If you have ever watched a Hollywood-produced movie involving a college, I'm sure you've seen Greek life portrayed as no-good fraternity guys who will amount to nothing but "Beer Drinking Contest" winners and partiers, and slutty sorority girls who just chase after frat boys, popularity and pay for their friends. Sadly, there are some Greeks with this ideal and hazing does exist in some places. From a Greek to a potential Greek: I'm sorry. I'm sorry that this is the only exposure you've gotten to "Greek life" and that you now have a completely wrong idea of what we, as a whole, are all about.

Here at Eastern Michigan University, Greek life is so much more than letters on your chest. It is about finding your home away from home and going from knowing nobody in a new town, to having organization upon organization and incredible networking capabilities at your fingertips. Since joining Greek life, I've acquired so many skills and opportunities that I couldn't have gotten without it. In the height of recruitment and rush season, here are some ways that EMU's Greek community slams those stereotypes into the dirt.

1. We have an incredible focus on service and philanthropy.

Every Greek organization on campus has a philanthropy, meaning that we all have a specific organization named to our chapter that we work to raise money/donations for throughout the year. We also do events like Relay for Life where we are all working collaboratively to raise money for a single cause. During Relay for Life this past year, EMU (with help from EVERY Greek chapter on campus) raised over $40,000. During the 2014-15 academic year, EMU's Greek community was challenged to complete 365 full days of service (8,760 hours), and ended up completing over 11,000! Some of the organizations that our on-campus chapters support are SOS Community Services, These Hands Don't Hurt, The Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation, American Red Cross, and many more.

2. We have a pretty fantastic average GPA.

In the last seven years, the College Panhellenic Council (CPC) has maintained an average term GPA above a 3.0, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) has maintained around a 2.4. With the involvement that we have on campus, combined with work and classes/homework, maintaining GPAs of this level is pretty fantastic. Not to mention, a lot of us study together in classes that we have together with other Greek affiliates or with our brothers/sisters.

3. We have very high involvement in some great things on campus.

There are many members of Greek life that are involved in many things. We have Greeks who are involved in orientation as New Student Orientation Assistants (NSOAs) and Orientation Team (O-Team), as well as having some of them as Resident Advisors (RAs) and many involved in the Honors College. We aren't just involved in our organizations - chances are if you meet a Greek, they are probably involved in an organization other than their chapter, such as a club sport, academic club, volunteer organization, tutoring, success coaching, intramurals, etc. We have a wide variety of Greek affiliates in organizations all over campus!

4. Fraternity parties are SAFER than random street parties (And sororities can't even throw parties!).

In order for a fraternity to throw a party, it must be registered. There are guest lists, age restrictions, and "sober monitors" who keep everyone at the party as safe as possible. This keeps not only attendants safe, but the fraternity as a whole from liability in case of an injury or damage. We encourage everyone to drink responsibly and never drive drunk, but we also don't like people walking home alone either. From personal experience, before I was affiliated, I went to a fraternity party and even though I didn't drink, was still walked home by a member of the fraternity to ensure that I got there safely. Sororities are not allowed to throw any parties at their houses, registered or non-registered, according to CPC rules and standards.

5. We are all encouraged to become GLASS certified and attend NMI.

Greeks Learning Alcohol Safety Seminar (GLASS) certifications are required by every sober monitor at registered parties and are highly encouraged for everyone because of the important information given. There is also New Member Institute (NMI), which is a session held for new members of Greek life, that gives them information about our social policies, GLASS certification, safety on campus, etc. There are also chances to become facilitators of these sessions, which is a great opportunity.

6. There aren't just social Greek organizations.

There are different types of Greek life. There are social chapters, multicultural chapters, service fraternities, etc. and there are many varieties of them all over campus. If you want to be in a chapter with other people of your culture, join one of the multicultural chapters. If you really just love helping your community, join a service fraternity! Greek life is so much more than being social and there's something for everybody.

7. No, you do not have to complete a keg stand to join Greek life.

Here at EMU, we have a VERY strict "no hazing" policy. There is zero tolerance, and that is something that we take very seriously. We do have rituals and such that are required for you to join, but nothing is forced and there's nothing crazy that you have to do. Again, it's something that we take extremely seriously on campus, end of story.

8. Finally, we are a very strong Greek COMMUNITY.

Just because I am involved in a sorority, that doesn't mean that I can't hang out with people in other chapters. I am friends with a few members of every Greek organization. We all attend each other's events, we support each other at Greek Week, we participate in the same activities, and in the end, we have each other's backs. I've never felt so accepted in a community, and when I joined Greek life, I gained not only my Greek family, but so many friends in so many other chapters.

I am so blessed to be a member of such a strong community on campus, and if you have the opportunity to join, I highly encourage you to try it out. There's nothing to lose, and a whole world to gain.