As a junior, I have noticed that the largest divide on our campus is that between the greek and non-greek students.
A longstanding tradition, this divide has made two very distinct experiences at DePauw, polarizing students and alumni alike.
This divide breaks the possible powerful network by closing a connection between the two groups.
While neither side should be disbanded, work should be done to make bridges between communities so that information can pass freely between the two worlds.
The DePauw greek and independent divide (or what I will call the "DGID") has been observed to come first from choice.
Freshman year, most of my friends had already decided whether or not they would rush before they stepped foot on campus.
In my sophomore year, a good independent friend of mine stated she preferred her own isolation.
Her goal since high school was to live alone and not have to worry about other people when she made decisions.
On the other hand, another friend of mine had joined a chapter, adamant in the importance of brotherhood. I have even seen that friendship tested by adversities he and his brothers have overcome.
Still, both my independent and greek friends chose environments that made for comfortable places to return to after a long day of studies.
I believe that the choice for comfort is not illogical or wrong. It is how people survive the classes, schedules and sociological pressure.
A stronghold of friends or the sanctum of a locked door allows us to recharge before attacking another day at DePauw.
My stance is not that the DGID is inherently evil on our campus. It is simply the largest grouping of its students I have seen my classmates in. This divide provides an easy way to classify those around you into manageable groups. This house is cool for this kind of party, that group always has free food at their events, if you want the biggest TV on campus go here.
All this information and much more comes from classifications of our surroundings.
As long as this information is used to assist in understanding people, and not used to define people, I believe it serves an important function.
If I quickly classify another person as a greek from a certain chapter or an independent in a specific club, I must also be prepared to accept new information as I talk to that individual and be free to adapt my beliefs about each group.
The DGID should then not be blended into one mega-culture, because it would undermine the richness of the different experiences at DePauw.
Instead, bridges should be made between communities in order to access the fullness of the DePauw experience.
Visiting a probate, talking to the people you go to fraternity parties with, watching a movie at Anime club or going to see a rugby game all allow you access new worlds that will be useful both during your DePauw tenure and after graduation.
The knowledge gained through inter-community interaction can open doors unavailable through knowledge gained in the classroom alone.
— Johnson is a junior from Indianapolis, majoring in English writing.
opinion@thedepauw.com