What is Greek Life?    In one word: FUN! Joining a Fraternity or Sorority is an exciting experience filled with laughter,  life-long memories, bittersweet farewells and emotional reunions. Greek women and men develop skills for success in future careers in business, science, academia and life. Alumni become political leaders, health professionals, teachers--contributors to society. Sure there are great parties to go to and fancy formals to dress up for, but that is only a small part of Greek life.                                                    Philanthropy    The most public aspect of Greek life is community service. Every Fraternity and Sorority has an official charity to raise funds and awareness for. The challenge in the Greek community is to find the zaniest way to raise money! Volunteerism and fundraising are intrinsic to Greek life. The human element of philanthropic activities amongst Greeks is also important.   Financial Obligation    Like most fraternal organizations, Greek letter Fraternities and Sororities collect dues from their members. The financial obligation to Greek membership is important to the organization itself, as this is the only means of income. Because of this, Greek life has earned the reputation of being elitist, or "for the affluent only." In reality, this really isn't true. For the most part, the demographics of Greek membership are similar to that of most university students. Most members hold a job, take out student loans and pay their dues by installments. Membership dues are paid only during university years although membership lasts a lifetime!   Lifetime Membership    After graduation, alumni involvement remains multifaceted. Leadership roles in Chapter advising, programming, fundraising and education are available. International or national fraternal opportunities for service also exist. Relocation to a new city is less intimidating when you can call up a fellow local alum who'll help you move in. The fraternal bonds last a lifetime.   Social     Despite its relatively small role in the structure of Greek organizations, Fraternity and Sorority social events are notoriously the first image one has of Greek life. The social calendar is indeed a busy one filled with sisterhood/brotherhood events, theme parties, formals, mixers, athletic competitions, date parties, and more. Many of the memorable experiences surrounding Greek life are the social events. It is a time to take a break from the rigors of homework and enjoy the campus experience. Careful planning is therefore required in order to optimize time for your primary reason for being at college: academics.   Scholarship    Many new members worry that their grades will suffer if they become involved with Greek life.  Academic standards ensure that this doesn't happen. In fact, Greek averages almost always exceed the campus average! Time management, goal setting, book sharing, support groups and study programs help keep the Greek student focused.   Ritual    The Greek community has taken a  firm stance against hazing.  The rituals of Greek-letter organizations have nothing to do with hazing.  Although they are the most important part of membership, the ritual ceremonies are seldom more than the revealing of symbols, heraldry and common ideals. Ceremonies are not scary, degrading or harmful.    Rituals are secret and are the enduring tradition and livelihood of Greek life. This non-public aspect of membership is not malicious or dangerous. On the contrary, the rituals of Greek-letter organizations are beautiful ceremonies, steeped in the history and tradition of the organization. In fact, many members find their organization's rituals to be the most personal and committing part of Greek life.   Personal Development    Greek organizations train their members for leadership and success. Many Fraternity and Sorority programs include  information on the hazards of alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders, hazing, date rape awareness, self-defense and other major concerns on our nation's campuses. Awareness seminars, small-groups discussions and expert guest speakers are organized and funded by Greek organizations or the campus for the benefit of the whole community.   Brotherhood/Sisterhood    When polled, Greek members rank sisterhood/brotherhood as one of the top reasons they opted for Greek life. After all, you don't have to join a Fraternity or Sorority to have a great social life in college. You don't have to pay dues to a Greek letter organization to volunteer or raise money for a cause. You don't have to belong to the Greek community to acquire the personal development and study skills to succeed at college. The element of sisterhood/brotherhood is nonetheless a difficult attribute to convey to women and men interested in joining the Greek system. It is a feeling of togetherness, support and team work. It is companionship, personal discovery, challenge and awareness. Come see for yourself!

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