As college students across America go back to their campuses, whether it be USF, an Ivy league or a community college, many emotions come into play. Some of us are sad that we have to leave our families and friends behind after an awesome summer, while some of us cannot wait to get back. We are all nervous about our grades, how classes are going to be, having new jobs or even joining new organizations. For many students, Greek Life is one of those organizations they may consider joining.
There are various views, opinions and concerns with Greek Life and this can be attributed to many things. People always say that they don't like to "pay for friends" or think it simply won't benefit them. These opinions are valid in some regard, but everyone's experience will always be different from someone else's. Just like any organization, there are going to be pros and cons to joining and the existence of them altogether. So here are some pros and cons, as well as how these cons need to be eradicated.
Some positive aspects are:
Meeting new people/sisters/brothers
Future connections
Getting more involved in charity
The list of positives could go on and on, depending on who you are but these are definitely the main advantages. Who could argue against creating friendships and memories that will last a lifetime?
Socially, Greek Life is a great way to break out of your shell and embrace others who share the same values that you do. These people and the organization, in general, can lead you to opportunities in your career field among other things. You cannot forget the community service portion of this list either, as those memories will stick with you as well. Service events could lead to a new passion and additional work on your part to help others that you wouldn't have jumped into otherwise.
However, there are some negative aspects of sororities and fraternities that cannot be ignored. These organizations have constantly been under fire for various issues and actions. News outlets are always coming out with stories of frat guys openly being sexist, racist and homophobic, which is absolutely terrible. This is a major part of Greek Life that needs to be stopped in its tracks before more students, and others, are victimized by these blatant instances of discrimination and harm.
Some negative aspects are:
Hazing
Rape culture and party culture
Cost of joining
These things, besides cost, have to change in order to preserve and boost the image of Greek Life. If members truly love the experiences, people and events that their chapters have, then it is time for this nonsense to stop. Not all chapters are a part of these issues, but enough are to make it part of Greek Life's reputation. However, we must, again, remember that every sorority and fraternity is different and most of them are full of amazing individuals. It is up to you to pick a chapter that aligns with your values, and new members can make a difference in ending these troubling acts.
Overall, every person has a different experience with anything they do in college. It is always up to you to decide what is best for yourself, and that is the beauty of college. If you think that it could be for you, then give it a shot. What's the worst that could happen? There is absolutely no harm in going through recruitment and dropping out, or you might just find a new home with people you'll never forget.
