Freshman orientation: I can still recall my bewilderment when students in my group were talking about being Greek; I literally thought nearly 3,000 students at Virginia Tech were of Greek ethnicity.
Little did I know, “Greek” was a term used to describe fraternity and sorority life, and I would eventually come to know the term well.
As spring recruitment fast approaches and sign-ups are underway, the war between non-Greek and Greek members will leave many potential new members confused about what to do.
The Greek system will inevitably be equally endorsed and criticized.
However, many who criticize the system have biased opinions shaped through television, movies and pop culture. Students unacquainted with the Greek system may see it as superficial, obnoxious or even hazardous.
Persuading students not to join the Greek system does not cure problems on campus relating to binge drinking and illegal activity.
It simply discourages leaders from joining a system that allows them to utilize their leadership abilities and provides students with creative outlets.
As an incoming freshman, I gave in to the common stereotypes of sorority life and submitted to viewpoints of my parents.
As an abundance of the girls in my dorm decided to rush, I made it clear I wanted to stay far away. As I watched them keep busy with exciting new events, I began to resent them (as well as my decision) more and more.
As a sophomore I decided to rush, and Greek life filled the void created by my lack of involvement during freshman year. It allowed me to participate in intramural sports, develop leadership skills, make friends and gain academic support — all in one organization.
It wasn’t until after joining a sorority that I learned Greek life was not anything like the stereotypes.
During my sorority’s philanthropy, I was able to see how passionate the Greek community is about raising money for different organizations in need.
Each sorority and fraternity has an individual charity and is also dedicated to helping support the philanthropy of other sororities and fraternities.
The commitment of the Greek community to philanthropic events and community service is a clear demonstration of Tech’s motto “Ut Prosim — That I may serve.”
Although Greek organizations are in fact social, they should be seen as more than just “paying for friends.” Money paid by members is used to fund an organization that gives students an assortment of opportunities.
This can be compared to paying dues in any organization, such as a club sports team, a community service organization or a club focused on a specific major.
If you are on the fence about spring recruitment, I encourage you to participate.
As I look at freshmen and sophomores similar to myself, I can’t help but be disheartened by the positional leaders lost as a result of uninformed and biased viewpoints.
A version of this article appeared in the Dec 2 issue of the Collegiate Times.
Leave a comment 12 Comments Write a letter to the editor
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I was a pledging a fraternity and I am not found the Greek system appalling. The Greek system here at Tech practices extensive hazing, at least in the fraternities. During my semester inside the Greek system I found that they were nothing more than school sanctioned drinking clubs. The "philanthropic events" are usually followed by drinking or members drink while they do them. There are dozens of instances where fraternity brothers are lying before in a hearing before Student Conduct to preserve there chapter. I guess that's probably just practice for the real thing. More than 90% of politicians come out of the Greek system and so it doesn't surprise me that many of our nations leaders are incompetent and corrupt. The Greeks on campus are liked only by the Greeks themselves, or temporarily by the people at their parties.
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Agreed. The hazing and drinking culture are the worst kept secrets on campus.
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I was enjoying a nice meal the other day downtown when a group of about 15 girls from the same sorority walk in together. Now, I'm sure each girl is probably a nice person, but together as a group in public representing the Greek community, what an interesting sight. They where simply the most passive-aggressive, indecisive, and idiotic group-think I have ever seen. In my observations on and off campus, that really does represent sorority life.
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I've been to many frat parties over the years and from everyone I've talked to, alcohol is like the blood of greek life. Yea there are other community events/meetings/stuff they do but what do you think they use to recruit? Alcohol at the parties.
I've just never gotten over the whole paying for friends thing. I'd pay $100/$200 a semester sure but most frats are $500+ a semester....no way....not just for social connections and alcohol when you can get that for free. Not to mention the embarrassing/hazing things you have to do during rush.
One of my best friends a few years ago rushed and couldn't even talk to me about the things he did, never heard from him shortly after. I could say I lost him to the greek system. It's not so much the greek stuff itself I hate, just the "I'm better than you non-greeks/more elite" mentality that inevitably comes with it.
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I lived in several apartments with a lot of greek neighbors or those pledging lived (lots of yelling during rush/pedging is how I know) and they just seem unfriendly, neighbors never said hello back and they just never cared to know you unless you were greek.
Not to mention girls won't talk/show interest to any NON-greek guy and vice versa. They say they would but get real, the social pressure is too much. Maybe after college they do.
Just to think that this system then puts these guys into society. I hope most come to the realization after college they are not better than anyone else because they were greek.
I'm not saying ALL greek is bad but probably a good 2/3 of frats/sororities are corrupt/do the same thing
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"I can still recall my bewilderment when students in my group were talking about being Greek; I literally thought nearly 3,000 students at Virginia Tech were of Greek ethnicity."
What sorority did you end up pledging? Kappa Sigma Retarded?
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It's called journalistic license, smart guy/gal. She's a Tri Delt.
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Better watch out Hokie_1997/smart guy/gal. She's a Tri Delt. She might be serving your french fries in a few years.
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The commitment of the Greek community to philanthropic events and community service is a clear demonstration of Tech’s motto “Ut Prosim — That I may serve.”
And how about all the underage drinking, hazing, and date rape that occurs in the Greek community? How does that fit Ut Prosim?
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That I may serve... alcohol to anyone who shows up to my party
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I too was going to join the Greek system here at Tech. I went to all of the rush week fraternity events and was really excited about getting involved on campus. I thought, what's a better way to get involved than go Greek? On their last recruiting event like any club, they gave a nice, well designed and thought through presentation to all those rushing describing what they do and what their purpose was. What was explained was truly APPALLING and UNETHICAL. It is amazing how a group of people can convince themselves that it is cool to throw party after party with the sole intention of screwing and date-raping as many girls as possible. The fraternities’ interpretation of philanthropy and community service was dismal at best. It is simply an excuse to pick-up sorority girls and is used as sales pitch to cover their real purpose.
The really sad thing is the number of girls, both sorority and non-sorority that open their legs wide for these fraternities. Some of these fraternities have developed over years of practice how to run their parties and behave as a group to manipulate the female mind into quick sex-driven infatuation of its members. It's the cold hard truth and I'm just the messenger.
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