After attending Sigma Chi's Fundraiser, "Sell a Sig," in Reamer last week, I overheard a student, somewhat annoyed by the event, walk out of the building say, "I hope a meteor comes, strikes this building, and kills everyone in it." Disturbing? Yes. Understandable? No.
I can potentially understand if you don't like Greek Life because you are blinded by stereotypes; I can't understand how someone can hate strangers and peers that are fundraising for charity so aggressively.
I was never the girl that thought she would join a sorority; my only image of Greek Life growing up was formed solely by Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde" and Will Ferrell in "Old School." Needless to say, my perspective on Greek Life was the sum of the stereotypes, looking something like this:
After joining Greek Life three years ago, however, I knew I had been wrong. Don't get me wrong, I know it can be cliquey and I know it can be exclusive, as it will forever bother me if someone doesn't get let into a specific party or when people use the term "GDI" degradingly. Whether you're in Greek Life or not is about as relevant as the catty high school drama we all experienced four years ago.
What is relevant, however, is if people let these negative stereotypes, these degrading myths, blind them from seeing the positive reality, the amazing things Greek Life does for their school's community:
Greek Life empowers their members, and their surrounding community.
I'll admit, there is a party scene that comes with joining a fraternity or a sorority. However, there is a party scene that comes with going to college in general; the amount of partying in college is not greatly influenced by Greek affiliation. The only difference in partying when you're Greek affiliated is that you have over one hundred sisters or brothers by your side to make sure you get home safe.
Not only do the members in each chapter empower one another here at Union, they work to empower their surrounding community as well. Last Monday, the Panhellenic Council hosted an incredibly motivational speaker in Memorial Chapel, a Dr. Erin Foley. Everyone who attended the speaker felt inspired, happier, and more confident afterwards, and most importantly, they felt motivated to help others feel the same way.
There was also another event two weeks ago, an Alcohol Education Speaker who compellingly taught his audience the importance of self-respect, moderation, and the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Ironically, most of the attendants were from the Greek community at Union; a community so commonly criticized for partying too much spent their Monday night listening to this amazing motivational speaker's story.
Greek Life is always fundraising.
Every fundraiser that Union College's Fraternity and Sorority Life holds wouldn't even fit in one article, so here's a few remarkable fundraisers held just this month alone:
The event I had noted earlier is a part of a week-long fundraiser Sigma Chi always has, featuring multiple events in an effort to raise money for ALS Association in honor of James Murphy, a senior brother's father, who was diagnosed with ALS.
My sorority, Sigma Delta Tau, held numerous fundraisers, including Ciao Bella's Boutique and selling OPI Nail Polish to raise money for Prevent Child Abuse America and Jewish Women International.
The brothers of Delta Kappa Epsilon volunteered at the 5K Zombie Run to raise money for the Special Olympics.
Fiji brothers are holding a Puck Run to raise funds for United Service Organizations.
The sisters of Delta Delta Delta raised money for St. Jude's Children's Hospital at St. Jude's Walk and a Hot Yoga event.
Alpha Delta Lambda raised money for planned parenthood with "Bra Pong."
Lambda Pi Chi raised funds for the American Breast Cancer Foundation through an awesome pink bracelet sale.
Brothers of Theta Delta Chi and Chi Psi enthusiastically participated in Union College's Safe Space Walk to raise awareness of sexual assault and help support victims.
Greek Life cares about their surrounding community.
Not a week goes by where I don't get an email about some local volunteer work my sorority is doing. All of Greek Life is constantly participating in community service and being active in their community. Here's just a few examples of Union's Greek Life caring for their community:
Union's Alpha Delta Phi, worked with Schenectady locals and The Vale Urban Farm, planting and learning about gardening fruits and vegetables in an effort to strengthen and empower the community.
The sisters of Gamma Phi Beta wrote uplifting notes to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
The Greek Life Community at Union College is a community of empowerment, generosity and, charisma; a fun-loving group of college students who focus not only on bettering themselves, but also improving the community around them.
