The best thing about being in a sorority is that you have so many sisters that you don’t need to talk to anyone else. You don’t need to make friends in your classes or at work. You don’t need to meet people in your hall, or in the BLUU, or in the library. It’s just a hassle you don’t have to worry about.
Right? Wrong.
Yes, it’s great to have sisters who can double as best friends,
roommates, classmates, study buddies, and lunch dates. But you know
what’s even better? Having sisters AND other friends to do things with.
I’m one of those people that calls lots of people my “best friend.” My
older sister Becca is my best friend, my mom is my best friend, my
platonic guy friend Tom is my best friend, and my sorority sister Maggie
is my best friend. But I have this one best friend, and she’s pretty
much the real deal.
I met Kelsey the summer after 8th
grade at Camp Arcadia, a Christian camp where we spent a week before
high school. We were in the same small group and immediately hit it off.
We lived about 45 minutes apart, so our moms drove us back and forth to
see each other, and we sent each other about a million emails a day
(Example email: Dear Kelsey, high school is scary. But I met a boy, and I
think we’re in love. Love, Abby.). Right before junior year of high
school, Kelsey’s family moved to Wisconsin. Needless to say, I was
devastated. Just kidding, it wasn’t much farther of a drive. We still
kept in great touch, making frequent phone calls and the occasional trip
out to see each other.
Plot twist! Kelsey and I both
committed to TCU during our senior year of high school, and we made
lots of plans. Maybe freshman roommates? Maybe sorority sisters? Maybe
we would have the same major? Maybe our boyfriends would be
brothers!?!?!? Our plan didn’t turn out at all how we expected it to,
but I still wouldn’t change a thing about it.
Kelsey
and I ended up pledging different sororities, and I’ve said for the last
year and a half that a piece of my heart is in Gamma Phi Beta. As much
as I love and adore my sisters, there’s something to be said about a
girl who has been your best friend since the awkward days of 8th grade.
The fact that Kelsey and I are in different sororities does not detract
from our friendship. I actually think it makes it more special. Instead
of seeing each other at chapter meetings or other events, we have to
make time outside of our busy lives to see each other. The fact that we
don’t have our sorority in common forces us to talk about all kinds of
other things, whether that be classes, boys, our families, or pizza.
Just because we aren’t sisters doesn’t mean we can’t be best friends.
I feel this way about lots of my friends. My friend Autumn from high
school is a Kappa, my Frog Camp buddy Caroline is a Sigma Kappa, and one
of my sweet roommates is a Theta. I have learned so much in such
different ways from these girls, and they all bring something different
to the table. If I hadn’t branched out of my sorority, I never would
have been able to have friendships with these great girls.
So that’s my challenge: I urge all of you to reach out of the comfort
zone of the circle of your sisters. Make some fellow Panhellenic
friends, or maybe even some that aren’t Greek at all. Friendships don’t
need letters to be legit. But if they do, I guess that’s cool too.
Welcome back
Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends
or
LOG IN WITH FACEBOOKNo account? Create one
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
StableDiffusion
The Illusion of Creativity
AI-generated music is often marketed as “artistic” or “educational.” But what does it really teach?
- That style can be replicated without understanding.
- That emotion can be simulated without feeling.
- That effort can be bypassed with a prompt.
For young creators, this sets a dangerous precedent. Why learn to play guitar when an algorithm can do it faster? Why study harmony when AI can generate chord progressions in seconds? The risk isn’t just laziness — it’s the loss of depth, discipline, and the tactile joy of creation.
I have listened to several AI-generated music covers. My initial reaction was one of considerable impressiveness, particularly regarding the reimagining of classic pop hits in diverse genres with novel arrangements. Here is one good example a-ha — Take On Me
However, after engaging with several such Ai generated song covers, a sense of emotional detachment emerged, attributable to the perceived absence of human artistry and genuine sentiment, resulting in a technically flawless yet ultimately soulless auditory experience.
Copyright in Crisis
What does the copyright law say about AI generated music, especially in field of music covers. Who is liable for copyright in this case, AI developers, people who used AI to generate music or people who published it on music platforms?
Recent lawsuits show that the music industry is pushing back hard:
- Universal, Sony, and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio in 2024 for allegedly training their models on copyrighted songs without permission Ars Technica The Lyon Firm.
- They’re seeking up to $150,000 per infringed song, arguing that the AI outputs resemble famous tracks and voices (e.g., Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson).
- These lawsuits target the developers of the AI tools — but they raise broader questions:The legal gray area is training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use Sites at USC.
But who’s liable?
Role | Legal Risk | Why |
AI Developers | ✅ High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | ✅ High | For distributing infringing content. |
The grey area lies in training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use. Meanwhile, AI-generated works themselves aren’t eligible for copyright unless a human provides substantial creative input — leaving them in legal limbo.
The Educational Mirage
Some argue that AI music helps people learn genres, production styles, or vocal techniques. But this “education” often lacks context. It’s like learning to paint by watching a printer — technically impressive, but creatively hollow.
True musical education involves:
- Struggle and iteration: Learning through mistakes.
- Emotional connection: Expressing what words can’t.
- Cultural lineage: Understanding the roots of sound.
AI shortcuts bypass all of this. And in doing so, they risk flattening the rich terrain of human creativity into a sterile landscape of algorithmic mimicry.
Why This Fight Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about the future of art, storytelling, and human expression. If we allow machines to dominate creative spaces, we risk turning culture into content — optimized, monetized, and devoid of soul.
We must ask: Do we want a world where art is made by machines, or one where machines help humans make better art?
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-generated music blurs the line between innovation and erosion in the creative arts
- AI-generated music raises questions about copyright, culture, education, and artistic expression
- AI-generated music can replicate style without understanding, simulate emotion without feeling, and bypass effort with a prompt
- AI-generated music sets a dangerous precedent for young creators by potentially leading to a loss of depth, discipline, and joy of creation
Trending Topics
Trending Stories
Best of Student Life![Jenna Pizzi and her mom smiling by a waterfront with a historic ship in the background.]()
![Cristina Yang and Meredith Grey in scrubs sit against a wall, smiling and enjoying a break.]()
![Towson University]()
![Woman in field with a red heart-shaped balloon under a colorful sky.]()
