Scream! Until you can scream no more!

Like I mentioned below, I am majoring in Music Education.  So twice a week I have a class called "Voice Studio".  Basically I meet with  7 or 8 other Music majors and we perform various pieces and receive constructive feedback about our performances, and perceptions of the music.  (At the end of every quarter, we have to perform for a panel of faculty in a Jury, in order to continue on to the next level of music courses).  So it's a really great class.  The professor is really great too, but I learned this week that she is also a little ignorant.

Last Thursday, a girl performed The Winter Wind (words by Shakespeare), and let's just say it was a little rough.  Our professor asked her if she was sick or something, because her voice sounded a little raspy.  "No, I'm not sick, I just cheered really loud at a football game this weekend."

Out of nowhere, our Professor asked the class if anyone had any intention of joining a Fraternity or Sorority.  I raised my hand and stated that I was already a brother in one.  Then I got "the eye".

"Huh. OK."

The teacher then went on and blatantly discouraged anyone else from joining Greek life.  As singers, apparently being involved in a Fraternity or Sorority is bad for the voice.  What!?  That's sort of a ridiculous accusation.  But then she began to elaborate on how she used to teach two girls who were Vocal Performance majors.  They both wanted to join a Sorority, and at an event, the girls were told that they had to scream their lungs out to prove that they wanted to belong to that House.  "Scream! Until you can scream no more!"  According to my professor, they screamed their desire to join, until they lost their voice.  They both developed vocal nodules (bumps on the vocal chords that never go away, and severely damage your speaking and singing voice.  They can be removed by surgery, but at great risk to the throat.  E.g. Julie Andrews).  They had to give up any potential careers and their hopes of being singers, and had to switch majors to something much more monotonous.

I was a little shocked.  Yeah, I'm sure her story was a little dramatized.  But these urban legends aren't developed out of the blue.  Some of this was more than likely based on truth.  What compels the Greek community to exhibit such behavior?  The hazing stigma is obviously still very prevalent on our campus.  That's definitely something that has to change.  It's ridiculous, unpractical, and at time just cruel.  People shouldn't have to prove to us that they belong in our respective houses.  We should have to prove to them that going Greek is the best decision they could make in their college career.

And I'm proud to say (in a clear, nodule free voice) that I am part of a brotherhood that doesn't require its new members to prove their worth by screaming until their throats bleed.

So the next time my Studio congregated, (Tuesday), I decided to wear my letters to class.  I did it partially to combat ignorance, partially out of spite towards our professor.  But mostly out of pride.  And people noticed.