Greek life
Wrong impressions of greek life
By Jenna Marschhausen
When a lot of people think about fraternities and sororities they immediately associate them with a group of college kids who haze pledges, are way out of control, and all they ever want to do is party. I’m not quite sure where all these people get their ideas to begin with, probably from movies such as Animal House, or even articles in newspapers on the negative aspects of greek life, but not all organizations in Greek life even haze at all. There’s a lot more to the Greek system than drinking. It’s time for people to see the truth about Greek life.
Some people may say when you join a Greek organization, that you are buying your friends, but that’s entirely not true, if you do pay money it will go towards a composite of all the members, clothing with your letters, as well as activities and trips your organization may want to take together. The individuals in that organization don’t pocket the money to use for themselves, which would make that statement “that your buying your friends” false. Being Greek is not only a good extracurricular activity that looks good on a resume, but it’s a great opportunity to meet new people, and make a lot of friend who have a common interest as you. The friendships that you make don’t end when college does, because when you join your joining a brotherhood or sisterhood which will last much longer then that, it will last you a lifetime.
The sorority I’m in is nationally affiliated, and we are based on philanthropy, which is one of the reasons I actually joined my sorority in the first place. Not only do I get to give back to the community with all the philanthropy that we are involved in but I get to do it with my best friends right there with me. So far this year for philanthropy we have done so much, to name a few we went to the soup kitchen to help with their spooky dinner during pumpkin fest, and we went to Vermont to participate in the building of a house for extreme makeover home edition. Not just my sorority, but ALL Greek organizations do philanthropy, here at KSC all of the Greek organizations came together and helped clean up the ashowat river. With community service you learn how to respect yourself as well as others with pride.
When you’re in either a sorority or a fraternity, you learn a lot of things that will help you in life down the road after the college years are over. Like in many organizations there are different positions that are held in order to be run properly and smoothly, Greek organizations are the same way and this provides a great opportunity to produce amazing leadership skills as well as learning both independence and working in groups, courage, moral decency, and how to separate business with friendship.
About 3% of the United States population is/has been involved in Greek life, out of that 3%, 48% of all U.S presidents are Greek, and 40% of all U.S Supreme Court Justices were Greek. I don’t think Greek life could be that bad, if about half of the men who have lead our country were involved in it.
Hopefully in the near future the good nature and all the things that different Greek organizations do for the community will be seen and publicized more often and Sororities and fraternities will eventually get a better name that they honestly deserve.
mwalsh @ April 10, 2008
I agree that the stereotype may have something to do with what is seen in the movies, but it may also have something to do with how students, who are not a part of Greek Life, portray themselves before and after going to a Greek Life party.
Did your sorority participate in Walk in Her Shoes as well?
I also agree that the stereotype is all within the media like in movies and tv. Not many people understand what Greek life is or what they do. I think that this article helps to show that Greek life isn’t all about partying, it is also about gaining friendships and helping out in the community.