Fraternities & Sororities at Queen’s: Your Thoughts
In the early 1930s the AMS and the University banned fraternities and sororities on campus. This ban, which is reflected in AMS Constitution Section 7, precludes AMS members from “be[ing] an active member of any fraternity or sorority, that is, any organization composed of students and former students which has a secret oath, constitution or pledge or which has a sign of identification such as a pin or Greek letters, or which is affiliated with any organization outside of the University.”
It has been nearly 80 years since the ban was implemented and the AMS feels that it is time for broader consultation, to hear from students, and to have a campus-wide discussion on this issue.
At the time, the AMS felt that fraternities and sororities created an exclusive environment and did not reflect the egalitarianism that Queen’s and the AMS endeavours to foster. It has been nearly 80 years since the ban was implemented and the AMS feels that it is time for broader consultation, to hear from students, and to have a campus-wide discussion on this issue.
The AMS is therefore beginning a process whereby the Executive will seek student feedback regarding the ban and the place of fraternities or sororities at Queen’s. The Executive will present the findings to AMS Assembly, the governing body that oversees the amendment and implementation of AMS Constitution. The Executive is also seeking a definitive legal opinion on the matter. The AMS has worked throughout the summer on this issue, and is looking forward to a healthy and informed debate on the subject.
Throughout this process, all students are invited to submit their feedback using the feedback form below. The Executive will read each entry and summarize the results in a report, using non-identifying information. Ultimately this process attempts to answer the following questions:
- What is the role and impact of fraternities or sororities on the Queen’s community?
- What are the concerns or implications with retaining the ban or lifting the ban?
- Should fraternities or sororities exist at Queen’s?
Further information about the history of the ban on fraternities and sororities can be found here:
http://www.queensu.ca/news/alumnireview/fraternal-follies-0
http://www.queensu.ca/encyclopedia/f/fraternitiesandsororities.html
The AMS Constitution, including the AMS mission statement and Section 7, can be found here:
https://myams.org/about-your-ams/governance.aspx
We look forward to your input.
Doug, Mira and Tristan
AMS President, Vice President of University Affairs, and Vice President of Operations