In other words, even for people whose job it is to be anonymous, its hard to be anonymous. One of the major issues with the website is the anonymity enjoyed by users, free to cook-up whatever nonsense they choose without repercussions. There is this huge disconnect, Ohm says. If you liked this story,sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called If You Only Read 6 Things This Week. Science/Health. I argue that the Greek system should take an active stance against Greekrank.com. The online site serves as a place to rate and review different fraternity and sorority chapters at universities across the United States, giving incoming freshmen an inside look at a chapters standing on campus before formal rush. You will remain anonymous and your email 2. The Arizona Daily Wildcat is the award-winning, student-managed and -produced news outlet serving The University of Arizona and greater Tucson since 1899. Your happiness should not be contingent on the baseless, ignorant and probably inaccurate opinions of a frat bro. Reporting that amplifies the conversation around food and basic needs insecurity. Greekrank, and the Greek life system in general, perpetuates the idea that certain peoples lives matter more than others because of their social status. I dont think it gives any real idea of what chapter would be a good fit. The difficulty with anonymous postings on social media is clearly demonstrated in this case. Don't use your mobile phone for 2-Step verification on Tor. GreekRank thrives on anonymity anonymity that breeds the downright mean material that's so prevalent on the site. No. In todays hyper-connected world, it is becoming harder and harder for anyone to maintain their privacy. The opinions expressed in this article are the writers own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus. Still, if you do want to protect your privacy as best you can, the experts do offer a few tips. Technically, its not [UBCs] responsibility, but its affecting lives at this point. For a healthy and productive Greek system to exist, there must be a sense of mutual respect between houses, and GreekRank is a major threat to this. Sorry your anonymity is at risk too. This is a bad time to be a spy, Swire says. Another post targeted the newer members of a sorority for being weird sjws for discussing political issues at a party, as opposed to the hot fun girls' the sorority used to have. (https://cornellsun.com/2020/09/07/kempff-put-down-greekrank-pick-up-your-fws-book/). For these individuals and the organizations that support them, secure anonymity is critical. As a senior who has watched this play out for three years, I can guarantee you: ranking does not matter. If the site took down all the malicious content, its comments and message boards would be nearly empty. As a friend much smarter than myself put it: Who cares what some loser thinks is the new core four sorority on a random website? The blog closed in September of 2017. When you leave college, I guarantee you no one will give you better treatment because you were in a top house. On UBCs forum, frequent anonymous comments target and tear down individuals and sorority chapters using their initials. Wait. Yet, a recent look at the website shows 14 active threads on a single day. Join 800,000+ Future fans by liking us onFacebook, or follow us onTwitter. The GreekRank postings have created a widespread response from members of our campus community who are actively rejecting and criticizing these comments now that they have surfaced.". The fate of Greek life on our campus is unknown, but leaders have found culprits like Greekrank to be partially at fault for the negativity surrounding the national social organizations. We deserve more than our value being placed on our physique and ability to fit the mold. Better yet, if people inside and outside of the university behave differently because of your houses ranking, they probably are not people you want to spend time with. According to Arreza, full names have been posted on several instances. Many posts are dedicated to establishing a rank or hierarchy of sororities and fraternities; others focus on comparing members looks such as ranking sororities by the hotness of members through a cutie score.. will not be displayed. The Cornell Daily Sun UNBIASED fraternity rankings By: GreekRanker Last Post: 49 minutes ago. These comments are about actual people. But Gulley says she feels as though the statement isnt enough. I was the biggest social climber in the whole sorority. Anonymous chatting enables you to express your personality and opinions with strangers, giving you the opportunity to connect without worrying about being judged. Greekrank has been the site of recurring gossip, misogyny and cyberbullying severely affecting the mental health of several members of the Greek community, some members say, to the point that the RCMP became involved in one dire case. Today? Alex Samuels is a University of Texas-Austin and a USA TODAY College correspondent. Some of the top ranking sororities were an immediate non-fit for me when I actually went through the process, Potter said. In my preference round freshman year, I essentially had to choose between two bottom houses. Surprisingly, the users organization often ends up on top. Her Campus may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Swire says that anonymity is a relatively new construct, and that the rise of cities gave rise to it. The postings from what may be one person can easily be amplified to incorrectly represent the opinions of many, even if there is no actual affiliation with the group they purport to represent nor truth in what they post. The only way one can accurately describe the nature of the content that is found on the site is to go through the process of making a comment on a sorority or fraternity's page. Nothing on the site brings anything to the table for incoming first-years, he said. Our identity is formed by both. I don't think [UBCs decision to step away from the issue] should have to affect people's lives and mental health and well being.. Although, she says she wants to believe the post is a mistake. Each organization on campus is great in its own way, lets not pin houses against each other. And that hints at a larger, serious privacy concern in the age of cybersecurity breaches and digital services that keep your bank information and home addresses on record. Advertisers track your internet habits across your devices phone, tablet, laptop to know where you habitually go, shop, and what kind of websites you visit, and there has been growing controversy about what internet companies should be allowed to track and sell to third parties. The content of these anonymous posts on GreekRank is clearly abhorrent and would not represent standards and values at SMU. By: Ash Last Post: 4 days ago. Impact of Greek Life on Leadership Development. As a student I feel unsupported, like my voice isnt heard, like my tuition dollars are not worth as much as my white counterparts, and more importantly, Im disappointed, Gulley says. OPINION: Political dialogue is essential to a functioning democracy. In any case, efforts to completely anonymise our activities are more or less futile: With the rise of the internet of things, more and more of the devices we use every day will require our personal information to function, and the more theyll be integrated into our lives. Why should certain houses feel obliged to help others, or the Greek system in general, when theyre locked into a battle for supremacy? Lets face it; who really cares if you are ranked one tier above another house on a sinking ship anyways. As long as someone knows something about you, they can probably find other things about you, and do it really successfully more than they have in the past.. Gulley says she has no idea who authored the post. You will remain anonymous and your email Protect digital privacy and free expression. NEW! With the first month of 2021 in the books, we're ranking the best sororities so far. Some organizations are represented on GreekRank.com but are not rated and have limited, if any, mention in discussion boards. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump signed a law that repealed requirements for internet service providers to get permission from customers before gathering and sharing their personal data, like your web history and what apps you use. Court Rules That DMCA Does Not Override First Amendments Anonymous Speech Protections, In re DMCA Sec. The online site serves as a place to rate and review different fraternity and sorority chapters at universities across the United States, giving incoming freshmen an inside look at a chapters standing on campus before formal rush. While conducting extremely scientific research (Im just a hotelie, so you should give me a break) about the website with friends ranging from the BIG 10 to the SEC, I was met with a unifying groan. It became a serious problem, one that really affected someones mental health, she said. Mattigan Kelly, Former Deputy Multimedia Director, 2023 | The Hustler is not operated by Vanderbilt University. Without one or the other, our wellbeing can easily become disrupted.. Hi, everyone! receive a verification email after you submit the post. BOTTOM: ADPI,Read More, Why are they ranked so low? But it all must start when fraternities and sororities stop seeing their longtime friends as enemies in the fight for popularity. Eva Pace ('22) is the former Life Editor for The Vanderbilt Hustler. This is easy for me to say now after years of personal development and self-discovery. Whistleblowers report news that companies and governments would prefer to suppress; human rights workers struggle against repressive governments; parents try to create a safe way for children to explore; victims of domestic violence attempt to rebuild their lives where abusers cannot follow. In a system that has major issues, from systematic racism and classism to a sexual assault crisis, Greekrank does nothing but fuel the flame. In addition to shooting for The Hustler, she was the Development Coordinator for Camp Kesem at Vanderbilt, works in a research lab on campus and plays Club Tennis. 1st tier: Sigma Phi Epsilon () Sigma Alpha Epsilon () Pi Kappa Phi .Read More. But what if youre one of those people who eschews Facebook, has no social media presence, and goes to great lengths to leave a fleeting digital footprint? The postings from what may be one person can easily be amplified to incorrectly represent the opinions of many, even if there is no actual affiliation with the group they purport to . OPINION: Starve yourself. Potter instantly realized that their comments contributed to a destructive cycle of women making decisions based on the opinions of men, she said. Why is the UA falling into the trap of this harmful site? The anonymity the site provides brings out the absolute worst in people. Maybe its time for a rethink. Thus in 2002 the Supreme Court struck down a law requiring proselytizers to register their true names with the Mayor's office before going door-to-door. These chapters are ranked on popularity, social life, friendliness, sisterhood, and other factors. Be notified when someone replies to your post. OPINION: Should we separate art from artists? Students are now rallying around the hashtag #BlackAtSMU in the hopes of getting the schools attention. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Vanderbilt University and its official representatives. How do you feel? I heard guys using it as a way to justify and tell which sororities the girls should aim to get into for clout, Potter said. The well-loved website is also a magnet for the major problems plaguing Greek life. The funny thing is, I had no idea rankings of Greek houses existed before I heard all of the girls in line grimacing at the idea of having to even talk to the low lives in bottom-tier houses, frantically referencing Greekrank as their bible. The difficulty with anonymous postings on social media is clearly demonstrated in this case. Plus Ciaja Harbison thoughts and VandyBoys weekend roundup, Vanderbilt looks to make a run in SEC tournament as 12 seed, Ciaja Harbison earns second team All-SEC honors, Vanderbilt hits the road seeking revenge against Kentucky, Wondry hosts second annual Renaissance Womens Summit, Three up, three down: VandyBoys beat the Bruins, Pandemonium in Panama City Beach: Mens Golf wins Watersound Invitational, Hidden Dores and Multicultural Leadership Council hold second annual Legacy Tour, The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University. A cultural exchange and journalism collaboration among students and faculty from four public universities in Yemen and the UA. But if were going to reassign real cultural value to anonymity; to secure it as a basic right people are entitled to, its going to take a lot more than just individual action, and a lot more than encryption apps you can load up your phone with. Individuals can pay to have posts removed, but otherwise, it is unclear how consistently or rigorously the site is moderated for harassment. Rising sophomore Steph Potter said she saw the rankings herself but became painfully aware of how misleading they could be when she finally rushed.. Best Cities to Move to Post-Graduation. You will The Daily Wildcat Presents:Confronting Scarcity. News. Rush can be a confusing time for new college students and we are hoping to make that time a bit easier and less time cons Read More Phone Number: (217) 344-2291 Website: www.greekrank.com Revenue: Honestly, I dont think the platform brings anything positive to incoming students. 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This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. In emails provided to The Ubyssey through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, students in Greek life requested support from UBC administration to remove UBCs discussion thread on anonymous forum Greekrank. I remember getting on the internet for the first time. I'm a senior studying political science and journalism. The damage Greekrank causes cannot be overstated, for rush and really the entire system, Standard said. Last August, UBC Sororities and the Interfraternity Council (IFC) teamed up in an effort to halt persistent cyberbullying an effort that was stalled by the university. Paul Ohm, a law professor at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, says theres intentional anonymity and inferential anonymity: the former being what we choose to keep close to the vest, and the latter referring to the data that a Google-savvy sleuth can infer from you online that is, dig up loads of personal information about you using a single fact as a starting point. Its not just about customers opting out of digital services its about the choice to temporarily opt out of their public-facing identities, as well. var site_id = 4609; Despite the overwhelming awareness that this could all be over in a matter of days and despite the best efforts of students online to publicly shame those who break the rules, Cornell was moved to threat level yellow after a mere two days of classes not by a group of students who contracted the disease in spite of Cornells ample countermeasures, but by a group of students who willfully ignored them. Any enterprising social climber knows the website like the back of their hand. An anonymous posting onGreekRank--a popular website with information onGreek life chapters atcampuses nationwide -- detailing why black women shouldnt try to join the predominately white sororities at Southern Methodist University (SMU) has students nationwide outraged. 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This diversion of social chasing creates tension across the Greek system. Founders Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote the Federalist Papers under the pseudonym "Publius " and "the Federal Farmer" spoke up in rebuttal. Virtually everything on there is weird troll bait, and lately weve seen a disgusting slew of posts full of hate speech, Thompson said. He affirmed that in the past, some PNMs expressed that they would not like to join Pike due to discussion posts and rankings on the website. The harm is being done at the individual level, rather than the institutional level. (Credit: Getty Images), Its become increasingly clear that its a losing game, Ohm says on achieving total anonymity in 2017. Greekrank, and the Greek life system in general, perpetuates the idea that certain people's lives matter more than others because of their social status. Its a website dedicated to ranking and commenting on different sororities and fraternities on campus. I guarantee you that the site is as horrible as it sounds. We can encourage those freshmen not yet introduced to the Greek system at Cornell to not waste their time memorizing online rankings. There is a group of people with feelings on the receiving end of these nasty comments. Anonymity didnt exist in small towns in the days of yore, Swire says, where everybody knew everybodys business. I give that advice to intelligence agencies, and I give that advice to ordinary people. Because while some people may not care about third parties or governments tracking their purchasing habits, people will definitely care more about being anonymous when it involves people they interact with on a daily basis. Bottom: ADPI, Read More, Why are they ranked so low after of! Anonymity anonymity that breeds the downright mean material that & # x27 ; s so prevalent the! Schools attention sorority chapters using their initials re ranking the best sororities so far of women decisions. 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