A staff member at the University of California Merced directed students involved in a fraternity or sorority to stop using the phrase "Greek Life" because he said it "appropriates Greek culture."
Students at UC Merced told College Fix on Wednesday that Fraternity and Sorority Life staff coordinator Richard Arquette "strongly recommended" last year that the campus instead use the term "Fraternity and Sorority Life" because it’s more "inclusive."
Students were urged in years prior to replace the word "rush" with "recruitment" and "pledge" with "potential new member" because the terms "promoted a negative stereotype of fraternities and sororities" and are considered "a form of hazing."
Arquette did not provide comment to College Fix. The assistant director of student government and leadership development, Steve Lerer, confirmed that the UC Merced Fraternity and Sorority Life division had recommended "terminology guidelines" that are more "inclusive."
"This recommendation is based on national trends and the inclusive language choices that have been made at many other campuses and national organizations," Lerer told College Fix. "While our staff members in Fraternity and Sorority Life choose to use these terms and recommend their use to the local chapters, there is no formal requirement in place for their use."
Still, students said they worry about administrative repercussions against their chapters if they refuse to adhere to the directive.
A former member of the student-run Fraternity and Sorority Council said Arquette held meetings last year that were dedicated to the use of the term "Greek."
"The plague of political correctness has once again attempted to implement unnecessary and nonsensical law," another student, Harry Duran of Pi Lambda Phi, told College Fix. "Who are we offending? Greek people? Our traditions have continued for over 200 years. Greek Life is part of our own American university culture."