GREEK LIFE

GREEK LIFE

GREEK LIFE

FRATERNITIES
Fraternities are built on the concepts of
brotherhood and camaraderie, with members often
bonding over shared interests, whether they are
social, academic or even religious.
Going Greek generally comes at a cost - including
fees for social events, recruitment and housing and
membership dues - but can be an easy way to meet
new people and become part of an active social
circle.
Students who pledge a fraternity may also inherit a
network of contacts that extends well beyond their
campus, a plus when it's time to find a job or settle
into a new city after graduation.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.
com/best-colleges/rankings/most-frats

SORORITIES
Started as a way for female students to find
community on male-dominated campuses,
sororities still serve as a place for gender solidarity
at many colleges.
Sorority sisters often bond over shared cultural,
social, academic or religious interests, and may
participate in service projects, fundraisers and
formal dances.
Joining a sorority generally comes with a price tag,
including recruitment fees, membership dues and
added costs for activities.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.
com/best-colleges/rankings/most-sororities

IS GREEK LIFE RIGHT FOR

YOU?
What percentage of students
are Greek at this school?

http://www.collegeview.com/articles/article/is-greek-life-for-you

FRATERNITIES

The schools
on this list had
the highest
percentage of
male
undergraduat
es in
fraternities in
fall 2013:

OK City U
29%
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/most-frats

SORORITIES

The schools on
this list had the
highest
percentage of
female
undergraduates
in sororities in

fall 2013:

OU
28%
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/most-sororities

IS GREEK LIFE RIGHT FOR

What percentage of students
are Greek at this school?
YOU?

How important is a sense of belonging?

#1 reason people join

Are you a social person?

Do Greek organizations at your campus allow opportunities for
service and leadership?
Can you afford membership?
Find out the fees and what they include
Ask about extras, such as gift-giving occasions

Would I enjoy the rush process?

you are evaluating Greek organizations as much as they are evaluating you.

Can I take some rejection?

you might like a particular group, and they might not like you. Can you
handle that?

Are there reasons to rush, even if I dont join?

I opted to rush and doing so was a great way to meet fellow freshmen and
even upperclassmen, comments Amrit Bhavinani, a junior at the Georgia
Institute of Technology.

http://www.collegeview.com/articles/article/is-greek-life-for-you

JULIE: My husband and I were not members of a

fraternity or sorority while in college, but many of
our friends were. We generally saw it as being
like most thingsa mixed bag.
We left the decision about whether to join a
sorority completely up to Lindsey. She'll tell you
more about her experience, but we would have
supported whatever choice she made.
I can tell you that for me, as a parentthere were
several considerations to having a child involved
in Greek life:
http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/twice-the-collegeadvice/2011/09/20/7-considerations-when-thinking-about-greek-life

1. Cost: This isn't something I had thought much about beforehand, but
joining Greek life comes with some built-in expenses. Some costs we've
incurred include a recruitment fee, house fees and dues, a sorority pin, a
more extensive wardrobe, and social functions for both Lindsey and our
family. Many of these are optional, of course, but some are definitely not.
Altogether, we spent $3,258 on the sorority in Lindsey's first year.

2. Alcohol use: Excessive and underage drinking is a common

problem on college campuses in general, but peer pressure to drink can be
even higher within the Greek system. This is something that many
students deal with when they go to college, and certainly is something
worth discussing with your child before they decide to join a fraternity or
sorority.

3. Limitations: It's easy to let the Greek system become your entire
world. Living in a fraternity or sorority gives you a place to belong at
college, but it can become limiting as well. Fortunately, Lindsey has
become involved outside of her sorority, and that has proved rewarding
for her.
http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/twice-the-collegeadvice/2011/09/20/7-considerations-when-thinking-about-greek-life

LINDSEY: While going through sorority

recruitment, I was definitely skeptical of the
process and of the prospect of joining a
chapter. Even once I pledged a house, it took
me awhile to get used to the idea.
Now, a year later, I can say that I feel completely
at home in my sorority, and that I am
confident in my decision to go Greek. Here are
some of the benefits to consider, as well as
one disadvantage. http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/twice-the-collegeadvice/2011/09/20/7-considerations-when-thinking-about-greek-life

1. Connections: When deciding whether to go through

recruitment, I was told by a family friend that Greek life is not the
only way to meet new people, but it is one of the easiest ways. This
is something that I have found to be unequivocally true. Being a
part of a fraternity or sorority gives you an instant connection with
a large group of people, and that network will continue to grow.

2. Events: At my school, being in a sorority or fraternity provides

opportunities to engage in all kinds of events and activities, such as
Homecoming Week, themed parties, serenades, philanthropy
events, and theatrical productions. If these sound up your alley, I
would definitely encourage you to consider going Greek. Keep in
mind, however, that some of these things can become major time
commitments.

http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/twice-the-collegeadvice/2011/09/20/7-considerations-when-thinking-about-greek-life

3. Belonging: It sounds cheesy, but a sorority or fraternity can

become a home away from home, just as a dorm, group of friends, or
campus organization can. Especially since moving into the house, my
sorority sisters are the ones with whom I share everythingfailed tests,
lazy Sundays, new jobs, broken hearts, and game days, to name a few.
Before you go through recruitment, however, consider whether you will
be comfortable living in a house with 70 other women or men. It is
definitely a new experience, especially since I didn't grow up living with
sisters.

4. Stereotypes: It is undeniable that there are certain stereotypes

associated with Greek life. There are people who will judge you for being
in a sorority, or for which house you join. The important thing to
remember is that each house has all types of girls, so you shouldn't put
too much stock in those who make assumptions about fraternity men or
sorority women.
This is also why I am such an advocate of being involved outside of your
sorority. It can be just as rewarding to participate in activities that have to
do with your academic
focus or other interests.
http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/twice-the-college-advice/2011/09/20/7-considerations-when-thinking-about-greek-life

HAZING

This next downside is probably the single most

publicized aspect of Greek life: partying. To some, the
frat and sorority parties are the best part of the deal
and, according to a college alcohol study by the
Harvard School of Public Health, 4 out of 5 five
members of Greek life were binge drinkers. Statistics
like that could mean that at one of those awesome
Greek parties you could drink so much you pass out
and never wake up.
Another extremely publicized downside of Greek life
is hazing. Hazing is a lot more rare in todays society,
due to the many anti-hazing laws that exist in 44 of
the 50 states and anti-hazing policies that have been
established in many Greek chapters. However, a few
hazing cases still occur in many colleges in the U.S.
http://www.fastweb.com/student-life/articles/3345-to-pledge-or-not-to-pledge-pros-and-cons-of-frat-life

HAZING

In one of these cases reported, a college

sophomore at Cornell University ended up in a
body bag as a result of hazing. The student, George
Desdunes, was tied up and quizzed on fraternity
lore and traditions, and for every question he got
wrong he was force fed drinks. The next morning
George was found on the fraternity houses coach,
and by then hed already died of alcohol poisoning.
Admittedly, cases as severe as this dont occur
every day, but it only takes extreme cases of
hazing to permanently end your college
experience.
http://www.fastweb.com/student-life/articles/3345-to-pledge-or-not-to-pledge-pros-and-cons-of-frat-life

15 Frightening Facts about

Fraternities & Sororities
Article with links to research/studies

http://www.zencollegelife.com/15-frightening-facts-about-sororities-and-fraternities/

15 Frightening
Facts about Fraternities & Sororities
http://www.zencollegelife.com/15-frightening-facts-about-sororities-and-fraternities/
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Sorority girls are more likely to have body image issues and dysfunctional eating
behaviors
Greeks are more likely to abuse alcohol and binge drink
Fraternity men have a higher risk for committing sexual assault
The fraternity or sorority house is the largest on-campus venue for binge drinking
Greek members abuse prescription stimulants more than their peers
New members are still paddled in some fraternities and sororities
Sorority members are more likely to be victims of sexual assault
More students engage in heavy drinking at fraternity or sorority parties than at offcampus parties or bars
Forty-four US states currently have anti-hazing laws
Since 1970, there has been at least one hazing-related death in college each year
Fraternity and sorority members suffer more alcohol-related consequences than
their peers
White fraternities typically use alcohol as a hazing tool, whereas black fraternities
traditionally use violence
Nine out of 10 students who have experienced hazing in college do not consider
themselves to have been hazed
Fraternity Hell Week still exists
The environment in fraternity houses contributes to rape culture

http://thoughtcatalog.com/stephanie-faye/2014/03/
stop-hating-on-greek-life-and-get-the-facts/

OPINION :
Stop Hating Greek Life and Get the Facts

Greek life gets a bad rep; there is no doubt about that. Youve seen
the TV shows, the movies, heard the news, read the paper,
maybe even experienced it yourself. Theres a lot of bad stuff out
there that is associated with Greek life. Let me repeat that word
for you, ASSOCIATED. All day every day I hear people talk down
about Greek Life, make fun of it, proclaim it is a cliquey society of
rich-b****s and dumb bros, and all around just talk negatively
about it. But those people are wrong. All of them.
Just because youre one time experience involving the Greek
community wasnt to your liking doesnt mean you can hate on
the entire Greek system. There is definitely a stereotype out
there attached to Greek Life, and while yes there are many
people who fall under that stereotype, that doesnt mean that
every Greek you meet is the same. That would be like saying that
every Asian is a straight-A student who plays a musical
instrument and can use chopsticks. Umm, how racist is that? A
lot.

http://thoughtcatalog.com/stephanie-faye/2014/03/
stop-hating-on-greek-life-and-get-the-facts/

OPINION :
Stop Hating Greek Life and Get the Facts

What the people who belittle Greek Life dont know is that students
involved in the Greek system are also some of the most involved
students on the entire campus. Not only are we required to be
involved in an activity that isnt just our sorority or fraternity so
that we become well rounded, we are also required to meet a
certain number of volunteer hours each semester. Meaning were
expected to be giving back to our communities. And not only that
each chapter also hosts their own philanthropy event, raising
thousands even 10s and 100s of thousands of dollars for a
single cause, charity, or organization. My chapter raised $46,000
alone in 2013, and nationally we raised $15 million in only 3.5
years.

http://thoughtcatalog.com/stephanie-faye/2014/03/
stop-hating-on-greek-life-and-get-the-facts/

OPINION :
Stop Hating Greek Life and Get the Facts

Let me throw some more knowledge on you. You think that

were dumb? On University campuses Greeks are usually the
students with the highest GPAs out of any other group of
students. This is not only because we learn how to manage
our social and academic lives, its because we set a standard
for our community. Fraternities and Sororities are required to
maintain a chapter GPA above a certain level (at our school it
is a 3.1 GPA). This does not include the GPA level that the
chapter sets for itself. For example, my chapter requires you to
have X amount of study hours a week once your GPA falls
below a 3.0, and once you fall below a 2.7 youre put on
academic probation. Once that begins we find you all the help
you need tutors, teachers, study guides, etc to help you
raise your GPA back up.

http://thoughtcatalog.com/stephanie-faye/2014/03/
stop-hating-on-greek-life-and-get-the-facts/

OPINION :
Stop Hating Greek Life and Get the Facts

For your information: 85% of the executives of Fortune 500

companies were greek; All but 2 of our presidents since
1825 have been Greek; The overall Greek GPA is higher
than the overall collegiate GPA; 20% more Greeks
graduate from college than do non-Greek students; As
undergraduates, Greeks raise over $7 million per year for
charity.

http://thoughtcatalog.com/stephanie-faye/2014/03/
stop-hating-on-greek-life-and-get-the-facts/

OPINION :
Stop Hating Greek Life and Get the Facts

I could go on with this list, but I wont. Instead Ill give you the
short version of my story. I joined a sorority my sophomore
year of college because my father died at the beginning of my
freshman year and I didnt make any friends. Before I joined I
had many of the same suspicions as others that you pay for
your friends, theyre superficial, girls are stupid, etc but I
wanted to join a community and make my very large campus a
smaller one. I joined and I dont think Ive ever made a better
choice.
People ask why you joined a sorority, but they should really ask
why you stayed. I could have walked out that door a long time
ago, but the friendships I made, the purpose my sorority gave
me, and the happiness it brought was worth it. I didnt pay for
my friends (everyone has to pay some kind of dues to any
other organization they join) I found them.

http://thoughtcatalog.com/stephanie-faye/2014/03/
stop-hating-on-greek-life-and-get-the-facts/

OPINION :
Stop Hating Greek Life and Get the Facts

So the next time youre hating on the Greek system stop

generalizing and realize that your experience is your own.
Greek life isnt for everyone, and not everyone is going to
understand it. Just because you dont understand
something doesnt mean you have a right to hate it.
Stephanie Faye
March 3, 2014

RUSHING/RECRUITMENT TIPS