Just this past week, my university had the pleasure of hosting David Stollman as a guest speaker on campus. For those who may not have heard of him, David is the President and Co-founder of CAMPUSSPEAK, a sponsored organization revolving around sparking and rejuvenating excellence in collegiate Greek communities nationwide. He has served as advisor for both a fraternity and a sorority over the years. As a University of Maryland alum and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brother, Stollman's keynote lecture on Greek life is pointed and powerful.

Entitled "Buy In or Get Out" Stollman's keynote reinforces the actual meaning behind our Greek letters. Right off the bat during the presentation, he made a disclaimer - he would be blunt and he would piss off at least a few people in the room. He wasn't there to beat around the bush; he wanted to address the stereotypes and stigmas of collegiate Greek life head-on.

The basis of his presentation sends a profound message to the Greek community. As Stollman puts it, Greek chapter members either have to "Buy In or Get Out" to all that Greek life entails. In today's society, the Greek community has been flooded with negative connotations and images stemming from blown-up single incidences in the media. This is by far no example of what Greek life entails or values. We as chapter members individually took an oath to represent our chapter's goals and standards during our initiation ceremonies. By wearing letters, we serve as an example of not just ourselves but our entire organization. By association, we are almost always "wearing our letters" if not literally than figuratively; more or less, do not act stupidly because we represent more than ourselves. As Stollman stated, "If you're in it for the parties and the booze instead of the friendship and leadership - get out."

Greek communities have major influences on their college campuses. Fraternities and sororities build and cultivate leaders on campus. Men and women in these institutions volunteer hours of service to their philanthropies. Stollman noted the difference between a friend and a brother/sister. The bonds within the sisterhoods and brotherhoods of Greek communities reach far beyond what any other friendship may produce. You stand for the same causes and you value the same ideals.

Personally, I think David Stollman's keynote is so influential due to the fact that he himself experienced all that Greek life has to offer. He is no stranger to a frat house. He didn't make any assumptions and he didn't make any empty promises. He faces the facts and acknowledges all aspects of life as a Greek. He believes in our Greek communities and even will go as far as to say that "without a doubt in my mind ... fraternities and sororities are the best part about a college campus."

We are the ones that can change the stereotypes and stigmas. We can do this by fully embracing our roles as leaders and influencers on campus, rather than picking and choosing certain aspects to uphold such as partying. We need to use common sense - our actions effectively reflect on the Greek community as a whole. We are the ones who must band together to change the pace. As Stollman stated, "All fraternities and sororities exist for the same basic purpose, to make men better men and to make women better women." As such, we must ultimately choose to "buy in" or "get out" - if you do not buy in to our responsibility as Greeks and as individual chapter members to create a welcoming and holistic campus environment as leaders and hold true to that oath we first made at initiation, get out.