Being in Greek life is special. Despite the negative stereotypes, it’s great being in something bigger than yourself. We are not just a group of Ohio University students; we are all over the world. We are not just the members under a combination of Greek letters; we are connected to those we have helped through our philanthropies. We are not just the ditzy girls who spend all of daddy’s money or the boys whose only talent is shotgunning beer; we’re so much more. We all fall under a general stereotype for being in Greek life and we’re all trying to reach the same goals'... so why do we all shame each other?

There’s always a preconceived notion behind what you’re like if you’re in a certain organization. While it’s typical for those on the outside to judge, it’s unfair for us as members to stereotype one another by what string of incorrectly pronounced Greek letters we associate with. We’ve probably all seen someone and are surprised by what letters they’re wearing because of what they look like. We’ve probably met someone and didn’t think their personality matched the stereotype their sisters/brothers hold. With over 100 people in an organization, how can we expect all of them to be the same?

We’re all trying to reach the same goals. All of us are looking for an amazing sisterhood/brotherhood. All of us are attempting to raise money for philanthropies. All of us are attempting to make amazing memories through the opportunities we’re provided by being in Greek life. The thing is, while we think we’re so different, we all set (and end up achieving) the same goals. Every member of Greek life will argue his or her bonds are the strongest. Every chapter raises thousands of dollars for their philanthropy. All of us are making unforgettable memories thanks to the friends we’ve “bought.”

Google “Ohio University Greek life” and you’ll see negative rankings for any chapter. We’ll say one chapter is unattractive and that another one parties too hard. Instead of building relationships in the Greek community, we’re looking down on chapters for outdated stereotypes, rumors and other superficial qualities. We’re all individuals and none of us are the same and any negative stereotype that your chapter may hold does not define who you are. I will admit that I’m guilty to stereotyping other chapters (most of us have), but it has to stop. Everyone has snap judgments and when we are told a stereotype, it’s easy to place people in that category. However, we’re all in Greek life for the same reason so there’s no purpose in making negative judgments about certain chapters.

Instead of tearing each other down and basing someone off of what letters they associate with, we should build each other up. We should become friends with those in different sororities and fraternities. We should participate in philanthropies that the other chapters of Greek life hold. Most importantly, we should remember what Greek life is about. We are not the opinion of another person. We are looking to exceed the expectation, do good, and realize our potential. We are helping feed America, supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Alzheimer's research. We are our taglines and philanthropies and mottos. Our founders grounded our chapters on sisterhood/brotherhood, judging other chapters is not what Greek life bases itself on.

While our handshakes and rituals may vary, we should remember that we are all in Greek life, so in reality, we cannot be that different. All of us participate in chapter, pay monthly dues, look forward to formal for weeks in advance and advertise our philanthropies on social media. As the saying goes, “No matter the letters, we’re all Greek together.” Well, we should start acting like it. Hopefully, we’ll reach a point where you can meet someone and appreciate whatever chapter they’re in instead of judging them immediately. Although the expectations slightly vary, we all are reaching for the same thing in the end: to be better than who we were before we joined Greek life. We all are striving for the same outcome, so instead of judging a full chapter by a stereotype, we should support each other and realize our potential in Greek life as a whole.