[AOII_LB93]

1) Do you feel that Greek Life has a bad reputation? What do you think fuels this? Do you think these reputations are legitimate? -I think that it can have a bad reputation because a large portion of what people here about greek life can be the negative stereotypes and not the positive aspects that we contribute to the community. It also doesn't help that some greeks act like complete morons and give a bunch of us a bad name. I think they can be legitimate, if people are looking at both the good and bad that greeks do.

2) How has joining a sorority/fraternity affected you?- A lot of my closest friends are AOIIs and my fiance is a Sigma Nu, so we have a lot in common right from the start. I also learned about the importance of community service, scholarship, lifelong friendship loyalty and personal dignity through my sisters and my interactions with others.

3) Do you think that Greek Life is more than just social? - Absolutely! Community service is an integral part of greek life.

4) Do you really think you're buying your friends? Why or why not? - No, I pay to go out to do activities with my non greek friends as well. I paid for activities with a group of people that I had things in common with, not the people. Buying your friends makes it sound like prostitution. =P

5) How did joining the sisterhood/brotherhood affect your previous relationships or friendships? Do you still have them? It didn't, all of the people I was friends with before I was lucky enough to be an AOII, are still my friends. They all encouraged my decision and some are even interested in AI.

6) What are the fads, statements, or unwritten codes of trends & styles in your sorority/fraternity?-I don't know that there are fads or trends with AOII, we've been around for almost 110 years and while the face of AOII has changed, the most important things like our ritual have not.

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? - House rules were and still are no boys, no alcohol, no drugs in the house. I was fine with them when I was a collegiate, every organization has rules of some sort and you agree to abide by them when you join said organization.

8) Do you have any "activities" for pledges to become sisters/brothers? What kind? - Nope, the new members did all the same stuff that the initiated members did. It was fun being a new member.

9) What's Greek Week like for you? What kinds of activities are there?-Greek week just started on my campus a few years ago, so I'm not sure.

10) Have you ever fought with another sister/brother? What about? How bad was it? Did this affect the rest of the chapter? - Of course, everyone doesn't get along all of the time, but you work it out because you care about one another.

11) Do you know of any sorority/fraternity feuds? What kinds? -None that I know of currently, or even while I was a collegiate. (I graduated in 98)

12) What kinds of philanthropies do you have? How often do you have them? -The chapter I advise( my old chapter) does a lot more philanthropy than we did when I was a collegiate. Strike out arthritis is a big one, (bowling, one dollar donated for each strike to AR), and there is some other stuff on the calendar for fall. I'll get back to you on this one.

13) Describe formal recruitment (or rush) for you. Feelings? Emotions? - As a PNM I hated it, all the houses seemed extra fake, and I was basically promised a bid at another house during their pref. I hated my FR experience. On the other side, having been the recruitment chair, I LOVED IT!

And finally for those who have alumned: Do you feel that being a part of Greek Life has helped you or not helped you in anyway? How? -Absolutely. I'm a lot more outgoing than I was when I started college. I've learned how to ask people questions and make small talk really well. =) I also got involved on the alum level, so it's been a big part of my life right from the start.

P.S. aoiicheer, stop by the AOII message board and say hi, don't feel like you can't connect with your sisters here too. =P