Greek Life: The Good Life?

By Dani Anderson

Approximately two million college students each year enter an organization that is familiar to most people, Greek Life. If millions of people are interested in joining this life and claiming their Greek letters, why has it become something that many colleges want to shut down?

There are several reasons that people across the country are in an uproar over Greek life as a whole. Looking at the news you’ll see illegal activity, hazing, it’s financially draining, the list goes on. Yet somehow, it still draws millions of individuals to join each year, and there are millions of alumni still proudly representing their Greek letters.

Depending on the sorority or fraternity an individual joins and that chapter, fees can range from a couple hundred dollars to more than $3,000. With such a costly expense, there must be something about these organizations that students see worth investing in. U.S. News covers the various costs that may occur within various chapters across the United States such as meals, living, fees, etc. Some of the sororities and fraternities include meals in their finances, some do not. It all depends on that chapters by-laws that depicts what members have to invest their money in.

Although the finances can be a burden, there are budget plans so that opens the door for individuals from all financial backgrounds. This can help set those members up for success, and start off on the right foot when going into the real world.

With a quick glance at Fortune’s 500 executives, 80 percent of them are involved in Greek life. Along with this, 76 percent of U.S. senators and congressman, 85 percent of Supreme Court justices, and since 1825, all but two presidents were a part of a fraternity.

 Many successful individuals have found colleagues and jobs through their Greek letters they are so proud to wear, but why has Greek life become so frowned upon in recent years?

According to Stop Hazing, 73 percent of Greek life students (sorority or fraternity) have experienced hazing at least once during their time as an active member. The majority of hazing takes place around one of the most popular abused substance in the United States today: alcohol. Although this seems to be a rising issue, many students acknowledge the fact that it is a problem, and work around it.

“We have many procedures and policies set in place requiring chapters to be up to date in training over hazing policies,” said 21-year old and current University of Northern Iowa Panhellenic Vice President of Administration Allie Noggle, “UNI has a zero tolerance hazing rule and we follow that very strictly by monitoring chapters and implementing sanctions when rules are broken.”

The Panhellenic Council is something most Greek life across the United States has. They are in charge of both sororities and fraternities, and ensure that all chapters are following Panhellenic rules. They are aware of possible issues, and ensure that there are procedures in place for any incident that may occur.

Like many things, when something negative occurs in life there has to be a source where it stemmed from. Many times when members of Greek life participate in illegal behavior, or something that is shown in a negative light, it gets tied back to their fraternity or sorority chapter, even if they were not attending an associated event to their chapter.

 “Unfortunately, Greek life gets shown in a negative light on social media due to situations where hazing has occurred,” said 20-year old Megan Steim, “[but] those situations don’t speak for all chapters. As Greek life continues to grow in the future we hope to get rid of these stereotypes and not be seen as people who haze, but people who make an impact on the lives of our members and community.”

The ultimate goal of Greek life right now is to show a positive image to the public and the news media. That includes what they strive to be, that positive, uplifting place where many people can call home. Sometimes that’s hard to do when many people focus on the bad.

“We try and highlight more about what Greek life is all about! People have that preconceived idea of what Greek life is,” said Allie Noggle, “from conversation, photos and videos, you can tell Greek life isn’t about drinking and hazing, especially on UNI’s [University of Northern Iowa] campus!”

According to USA Today, Greek life prepares you for life in several ways beyond the drinking games you play with friends. You gain brothers and sisters, colleagues, opportunities, leadership skills, and the list goes on.

“Within Greek life there’s always options to have fun connecting with fellow sisters or others in Greek life,” said Gamma Phi Beta social media chair Kaylene Konigsmark, “there’s mixers where we can paint, watch movies, go bowling, etc.! We also have sisterhood events where we go to the pumpkin patch, paint ornaments, volunteer within the community, and more!”

As mentioned Greek life gives plenty of opportunities to succeed in life whether that’s as a member in a sorority or fraternity. The chapters on University of Northern Iowa’s campus try to find alternatives so that members don’t feel forced to drink.

“Greek life provides many opportunities for development of men in the chapter. From volunteering in the community for over 40 hours a semester each, to going bowling and playing laser tag,” said  UNI PIKE chapter President Brynjar Johnston, “We also go to leadership conferences together and participate in many sporting events. This allows members many different opportunities to grow and become closer to your brothers.”

If Greek members are convinced that they’re changing the system for the better, then why do they get such a bad reputation across the United States? History shows that since the beginning, fraternities and sororities have been considered un-American, and like the plague. According to Time Magazine, they [fraternities and sororities] were originally created so that rich people could isolate themselves from the middle class. Today, Greek life is commonly known as a way to pay for friendship.

“Many people try and say that Greek life is a way to buy friends,” said 22-year old Bailey Aden, “but you can’t buy true friendship.”

The question of whether Greek life should remain on campus is one that has been going on for years. There are both positives and negatives to these organizations that could be argued to the end of time. After several deaths that have taken place, many chapters have been put on reform. It is a period in which the fraternity or sorority must re-evaluate their purpose and what they ultimately want to become.

There is growing list of universities that have given Greek life chapters suspensions recently on USA Today. Some of these universities include Penn State University, Louisiana State University, Florida State University, Texas State University, Ohio State, Indiana University-Bloomington, and the University of Idaho. All these universities have various chapters that are suspended, but a common reason is because if a death or injury by alcohol.

With a series of deaths across the nation in different chapters, U.S. News says colleges as a whole need to evaluate whether Greek life is worth saving. With a deep financial and emotional investment for Greek life members, it is surely going to start an uproar for current chapter members. The question universities need to ask themselves is if it’s truly worth taking away Greek life.

For many current members it goes beyond the Greek letters, it goes into the roots of the relationships that they build. Many Greek life members lean on their brothers and sisters for more than just someone who wears the same Greek letters.

“Without my chapter, I wouldn’t have met so many influential, strong women that guide me to be a better version of me, each and every day,” said Kaylene Konigsmark.

Along with building those relationships, it has built professionalism in many people as well. Teaching young individuals how to be responsible, and dependable for more than just themselves.

 “As a Construction Management major, I know fellow Greeks that have parents who run construction companies, and also older students who have had internships that could give me a recommendation at those respective companies,” said 21-year old Drake Harrington, “Greek life has also taught me how to talk with older professionals that are alumni in the fraternity, and network.”

In the end, there are many things to be taken into consideration about Greek life for both Greek members, and universities as a whole. Depending on the university, greatly depends on the influences and actions that Greek life chooses.

Positives about Greek life are the opportunities to grow in leadership skills with executive positions within that member’s chapters. There’s also building a network, and being held accountable to receive good grades. Many chapters have minimum GPA requirements, which are expected to be met, and if not met could potentially lead to an academic probation for that member who falls below.

The negatives in Greek life are obvious. In news reports, people see the alcohol and drug related issues, the financial demand, the extra time demand, and hazing. All of these occasionally happen, no matter the college or chapter.

Colleges will look at these pros and cons and decide whether Greek life is best represented at their school, and the benefits to the current members. As for now it is a place for individuals to meet their brothers and sisters, socialize, and to many it is a way to easily get out of their comfort zone whether that’s having to pay for that organization or not.

Greek life has been around for many years, and for now it will stay. With some suspensions, and many problems, there will still be people walking around campus proudly wearing their Greek letters.