Go Greek or go home

Have you ever thought about going Greek? Joining a sorority or fraternity can be a life changing experience, one that opens new doors and brings about many opportunities for college students. There is often a misconception about what being involved in a Sorority or Fraternity actually means; on many occasions outsiders associate these groups with toga parties, exclusivity, and many hazing activities. Not only are many of these misconceptions wrong, but they paint a completely inaccurate picture as to what Greek Life is truly about.

According to Jared Vike, vice president of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity on campus, "every fraternity/sorority, in general, strives for academic excellence, philanthropy, community, and campus involvement, networking, and personal growth as leaders and young professionals." Greek organizations offer many opportunities for meeting new people and making connections with those outside campus, setting members up for easy access to references, job opportunities, and networking events. Being involved does not just mean meeting new people, it truly means that you're making connections and getting to know them on a much more meaningful level, allowing you to make your mark on them as well.

Besides all of the networking opportunities, Vike says that fraternities teach officers and members "how to delegate responsibilities,…work well with others and [juggle] the many tasks at hand." These are things that can't necessarily be taught inside of a classroom, so in some ways, joining one of these Greek organizations will ensure that the education you're receiving is well-rounded and that you know how to put your knowledge to good use. Besides Delta Sigma Phi, our campus is home to three other Greek Fraternities, Sigma Tau Gamma, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Chi Phi.

If you're looking for an active organization to join, a sorority or fraternity is definitely the way to go. Besides weekly meetings, the fraternity Vike is involved in holds several events to enhance camaraderie. Fall semester is taken up with a lot of activities aimed towards gaining new members, called "Rush". During Rush, Vike says the fraternities will "usually have an open house, indoor golf tournament, capture the flag, Packer game social, bowling, dodge ball, [and] car/game night." There are also many other events after this including Greek retreats, GAMMA, volunteering at Ghoulees in the Coulees, as well as a formal, typically held each semester.

There are also two Greek Sororities on our campus. Libby Thorson, a member of Alpha Phi Women's Fraternity, compares her Greek experience to that of having a second family. Growing up as an only child, Thorson says that Alpha Phi "was like having 49 other young women who really were sisters to me." The bonds she formed with them, she says, were "almost instantly formed… [and were] deeper and more meaningful than any friendship I have ever had." As you may have noticed, Alpha Phi is classified as a fraternity instead of a sorority. This is because when Alpha Phi was founded in 1872, there was no such thing as a "sorority".

Sorority membership is forever, another aspect of joining a sorority that is extremely unique – the Sisterhood that is automatically formed can really improve a women's college experience. Thorson says one of the main reasons she wanted to join a sorority is because she "wanted to be part of something I knew was bigger than myself," something that would help her find her place both within our campus and within the world. While being in the sorority, Thorson says she has "learned how to multi task, work towards a common goal with people who often have contrasting ideas, which is something you often have to do in a work environment, how to motivate others, [and] speak to large groups." These are all important lessons to learn and we don't always have the opportunity to pick up these skills in regular classes. Joining an organization like a sorority is a way to have fun and learn something! The membership cap for Alpha Phi is 50 members, but our campus is home to asorority, Alpha Xi Delta!

Greek organizations are an incredible addition to our campus. All of the opportunities members can take advantage of will only jump-start their future – and not only that, but the friendships formed and experiences had will not only improve their college experience but form memories that last a lifetime. So… why not go Greek?