Life in Greektown: Local residents urge Greeks to publicize successes, community to recognize contributions

Living in a house on the corner of Washington and Locust streets since 2004, the graphic design professor said communication was essential to his family's success in the area. Greek houses populate Washington Street, along with nearby Main Street.

The neighborhoods contain a variety of residents, from student housing and Greek houses to families and senior citizens.

Stairs is confident they can all get along.

"It's a fairly mixed neighborhood," Stairs said. "Seasonally, it can be problematic. We have had situations where we've had to speak with the students about certain issues. Sometimes it takes a little reminder that they're pushing the limits."

Although his son Luco was able to grow and thrive in a neighborhood heavily populated by student housing, it took several efforts for Stairs to keep the area safe.

The Washington Area Neighborhood Association, which Stairs founded, helps maintain peace and cleanliness amid student residents. The group goes door to door informing students of the neighborhood's expectations.

"Students have to realize there are people in the neighborhood who have to work in the morning," Stairs said. "There are families and the elderly. Once in a while, you have to call people out."

While Stairs explained that the nearby Greek houses often see the proper upkeep, he said living nearby requires a level of patience. He described parties held until the early hours of the morning, and subsequent trash left in his yard. Still, Stairs is certain he wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

"When the weather gets warm and people start having drinking games in the yard, things can get messy," he said. "But that's just the general student population, not the Greeks. The sororities and fraternities in my neighborhood seem to want to keep a clean profile."

Stairs intends to stay in the Greek neighborhood, he said, for several years. He is willing to continue working with students to maintain a neighborhood all residents can enjoy.

"I don't think they're going anywhere," he said. "We just have to coexist. Some years are better than others. The neighborhood is dynamic. It's always changing. It's definitely not sleepy."

Mount Pleasant Mayor Sharon Tilmann said she believes the Greeks are essential to the success of the city. She cited the charity work offered by Greek organizations as imperative to the success of local organizations.

The positive contributions of the Greeks can often be overshadowed by a broader reputation of excessive partying, she explained.

"There are two perspectives that are in conflict with each other," Tilmann said. "It is a very common perception that Greek life is partying and noise. For those who take the time to be more aware, Greeks provide support and financial aid to the charities in the area. They put forth a considerable amount of effort to help this community."

The media's characterization of Greek life, Tilmann said, often paints an exaggerated picture and fails to communicate the good fraternities and sororities bring to Mount Pleasant.

This year, Greek coverage has been dominated by the Delta Chi fraternity, which was kicked off campus in October 2013. CMU began investigating the fraternity after an April 19, 2013 post-Greek Week party. Allegations against the group included an alcohol violation, sexual assault, theft and lewd photos being taken and sent to a Phi Mu member's parents.

The member of Delta Chi charged by the university with the sexual assault was suspended one semester and has since returned to the fraternity at CMU. The member who took and sent the lewd photos never returned following summer 2013.

"Unfortunately, it's the parties and arrests that may cause people to not see the philanthropy," Tilmann said. "It doesn't get much play in the media. A good share of the citizens aren't privy to the part of Greek life that contributes."

Following Greek Week 2014, which saw sororities and fraternities raise $30,075 for Special Olympics Michigan, Tilmann called on the Greeks to reach out to the local media and publicize their achievements.

"They need to get the information out – to put forth the message that they do give back," Tilmann said.

Another tactic to better their reputation, she said, is Greek members should take responsibility in preventing problematic situations in the neighborhood.

"If we are to change the public perception, they need to change their behavior," she said. "Students should monitor each other instead of putting the burden on the city. The city doesn't want to be the big police agent, and use negative reinforcement.

"Arrests don't do much to change the behavior, and they're costly."

Giving back 

United Way of Isabella County President Tom Olver has worked with several Greek and student organizations over the years. He said volunteering is an important part of the community, and strengthens the college experience.

"Many of our non-profits struggle to reach their mission," Olver said. "Not only financially, but in the hands, in the talent it takes to reach their goals. Without volunteers, things just can't get done."

CMU students, many of which are Greek members, volunteer for 25 local non-profit organizations affiliated with United Way. Olver noted recent efforts from Beta Theta Pi and Phi Sigma Sigma in the United Way's Adopt-a-Family Program, along with the Greek Week mock rock event for SOMI.

He said Greek students, in particular, are extremely eager to put in time to volunteer at the charities.

"The Greeks really get fired up," Olver said. "There's a real element of leadership. They go beyond filling a couple (of) hours because it's required. They seem like they really want to be a part of the volunteering.

"There's a lot of heart in the Greek community."

Olver warned that bad behavior can threaten the public's perception of Greek contributions. He said negative situations simply get more attention in the media.

"Kids make mistakes," Olver said. "It only takes one bad story to cover up 10 good ones. The media often picks up on negativity because it seems more newsworthy. The trick is getting the word out about what Greeks really do to support our city."

Because of their large numbers, Olver hopes Greek organizations can continue to perform acts of philanthropy to overcome bad stereotypes.

"When you interact with (Greeks) as people, you see their power of giving back," he said. "They can harness that because they have a large manpower. They get things done. Volunteering is a great way to demonstrate your values in a very public way. That's why I tell them to get out there and do as many good things as they can."

Cleaning up Greektown

From 2012 to 2014, the Delta Chi fraternity house, at 1007 S. Main St., has been cited 29 times by the city of Mount Pleasant’s Department of Code Enforcement.

Most citations dealt with trash and litter on the lawn, as well as illegal outdoor furniture.

The 18 Greek houses registered at CMU averaged seven violations from the city during that two-year period. Delta Chi had the most, followed by Sigma Chi with 26 and both Phi Sigma Phi and Phi Kappa Tau with 25. The other 14 houses had less than 20, including Alpha Gamma Delta, Delta Zeta, Phi Sigma Sigma, and Zeta Tau Alpha with none.

Building Official Brian Kench said RSO houses struggle with trash clean up, especially after social events.

“Our goal is to get compliance," Kench said. "Anytime you have a big party night, there are big issues. We just have to make sure they get it cleaned up.”

Kench said the city works with the RSO houses each year, going door to door during Welcome Weekend to inform student residents of how to comply with the city of Mount Pleasant’s regulations.

“Some of these houses generate a lot of litter,” he said. “The nuisance is just getting it all out of there. It’s been a bit of a learning curve.”

CMU Chief of Police Bill Yeagley said the fraternity and sorority houses afford his department a larger audience when issuing warnings and safety advice.

Yeagley's main concerns for the Greek community stem from weekend parties, where alcohol is widely consumed. The spring season brings added parties and legal troubles, he said.

"We want to find those involved in crimes and charge them," Yeagley said. “We’re getting into warmer weather, and there will be party activity. Just be smart and take care of each other.”