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Originally posted by aoiicheer
For Greeks:

1) Do you feel that Greek Life has a bad reputation? What do you think fuels this? Do you think these reputations are legitimate?
Yes, some people talk badly about greek life. This is because people don't understand everything about being greek if they are not. Greek stereotypes are fueled by meeting sisters or brothers who have a few characteristics of the stereotypem or by rumors. Some reputations of individual chapters are probably legitimate, but far and wide, they are not. After all, all Greeks pledge to certain standards of ideals.

2) How has joining a sorority affected you?
I am more of a leader. I have a lot of responsibilities, but I am also privileged to know that I have thousands of sisters. I have a lot of fun being in a sorority too... from picking out my first letters with my big sis to dancing at our formal to preparing for chapter installation later this month!

3) Do you think that Greek Life is more than just social?
Definitely - it is a strong bond of loyalty. I am not embarrassed to be silly around sisters. See #4 for lots of other things greek life provides.

4) Do you really think you're buying your friends? Why or why not?
No, like in many organizations, dues pay for many things. They go towards service projects, social events, recruiting new members, celebration of traditions and rituals, and welcoming visiting sisters from other chapters.

5) How did joining the sisterhood affect your previous relationships or friendships? Do you still have them?
I have not lost any friendships or relationships, but I have gained many more!

6) What are the fads, statements, or unwritten codes of trends & styles in your sorority/fraternity?
At my school...
One style is big, often colorful chandelier earrings.
Another is flip flops, including flip flops with our sorority letters on them.

7) What kinds of rules do you have for you house or floor regarding alcohol, drugs, opposite sex, etc.? How do you feel about these?
(We do not have sorority housing at my school.)

8) Do you have any "activities" for pledges to become sisters/brothers? What kind?
We do not participate in hazing, but we have new member education. New members learn about the sorority in weekly classes. They also plan a service project.

9) What's Greek Week like for you? What kinds of activities are there?
Greek Week changed this year. This year we had:
Publicity Day (wear letters), Greek Olympics (each sorority and fraternity competes against each other in things like pie eating contest, tug-of-war, baseball throw, etc.), Greek Carnival for the Kidz (each organization hosted games like bean bag toss or cupcake walk for kids attending a local school. The event was held at our school), and Greek Fest (an outdoor, school-sponsored party for all Greeks).

10) Have you ever fought with another sister? What about? How bad was it? Did this affect the rest of the chapter?
Of course, everybody fights, even with family members. However, being sisters is a strong bond, and it makes you want to quit fighting, which happens.

11) Do you know of any sorority/fraternity feuds? What kinds?
Three fraternities on campus always try to beat each other at everything (spray painting the rock over each other's letters multiple times in the same night, etc.).

12) What kinds of philanthropies do you have? How often do you have them?
1 Cynthia Milk Fund - local. We raise money to buy milk formula for local families who can't afford it.
2 Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee - local. We sponsor Eating Disorders Awareness Week, participate in a 5K, and built a resource collection about eating disorders in the school library.
3 Habitat for Humanity - national. We hope to help in a build soon. We donated housewarming gifts.
4 Pine Mountain Settlement School - national. We donate money and school supplies to an environmental education school in Harlan County, Kentucky.
We generally do something for each philanthropy annually.

13) Describe formal recruitment (or rush) for you. Feelings? Emotions?
Hectic! We have Info Night, where potential sisters meet each Panhellenic sorority, Philanthropy Night, where we talk about our projects and participate in one with potentials, Skit Night, where we perform a fun skit about our sorority, and Pref Night. Bid Day is the next day. Recruitment is nerve-wracking, but fun.