Greek life is a part of college experiences everywhere and frat parties work their way into nearly every college movie. You may have thought about whether or not to rush or if pledging is for you. Or you may have absolutely no idea how anything works when it comes to these organizations but are curious.
There is information on the various communities and their respective upcoming events in the student center near the information desk, and almost anybody sporting Greek letters on their clothing will be happy to give you a rundown on the need to know information when it comes to joining. Here are some things you should consider.
Many students see Greek life as a positive thing, mainly because of the friends. While there are education-based fraternities and sororities, it is true that, overwhelmingly, these groups focus on social aspects.
Also, many successful people were in one of these groups at one time or another in their life. Fraternities or sororities can help you out if you are having trouble with classes or other issues, and the GPA limit increases the likelihood that you will keep your grades up.
However, the most common complaint students have against fraternities or sororities is the money. In short, you are going to have to pay a lot of money to be a part of this life, and that creates a sort of elitist environment that truly isn’t for everyone.
The second biggest con of joining is the media-popular hazing. I have heard officials at Shepherd make statements that hazing is not only not allowed at Shepherd, but that it does not happen. Though many have said otherwise, any hazing at Shepherd is not as bad as it is at other schools. Unless it is potentially life-threatening, many of the people I met who wished to pledge expressed that they would willingly endure hazing if it meant that they got to join.
Other cons include restrictions on who you are allowed to hang out with and having little personal time after joining. Other students feel you are essentially buying friends when you pledge.
An article from the Duke Chronicle at Duke University stated that Dartmouth College had discussed the idea of a Greek-free campus and reflected on what college might be like without it, ultimately suggesting that there might be less stratification.
Regardless of what anyone thinks, Greek life is very active here on campus, and many people do enjoy it. In my personal opinion, you will already know if Greek life is for you, and you should follow your instincts.