This is the third part of a multi-part series on the benefits and drawbacks of Greek Life on Transy’s campus. 

Read Part 1 here. Read Part 2 here.

If you’ve been out of your room on Transy’s campus for the last few weeks, you’ve seen or heard about all the wonderful things that social fraternities or sororities are doing. That’s one of the joys of living on a small campus. But if you’re like me, it’s one of the worst parts.

Many of my friends are involved in Greek life, and at times it can seem like everyone on campus is too. But I’m at least one person (and my roommate’s another) who won’t be joining any social Greek organization on campus for any of our four years here. To preface this, I am non-binary, meaning I am neither a male nor a female, so that doesn’t help when all the social Greek organizations are gender exclusive. Further, I don’t have any experience with the specific inner workings of the chapters on Transy’s campus, and I won’t pretend that I do. To be completely honest, I don’t want that knowledge.

Social fraternities have so many stereotypes associated with them, and I know you aren’t supposed to judge a book by its cover, but the more I learn about and the more experience I have with the social Greek life on campus, the more it seems to fit into those stereotypes. Greek organizations have overlooked some pretty major flaws in their members, and are not always taking disciplinary measures for actions that should warrant them. I look around and I see that one fraternity is for the party-ers, one is for the racists, one accepts everyone and then the other has like six members on campus.

Sororities, on the other hand, have their own unique challenges that put me off of them as well. Most of the sorority girls I’ve met have been kind and welcoming, or at least not outright disrespectful to my face. However, the sorority as an organization tends to be elitist, and snobby. The organization as a whole, and the members when in groups of more than about three usually, often give off–to me at least– an air of superiority. Each sorority has its own associations on campus, and I tend to get the feeling that the members think they’re better than non-members because of those special differences in the sororities.

I understand the purpose of a social organization like Greek life is to create a space for like minded people, but there are infinitely better ways to find those people than elitist, xenophobic hierarchical organizations with only that purpose. I understand that many fraternities have other regulations, such as service and grade requirements, but the focus seems to almost always be on social events, and what dances or functions or food events or smokers are going on when.

This campus is so ingrained in social Greek life that many other groups and organizations build their practice or meeting schedules around Greek life events. No groups meet on Monday night, because all the socials meet then. Multiple times I’ve had meetings rearranged or cancelled because one fraternity or the other was having a function. Often times, you feel left out if you aren’t a part of social Greek life because so much of Transy’s social life is Greek life.

This is the final part of a multipart series on the benefits and drawbacks of Greek Life on Transy’s campus. 

Read Part 1 here. Read Part 2 here. Read Part 3 here. Read Part 4 here.

The benefits of Greek life are undeniable and the statistics back that up. According to Cornell, 80 percent of Fortune 500 executives, 76 percent of US Senators and Congressmen, and 85 percent of Supreme Court Justices. Yet, Greek life also promotes many issues and problems- alcohol overuse, hazing, superiority complexes, elitism and exclusion. While our sororities on campus are generally positive vehicles for student involvement, they also have many issues and have ample room for improvement. Here are five ways the sororities on campus can improve both themselves and the campus as a whole.

1. Be more Panhellenic. This year’s Panhellenic Council has done an exceptional job promoting good relationships between chapters and encouraging a more respectful Greek community, but a certain degree of tension and competition still exists between chapters. This competition has existed for so long that it may feel inherent to Greek life and unfixable, but it can in fact change- it is simply a matter of attitude.  All the sororities on campus are chasing the same goal of creating the best membership experience possible for their members; chapters can work together, program together, and learn together to achieve this goal. Ultimately, eradicating this negativity can only come from chapter members themselves who make a concerted effort to foster a supportive and caring relationship between the chapters.
2. Share resources and experiences with unaffiliated groups and people. Claims of Greek favoritism have long plagued the campus and been a point of contention for indies (students who are not affiliated). Whether or not this is true, Greek chapters do possess more resources than most non-Greek groups due to their sheer size and involvement. But, this does not have to put indies at a disadvantage; Greeks and non-Greeks could benefit greatly from increased collaboration and shared events. Greeks typically have better funding, a plethora of advisors for outside assistance and connections, more of a marketing pull on campus, and larger networking opportunities that other clubs do not possess.  Hosting joint events with non-Greek groups would give sororities a new perspective on their events and promote better relationships around campus, while indies would gain access to the resources that they may not have previously had access to.
3. Promote diversity. Historically, Greek chapters have been composed of primarily Caucasian, wealthy individuals because of the money required to join such groups and because of the histories of the groups- they were created by wealthy, Caucasian individuals, so they catered to that same group. But, as Transy continues to invest in diversity, a new opportunity for Greek diversity arises. A more diverse membership would help expand the views of members, as well as lay the foundations for tolerance and acceptance. While the traditions of sororities do not change, the culture does change and incorporating new perspectives into the culture of sisterhood would provide a more informed experience for all. This change may be perceived by some as bad or as breaking tradition, but such change would ensure that Greek culture is keeping up with American culture as a whole and evolving for the better.
4. Spread service out into the community. The sororities on campus do an excellent job serving their national and local philanthropies, but this service is often limited to on-campus events. If Greek life truly wants to be community oriented, it has to actually expand into the community. This means taking some service events off campus and getting the community beyond just the Transy bubble involved. AOII did a wonderful job with this two years ago with their Strike Out Arthritis event at the Lexington Legends’ stadium, and other sororities need to follow suit.
5. Celebrate success. Greek life is not perfect, but it does many things well. The previously mentioned community service makes great gains for philanthropies, yet that success is rarely recognized outside the chapter. For example, Tri Delta raised $22,465 last year for their philanthropy, St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital, yet those incredible numbers were only celebrated during recruitment this semester. Only during recruitment is the success of the chapter truly celebrated, which does a disservice both to the chapters and to the community. Informing the community of Greek success would not only help change the perception of Greek life, but also would encourage more people to get involved with chapter philanthropy in the future.    

These changes may or may not amount to much– they are small changes indeed– but they have the potential to drastically change the way Greek chapters interact with both other chapters and the campus as a whole. They would create a more friendly, collaborative environment that works to benefit everyone on campus, not the Greeks. They would involve more people in the campus community, expand that community out into the Lexington area, and, hopefully, help everyone to witness the most positive aspects of the Greek system.

This is the second part of a multi-part series on the benefits and drawbacks of Greek Life on Transy’s campus. 

Read Part 1 here.

In the media and entertainment industry, the portrayal of fraternity life is often put in a negative spotlight. The image given to fraternities often emphasizes a supposed culture of partying, vandalism, sexual assault, and more. While it’s not hard to find an instance where a member of a fraternity has been found guilty of mischievous or dull behavior, allowing this minority of Greek students to create a stigma surrounding millions of lifetime members drastically overshadows the true purpose of Greek life. The truth is that each fraternity, both nationally and locally, is different, and you can expect different results from each individual chapter, but they all have one goal: to build better men.

The goals of almost every fraternity center around growing an individual socially, academically, and in leadership. Although fraternities are often perceived as simply being outlets for debauchery and depravity, they are much more than that. They are organizations that push men to be greater citizens, more driven students, and have stronger friendships. Fraternities were founded to develop leaders, and when the Greek process is done correctly, that is exactly what they do. Some of the most successful people in society went through the Greek process, and the list of societally prominent fraternity men carries on and on, ranging all the way from famous actors to your local politicians. Greek students have the ability to be a part of something greater than themselves, and with that, they gain leadership experiences.

Does this mean that all Greeks become legends? Of course not. The truth is that fraternities are, in part, social organizations. They offer opportunities for people to gather and enjoy themselves, and there are occasions where these events must be aggressively controlled. But to me, being Greek is about bettering yourself as a person. A fraternity is about building a sense of companionship and brotherhood with others who have the same mindset. It’s about challenging each other to be better, and holding each other accountable for your actions. It pertains to using your brothers to push you further than you thought you could go, uplifting and supporting one another, and creating a network of friendships that will last you for a lifetime. And while that may sound unrealistic to many non-Greek students, the truth is that many fraternal friendships and networks are maintained well after one’s college years.

After pledging to Pi Kappa Alpha in Fall of 2015, I looked for potential resources I would be offered. I found a large alumni network which was both willing and determined to invest in me, the potential to attend leadership summits, and a group of people with whom I connected. These are just a few aspects every fraternity seeks to employ.

The fraternity experience differs from chapter to chapter, school to school, and individual to individual, but the truth is that the Greek experience can be a life developing tool if taken advantage of correctly.

This is the first part of a multipart series on the benefits and drawbacks of Greek Life on Transy’s campus. 

As a member of a sorority on campus, the benefits of joining a sisterhood seem obvious: friendship, shared values, a national philanthropy organization, and networking opportunities. But, these are all superficial-though certainly important- benefits that only scratch the surface. Joining a sorority fulfills many psychological needs and wants that college students struggle with. So, I’d like to talk about the psychological benefits of joining a sorority.

First and foremost, sororities offer a sense of belonging and companionship that is critical for college students. Humans- even introverts- crave friendship and social belonging, and a sorority offers an opportunity to find a home. This is not to say that other organizations cannot provide students with a sense of belonging- they can and do. However, in fostering an environment of like-minded people with shared values, sororities build a system that is easy for students to fit into. The first year of sorority life in particular is specifically geared towards making members feel welcomed– specifically, new member education programs allow for the new members to quickly bond over their mutual interest and is designed to forge meaningful relationships. This support system remains essential for students, particularly for those feeling homesick or overwhelmed at the beginning of their college career.

Underscoring the importance of this social support is the fact that social support has long been linked to more positive mental health. Though Greek students do not necessarily have lower rates of mental illness, they have a better support than non-Greek students. In an age when between a quarter and a third of college students meet the criteria for either an anxiety or depressive illness, mental health cannot be ignored.

Joining a sorority may also have cognitive benefits that non-sorority members do not receive. Sorority membership promotes involvement with campus life, which in turn is positively correlated with cognitive development. Membership can improve skills such as interpersonal communication and time management, ultimately expanding member’s cognitive abilities. These mental gains combined with the high academic standards set by sororities push members to grow intellectually. According to USA Today, Greek students generally have a higher GPA than non-Greeks and have a 20 percent higher graduation rate.

Some of this academic success may be derived from the sense of accountability that sororities both instill and demand from members. Many aspects of college diminish the importance of accountability in daily life– classes often do not have attendance policies, students may choose how rigorous a schedule to form, and little to no oversight exists outside of the classroom. By holding themselves (whether willingly or unwillingly) to a different standard, sorority members develop a strong sense of both individual and group accountability. Individually, members must maintain a certain GPA, take on responsibilities within the chapter, and pay their fair share. Group accountability is perhaps even more prominent– Greek awards, good social standing, and chapter success are dependent on the group as a whole, and members take this group obligation very seriously.  While these new standards of accountability are demanding for students, they also allow for more personal growth and instill positive long term habits.

Greek life is not for everyone,  and it certainly does have some negative stigmas like drinking and hazing, but the benefits of sororities carry real merit. Sororities fill student’s needs and wants– needs and wants that you may not realize even exist.