On Jan. 25, Mark Neustadt’s report to the Brandeis community on perceptions of the University showcased that Brandeis is underperforming in the social scene — something that is not news to many. As such, I would like to offer the administration the following structural reforms in an attempt to make Brandeis a more socially active place. At Neustadt’s last presentation, the administration incorrectly blamed the lack of weekend nightlife on the large number of clubs Brandeis has, but clubs are nothing more than a scapegoat for certain structural failures.

First, to increase the on-campus social scene, I propose that the University consider getting a liquor license for Cholmondeley’s Coffee House. Neustadt referenced several universities, such as the University of Chicago, which have a strong on-campus social scene, despite a lack of surrounding social outlets near campus. This is frequently done with on-campus bars and parties. As such, turning Chum’s into one such place has the potential to increase the on-campus social scene. Student workers at Chum’s would be in charge of selling and monitoring the sale of alcohol to students 21 and older while creating an environment where safe drinking is acceptable on campus. This way, students can have a good time on a weekend while remaining close to their dorm room in a safe environment. It is worth noting that while Chum’s has historically been located in a dry quad, the administration could easily change this policy for the new dorm by either allowing Chum’s to have alcohol as an exception or making the entire new quad a wet quad.

Second, in the same vein, the University ought to take concrete steps vis-à-vis the Mods. As the central on-campus party scene for the University, strengthening the Mods can have direct impact on the social perception at Brandeis. First, the University should consider making quiet hours one hour later on the weekends, even if only for wet quads. The expectation will be that if a student chooses to live in the Mods, they are accepting all of the positive and negative implications of that decision — including the noise. If a student has a housing number good enough for a suite in the Mods but does not want the noise that comes with it, then they ought to move to Grad or another quad, instead of imposing their self-interested want for quiet on the whole community. Second, President Ronald Liebowitz should give a directive to Brandeis police to be more cautious before breaking up a party or gathering on weekends.

It goes without saying that if there is a legitimate safety issue, public safety has the right to be involved. However, if a party is registered with the University, the police should not shut down a loud party on a Saturday night just because there are a lot of people present. Shutting down the party leaves students both frustrated and bored on the weekend — which impacts that aforementioned “social perception” figure.

A presidential directive to allow parties to happen without over-reaching BranPo involvement ironically has the potential to increase student safety along with social perceptions of Brandeis. Instead of going off campus to the fraternities, away from one’s dorm and BEMCo jurisdiction, students could participate in more social activities on campus. Therefore, instructing BranPo to not shut down registered parties unnecessarily — barring emergency circumstances — would be a positive step in this direction. This would resolve in students partying in a safer way, while fostering a stronger connection to the campus itself.

Third — and I recognize that this needs to be a larger discussion — it is time that the University finally change its sports mascot. I can accept the fact that we will never be like the University of Michigan, with a stadium full of students for every home game cheering on our sports teams. That said, both our mascot and new fight song are an embarrassment. I challenge you to say out-loud “Get those gavels goin’!” without laughing — I’m a senior and I still can’t. Reforms to our sports culture — or lack thereof — would inevitably be a slow process, but the process should be started. Changing our mascot to something a bit more normal — even just Ollie the Owl — is the first step. With that, a chant can be created that isn’t quite so ridiculous as “Get those gavels goin’.” The recent effort to incentivize students to go to sports games by offering free food and sending out emails is certainly a positive first step, but more can be done.

Finally, we come to the elephant in the room: fraternities and sororities. It is without a doubt that the administration needs to progress toward eventual recognition of Greek life on campus, whether or not the fraternities want it. Fraternity concern regarding BranPo is a valid one; off campus, Greek life is free from University oversight and can more easily throw the parties they want without bureaucratic hoops to jump through, and with less worry that their party will be shut down. However, if the Mods reforms are put into place, and BranPo is willing to allow parties to happen, then this concern goes away. While I myself am not in a fraternity, I recognize that, on campuses across the country, Greek life helps foster a sense of community, encourages giving to charity and brings a more formalized social structure to campus.

I know that this last point is easier said than done, but it is something that must be worked toward. If the University is able to have a capella groups and improv groups that are selective, there is no reason fraternities cannot be, as well. That said, the University need not grant fraternities their own houses on campus; Northeastern set this precedent long ago. I do not even contend that the University needs to allow them to receive chartering-status or funding from the Allocations Board.

If the University decides to recognize even one fraternity, the rest have no choice but to follow suit. If no fraternity is recognized by the University, all Greek chapters are allowed to exist “unofficially” in the eyes of the University but can receive recognition from their national organization. However, if some Greek organizations are University-recognized, then other unofficial fraternities cannot exist. All in all, the University should let Greek life host parties, events and recruiting events on campus — same as any other recognized club.

The above proposals are far from being an exhaustive list, but all serve as beginning steps needed to reform the social culture at Brandeis. None of the above come at a high monetary cost for the University but are instead merely structural or policy reforms that could be changed without great investment. All of the above notwithstanding, I am firmly grateful to Brandeis for what have been the best four years of my life. While I may critique this place, it is completely out of love. I only want it to be the best university it can be, but this place is nothing short of a great place to spend your four years.