Coming from a small town that doesn't have a prominent Greek presence on the local colleges and universities, stereotypes about sororities and fraternities often danced around the minds of my hometown peers. When I would speak with them about college, the fact that I belonged to a sorority always came up. The very next words out of their mouths would be a variation of "Do you just party all the time," "How does it feel to buy your friends," "Do you even go to class," and "You can't actually be best friends with all those girls." Always encountering such negativity made me feel guilty to be involved in Greek Life sometimes. I was ashamed because I didn't want to be associated with such superficial things. However, some interesting facts about Greek life changed my whole perspective:
1. 85% of Fortune 500 executives were part of Greek life
2. The first female astronaut was Greek
3. So was the first female senator
4. Over $7 million is raised each year by Greeks nationally
5. The Greek system is the largest network of volunteers in the US, with members donating over 10 million hours of volunteer service each year
6. As Alumni, Greeks give approximately 75% of all money donated to universities
7. Belonging to a fraternity or sorority increases one’s chances of completing a degree, with 71% of Greeks graduating versus 50% of non-Greeks.
Greek Life is so much more than t- shirts with Greek letters, parties on the weekends, and a group of attractive faces. Sororities and Fraternities demand their members to rise to a higher standard. Members must make grades, keep a clean record, and always display exemplary behavior because they represent a national organization. Greek Life is about a community of young adults who want to work together to make a difference in peoples' lives; they want to serve a greater purpose.
People often overlook the great things Greek Life is responsible for. My own chapter raised over $10,000 last semester for Prevent Child Abuse America. Do you think we did that by partying all the time and skipping class? There are constantly philanthropy events being hosted by various Greek chapters to raise money for things that are important to them. Greek organizations teach college students how to prioritize, be a leader, work together, break out of their comfort zone, open up, trust people, make sacrifices, accept responsibility, hold individuals accountable, and be a true friend.
Greek organizations consist of a tight- knit circle of men and women. A circle that, well, isn't meant for everyone. A circle meant for those who are capable of being 100% selfless. Because when you join a sorority or fraternity you choose, in that moment, to think about the women or men next to you instead of yourself. Not everyone is going to understand and support the decision to commit to an organization whose reputation is often slandered by false accusations and ridiculous assumptions. So before you doubt yourself or question why you're involved in Greek Life, remember what an honor it is to be a part of something bigger than yourself. And before you bash Greek Life by entertaining one of the many ridiculous stereotypes, make sure you know your facts!
