For a second think about your sorority. You love it right? You love your sisters, your traditions, and your experiences. You wouldn't trade any of it for the world, correct?
Now think about how hard you fight to have people see you for what you really are and not what the media portrays us as. We don't want to be seen as snotty, elitist, selfish women, because we aren't.
So why do we use out-dated terms like "Top House" or "Top Tier"?
No seriously. What is the point?
Are we trying to add fuel to the fire? Are we trying to make other Panhellenic women feel worthless? Are we trying to be better than each other? If you can give me one reason to rank ourselves, that is good for the whole of the group, then I will consider changing my mind. Right now though I think we should put a ban on it.
Why? Well here are a few reasons:
Some people don't mesh,and just because of one bad encounter with one girl who did you wrong, it does NOT mean that her whole house is filled with fake drama queens. One person could never accurately reflect the other 149 women in her chapter. So try and reach out and make Panhellenic friends; you only have four years to do it.
Ranking is a way to have a power trip, and historically leads to discrimination and segregation. Any time people feel the need to rank themselves higher than others, they are basically saying that they are inherently better humans and that anyone else is the lowest of low. Why would you want your house to be know for isolating themselves to only other "worthy" people. In my house we have a saying that goes "to be lovable rather than popular." Those words can ring true for everyone. You should strive to make friendships and form lasting bonds with everyone on campus. You don't need to be number 1 if your friends are always making you feel like you are number 1.
We aren't 13 anymore. You know how when you watch movies about high school (or really any chick flick) they always make the women enemies? Why? Why do we want enemies? We should unite and bring a collective power to create change on our campus and our community. We joined our houses to make friends, have connections, network, learn new skills, and have a fun college experience. And you know what the girls in the other houses did? The same thing.
So the next time you hear a sister talking bad about a house say something. If you hear people talking bad about your house, stand up for it. We should be constantly trying to better ourselves and each other, not prove we are better.
"Being a gentleman is not about being better than everyone else, it's about being better than your former self."
