There have been plenty of recent articles condemning the Greek life culture because of scandals at various college campuses.

However, Greek life needs to stop being the scapegoat for every problem a campus has ever faced. Yes, recent events, such as the Penn State scandal that resulted in one student's tragic death, bring up problems that need to be addressed.

What people don't realize is that Greek life isn't a homogenous culture: it is different for every university, every chapter and every person.

It is impossible for every chapter to have the same mission, the same people and the same presence on campus. Many administrations, including my own, seem to be forgetting that.

Universities seem to assume that it's okay to negatively label students because of their status in Greek life. The administrators who are supposed to be propelling our education, encouraging their students to find and embrace themselves are the same people who continue to pigeonhole us into a corner. I think most people would agree when I say that those actions seem to be the definition of hypocritical.

Yes, I'm in Greek life. I'm also a part of a health and wellness group on campus, balancing two internships, maintaining a healthy GPA and making sure I spend enough time with my friends since we only have a few years left on campus.

So, let me ask you, if I took Greek life out of that sentence, would your perspective on me change?

If you answered yes, then you need to reflect on your own perceptions of fraternity brothers and sorority sisters.

Both fraternities and sororities have their individual philanthropies as well. Throughout the semester, events are held to raise money for these causes and communities are brought together. My chapter's philanthropy is heart health; we hold a gala every year where families are invited to attend and donate money and prizes that will benefit heart health.

Many, if not all, of the chapters at my school also participate in Special Olympics, each chapter's philanthropy events, NOVADance, which is a day-long event to raise money for kids with cancer, and so much more. But, that doesn't matter because we're automatically labeled as "bad people" because we're in Greek life, right?

What many individuals also don't seem to understand is that Greek life doesn't equate to drinking and partying.

Just because someone is in Greek life, doesn't mean that they spend their time getting drunk. Likewise, it isn't Greek life's fault if someone likes to get drunk! It's college; drinking is a part of some of the culture, and putting a halt on Greek life isn't going to change that. If universities began to acknowledge that students outside of Greek life drink just as much or as little as our members, aka normal students, then a healthier image about fraternities and sororities can be formed.

I'm not arguing that every single person you meet that's in Greek life is going to be a stellar citizen. But as cliché as it sounds, you can't judge a book by its cover. There are just as many amazing and not-so-amazing people in Greek life as there are in any other organization. Next time you get to know someone, don't judge them by their letters or lack thereof but, rather, judge them by whether or not they're a good person.