboring each other.
At first, it seems to be a kind of glorified segregation, moving the “undesirables” to another area, out of sight and out of mind. But this move would be mutually beneficial for both community members and Greeks.
Incorporating a frat row into an area near CSULB would solve many of our university’s problems. One of the major problems often associated with CSULB is the commuter culture. Creating an area where students can congregate outside of the academic atmosphere would tie students to the campus in a different way. Instead of students just driving here for classes and leaving, students would have places to go and socialize.
A frat row would also curb the neighborhood disturbance problem. Neighbors taking issue with disruptive frat students is completely understandable. But instead of trying to undo the Greek culture surrounding fraternities and sororities, it would be more prudent to simply move the disruptive groups to another area, away from the families who take offense to the disorder that is inherent in Greek life.
A row of houses rented out by members of fraternities and sororities would also create a safer environment for students who aren’t members of these groups to go to Greek events. Instead of driving somewhere inebriated or creating a ruckus, students would have an area that is theirs, where the neighbors can’t contest the noise. They are safe in an area that welcomes late-staying students and would likely lend a room (or floor space) for those who don’t want to drive drunk.
Confining college parties to one centralized area would not only create a safer atmosphere for students, but it would minimize the impact on local communities who would no longer be subjected to the rowdy, family unfriendly activities that are basic in Greek life.
It would also work to undo the commuter culture that has become one of the key characteristics CSULB is associated with.
The one problem with such a solution is that it isn’t immediate and would take significant planning. Greek’s should petition for aid from Associated Students Inc. and try to garner student support for such a move. Although it would take awhile to find half a dozen houses that are available for renting and are located close together, it has happened before.
Somehow several other campuses in the Southern California area, like UC San Diego and USC, have managed to garner precious California property, so why can’t we? It would help solidify a CSULB community and relieve annoyed community members.
