AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2007 > August > 14 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThe Greek Life
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I didn’t belong to a sorority in college. We didn’t have a Greek system at my small, 1,500-student school. But I’ve often wondered if I would have joined one if St. Mary’s College of Maryland had offered the rush of Rush Week.
As Andrea Jones reported recently, hundreds of incoming freshmen at the University of Georgia have been experiencing a “recruitment” whirlwind this week.
I was amazed to learn of the lengths some young ladies go to — getting personal recommendations, renting hotel rooms so they have a place to primp before the all-important, get-to-know-you tryouts — to help them join the perfect sorority house.
Starting college is difficult enough, but these young women seem determined to push through the pressure in the hopes of securing their social fates. I wonder: Is it worth it?
UPDATE: There’s some interesting commentary over in our Opinion section about Rush Week. The AJC’s Maureen Downey says fraternity or sorority recruitment should be deferred until either the spring semester or sophomore year, while Patty Disque of the National Panhellenic Conference says joining Greek organizations early on can help freshmen make a successful transition to college.
Comments
By Marta
August 14, 2007 8:23 AM | Link to this
I thought the stories were horrifying. Take the very worst of middle-school clique behavior and give it an official university sanction. Young women have all of 20 minutes to be judged on the most superficial characteristics. All before they have even stepped into a university classroom or had a opportunity to explore the non-Greek social life. Only the shallowest of people can determine “where they fit in” based on sorority rush, especially when it occurs before students have taken a single class.
By Jeff
August 14, 2007 8:52 AM | Link to this
I got through college just fine without ever having joined a Frat. Like many other institutions on campus, its importance is really in the eyes of the beholder.
Take my own college-day obsession with my involvment in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. To me, it became the most important organization on campus. I attended the yearly conventions with the National organization, went to every chapter meeting, and even rose through the ranks from member all the way up to serving as the Regional Rep on its National Leadership Council.
Guess how many other people at Kennesaw felt NSCS was as important as I did?
(crickets chirping)
(crickets chirping)
NONE.
Not a SINGLE person devoted a TENTH of their time to NSCS as I did while I was there, and to my knowledge none has done so since.
I thought NSCS was EVERYTHING back in the day, that I would ALWAYS be active in it.
And here I am, 2 yrs after graduation and 3 yrs after my position as Regional Rep ended. I still check in on them occassionally, and I talk to some friends I made during that time some on Facebook, but my life is largely free of any trace of NSCS anymore… just TWO YEARS after graduation.
What these freshmen ladies need to learn is that the very same will happen to them, as it does to virtually all of us.
By HB
August 14, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this
That article just made me sad. Personally, I don’t think freshmen should be allowed to rush first semester at any school. Pledging a sorority or fraternity takes a huge amount of time and really dominates a student’s life. No student should be spending that much time with one group beginning the second they arrive on campus (Greek life begins before they attend a single class!). Emory does not allow fall rush for freshmen for that reason. First-year students have to move to campus and spend a few months getting settled in and used to being away from Mom and Dad before they can rush in January.
By Old School
August 14, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
The closest I ever came (or even wanted to come) to belonging to a Greek outfit was as a member of the professional fraternity Iota Alpha Tau at Georgia Southern. It was for Industrial Arts majors and until I joined, was an all male fraternity. It was a wonderful experience and a good opportunity to get to know others in my major. We did quite a bit of recruiting around the state for the college. I still hear from some of my frat brothers even after all these years (Class of ‘72)
As for the social versions, never did want to go that route. Too many of the girls I ran into were far too shallow for me.
By decaturparent
August 14, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
I went to Agnes Scott, so we didn’t have sororities. Thank goodness!
It made me a bit nauseous reading that article. If my daughters want to rush that badly… then so be it - it’s their life. If one of both of them don’t want to rush or attend a college without Greeks, I will secretly be thrilled. It all seems so immature and shallow to me. I just don’t get the point, so if someone could fill me in on the point, I’d appreciate it.
If you aren’t in a sorority at UGA are you stuck wallowing with the goths, druggies and misfits??? What happens to people who aren’t Greek? Please tell me that there is life outside of “Greekness.”
By The Thinker
August 14, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this
The ajc runs a lot of stupid stories. And, this is another one. There is absolutely no justification to waste time and space on a virtual paean to archaic and obnoxious snobbery represented by the so-called Greek societies. If these people want to aspire to a three-letter club, they should try for Phi Beta Kappa — not Alpha Omicron Pi.
By HB
August 14, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
Don’t worry, decaturparent. Many of my friends and relatives attended UGA in the last 10 years and none were Greek. They all had wonderful social lives with tons of friends and thouroughly enjoyed the Dawg experience. Best of all, the non-Greek women were able to attend football games comfortable in jeans instead of trudging up the bleachers in the sorority game day uniform of black cocktail dress and heels.
By JustMe
August 14, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this
Honestly, shouldn’t it be “different strokes for different folks?” Who are we to look down upon the Greek life or even to put Greek life on a pedestal? If that is what someone does or does not want to do, let them!
I only fault the sorry ajc for another stupid, meaningless story when there is so much more critical things happenning in Atlanta and the ajc doesn’t cover those at all.
By SBE
August 14, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this
I rushed @ UGA in ‘84, and nothing has changed. I pledged, and was happy, but it is so WRONG for rush to be the first college experience a young woman has - before she ever even attends a class. Rush is exhausting, and it’s degrading to be evaluated based on your appearance and your ability to make small talk. In the best interest of students, UGA should change this and delay rush until after the first semester - but it won’t.
By Blind Homer
August 14, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this
First of all, I’m Greek, Missy and Chase are probably English/Irish. Seems like a total waste of time except for some community service, which you can do without pledging lifelong allegiance to a group of people, most of whom you can’t stand because they’re shallow and have nicer hair than you.
By Mrs. Warren
August 14, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this
I was in a sorority but I did not rush. I came in during an informal “rush” second semester of my freshman year. I was in one of the big, well known, national sororities. (A an ex-boyfriend at Auburn told his friend what sorority I was in and he said “the hot girl sorority?!” - haha) One of the first ever actually. I thought all greeks were shallow too until I met my sorority sisters. We were the smallest chapter on campus and had a true sisterhood. Unlike the others on campus that had the numbers but half of the time they didn’t even know 90% of their sisters. We knew anything and everything about each other. During open house we would usually figure out who was shallow and who was down to earth and we eliminated the shallow ones (surprising?!) Usually, it is the other way around, but you can’t dog all sororities because they are each different and each chapter is different. We weren’t number 1 at my college as far as the sororities went but we are number 1 at just about every other school. I made some life long friends. I did think that it would always be the biggest part of my life but here I am 4 years after graduation and there is no sticker on my car and no pics up all over my house anymore. But it has helped me land jobs. It’s good networking. And it gave me a lot of fun memories.
So please.. don’t diss all sororities or frats just because of what you see in movies or the media. There are a choice few out there who stay true to the standards set by the founders back in the mid 19th century.
It’s not just about partying and socializing. It’s about traditions and fundraising. We used to raise thousands of dollars every year for our designated charity. Every sorority/fraternity has a philanthropy and they do alot to help raise money, even if it involves stupid things like shopping cart racing and doing silly skits.
By Stacey
August 14, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
When I was in college, freshmen were not allowed to pledge (at least not at my school). I had every intention of joining a certain sorority until my sophomore year when I lived in the same dorm as the sororities and (coincidentally) on the same floor and wing as the sorority I planned to pledge. This allowed me to see the hazing that took place and I decided that it wasn’t for me. While the sororities didn’t resort to beatings the pledges (as several fraternities did), they did things like make them walk up and down the stairs for hours at a time wearing high heels or making them spend scrub the bathroom floor with toothbrushes. One of the other sororities made the pledges eat lunch in the cafeteria while standing on one foot. I heard from friends that this type of thing was fairly common (I’ve heard a lot worse). Some of the things they did were funny (to those observing) but I’m just not the type who can put up with public humiliation just for the sake of “sisterhood”.
By Mrs. Warren
August 14, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
We never had hazing in our sorority. Not once.
By decaturparent
August 14, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this
Well, Mrs. Warren, if my girls choose to go Greek, I just hope that they choose your sorority - it sounds like what a sorority should be about!
Also, glad to know that there is life outside of frats/sororities - I figured that there was b/c I think that the article said that only 20% of UGA is Greek. I’m just glad to hear someone actually say it.
By Mrs. Warren
August 14, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this
We always took the hazing outside on the lawn to make sure it stayed outside …..
By Stacey
August 14, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this
Mrs. Warren…I didn’t mean to imply that EVERY sorority EVERYWHERE is guilty of hazing. I’m only talking about what I witnessed and/or heard about. I’m sure if you asked them, they never had hazing either.
I have several family members, friends, coworkers, etc who are in fraternities and sororities. The ones who admit to either being a “victim of” or participating in hazing say that they considered their actions as just “initiation fun” and would be willing to do it all again. By no means am I trying to criticize Greek life. It just wasn’t for me, that’s all.
By Joyce
August 14, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this
I wonder what the rush experience is like for the young men. Do they invest as much of themselves in it as some of the women (and their mothers!)from the article seemed to?
By Janine
August 14, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this
Hey , decaturparent!!!! My daughter was pre-med at UGA and my son in journalism/communications. Neither liked the Greek thing. My daughter pledged, but lasted less than a month …she said it was just not for her. My son realized that before he got into it. Both had active social lives there both are still close with the friends they made while there. By the way, I went to Agnes Scott also… and know absolutely nothing about the Greek system.
By Heather
August 14, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
Joining a sorority was one of the best decisions I ever made. 10 yrs after college graduation, my best friends are still my sorority sisters. Kind of like the saying “I did not got to college to find a husband, I went to find my bridesmaids.” Sorority life gave me a great deal of friends, but through officer positions, I also gained a great deal of maturity and exposure to the business world. As a member, I was involved in numerous campus activities, community service projects, and philanthropic events. These type groups offer more “social” exposure than just the weekend keg party. A certain GPA is required while active and study groups were mandatory. In my experience, my sorority assisted my good GPA; it did not hinder it.
By WFC
August 15, 2007 8:34 AM | Link to this
Some thoughts on the “Greek Life”:
There should be no rush for first semester freshmen students. Getting adjusted to college academics should be the first priority with no distractions.
The value of Greek life depends on the college. It’s a must at Georgia Tech if you want a social life.
I think that the whole “Greek” thing is MUCH more important to women than men… women are much more likely to be “joiners.”
Greek organizations do a LOT of good charity work and support a lot of other campus organizations.
Sororitiy and fraternity membership is a very personal thing. I chose not to be involved while my sister joined Phi Mu immediately. Our decisions worked out for both of us.
I was initially turned-off by the “meat market” nature of the process (think “Animal House.”) I made lots of friends over my college years with members of the various frats and sororities the “natural way” through common interests in student government, the college newspaper, sports and academics. I didn’t need “instant friends.” One of my most treasured memories of college was being awarded the senior “Intra-Fraternity Council Scholarship” in spite of the fact that I was a member of no frat. My sister, on the other hand, is still close to a number of her Phi Mu sisters even 35 years after graduation. That’s nice.
Different strokes for different folks.
By Ron in Columbus
August 15, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this
As one who studies Greek life in academia, I often have to limit my conclusions and implications to a scholarly audience. For instance, Greek members graduate from college at higher rates than non-members, and have greater educational attainment. On one hand, perhaps Greek life provides a social and educational support network that makes members happier, more focused on grades (due to membership restrictions), have friends who are in the same classes or majors, etc. On the other hand, though research doesn’t quite support this, perhaps Greeks have access to test banks, instructor ratings, cheat more, and that is why they get ahead.
Either way, I can honestly answer WFC (who it appears supports Greek chapters) that the “instant friends” melodrama should end. There’s no more instant friend that occurs with Greek brothers and sisters than with dormmates or in-class friends. In fact, I would suspect that EVERY Greek member at one point or another was NOT friends with everyone in their chapter.
Regardless, while Greek life is not for everyone, and while it has issues (hazing, masculine hegemony, alcohol abuse) that need to be further examined, it has no more issues than our military insitutions, sports teams, or other non-Greek student organization (for the most part).
Go Greek! Go Lambda Chi Alpha!
By SET
August 15, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this
I didn’t join a frat. Too busy working and commuting to college. Poor me.
The critics of the system seems to be mainly mad about the fact that humans usually congregate like with like. The Greek societies are elitist and exclusive which is what you get in a free society. You also get stores that won’t take checks and restaurants with dress codes. Get over it. A lot of people, especially feminists, want to force people to conform to their own notions of society. Freedom hurts and they don’t want anyone to feel “uncomfortable”. It’s no business of ours what other people chose to do socially unless you are running a military or a totalitarian state.
Colleges are increasingly totalitarian with systematic suppression of free speech and free association (political correctness). And you can’t get away with suppression in a free country because people vote with their feet.
One day we will not be able to vote with our feet - that process is well underway for some time now.
Brave New World.
By St. Mary's Too
August 16, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this
St. Mary’s didn’t have a greek life but certain wings of the dorms had similar reps, in a way. When I was there, PG 1st left, and Caroline 1st right had the partying guys. PG 1st right, the guys were all brains. PG 3rd right, lots of partying girls. The rich girls lived in Calvert. Queen Ann 3rd right were the brainy girls. Queen Ann 2nd left all dated Naval Academy guys. Dorchester was, well simply Dorchester. It always smelled over there…
By DB
August 16, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this
I don’t know what is more dreadful — the meat market that UGA rush is, or the fact that the AJC is breathlessly reporting on it every day. It’s not that way at every school — and I don’t think it’s to UGA’s credit that it’s evolved in such a way.
How in the heck do you know what group of girls you want to associate with for the next four years after only meeting them for 20 minutes? The decor of the house? The charm of their little songs? Why is it so critical to commit the next four years to a houseful of girls before you even have your first college class?
A far saner method would be to have rush in the spring, after you’ve had a chance to meet people and to see where your interests lie. However, the way it’s set up at UGa now, you’d have to come back from Christmas vacation a week early to do rush.
Thought it was interesting that almost no sophs or juniors rush. Word is that sororities won’t take sophs because it would use up their quota for someone who would only be paying for three years instead of four — and house maintenance economics dictate four years of payments.
Sheesh …
By Adam
August 20, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this
The people that are dissing Greek involvement are the ones that never joined so they have no idea what they are talking about. Go watch Animal House again…pathetic.
I am an Alumni of the largest fraternity in the USA and proud to be one. We did some really stupid things back in the day, but we had one heck of a time doing them. I wouldn’t trade my college experience for anything. It has helped me more than anyone will know. The leadership that I learned, among an array of other things, has benefited me like no classroom could.
By the way, it’s not a ‘frat’. They are fraternities…do you shorten the word ‘country’? The don’t call my fraternity a frat…think about it…
Another pathetic article by Mrs. Gutierrez…