Opinions and perspectives

Heids81 · #1 03-15-2001, 03:45 PM

Hi, I'm a college student who is taking a sociology course and am doing a thesis paper on greek life and whether or not it segregates or unifies a college/university campus. As many of you who have taken a sociology class or are sociology majors, you realize that that you have to be biased when doing research and/or writing a paper. I'm trying to doing as much academic research as possible, but material is getting very scarce. I'm really trying to gather as many different opinions and perspectives who have been on in the inside of the system, have or are considering pledging, those who are anti-greek, et cetra. Anyone who has an opinion is encouraged to post it via this message board. I have never been in a soriority, and was actually recruited to join a few last year when I was away at college. Now I'm back home, but will be transferring to another college/university next year and have no real ambitions to partake in the greek life, due to my already hectic life/schedule. Story of everyone's life these days. Anyways, I would really appreciate any and all feedback..I honestly want to hear the good and the bad. And we all know there is both. Thanks much all!

Tom Earp · #2 03-15-2001, 05:22 PM

heids81, it is totally up to you the individual whether to become a Greek or not.
I have found that while Greeks may party, they also do a lot for the House and campus. While we do not require our Brothers to be envolved, we do suggest it. I High Alpha ( Pres.) is carring 21 hours, working part time and in the ROTC program which in it self takes time with the military. If you need to you, you make the time!!!! It has been proven that Greeks are more involved in campus activities, look a Homecoming! With out the Greeks what would it be? Without Greeks who would be on campus committees? Who has the higest overall GPA, Greeks or independents?
I started my local and di everything from marketing, selling, recruiting, and running. My grades actually went up as I did not want to let my fellow Brothers down! My last semester in college, I took econ., corp. finance, marketing and had a 3.6. I am not a brain by any means as I forget the 4 th class i took but that was in 1967. You will find that Greeks after graduation are more polished and able to function in the real world as they did many of the things in college Greeks as is expected in life.

If you miss an opportunity being in a Greek organization then you miss alot.
I learned more doing what I did than all of the years of college. Your time will never be your own through lif, it is how you use it.
I am still very envolved in my Fraterity and will be the till the day I die!! They are my family!

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)

HeidiHo · #3 03-15-2001, 07:22 PM

At a large university everything is seperated. There's commuters, residents, diffn't majors, diffn't colleges, diffn't dorms...
As a commuter I would know only the people in my major if it weren't for greek life. Greek life gives you chances to find people you wouldn't have otherwise met.
Heidi

AKA_Monet · #4 03-15-2001, 08:27 PM

Coming from a perspective a BGLO: On a predominately majority university, I agree with Heidi Ho, if it wasn't for greeklife I'd really feel alienated out there.

But the fact that I attended an undergraduate Historically Black College/University (HBCU), some may say it segregated the non-greeks vs. greeks. That was what Spike Lee's old movie "School Daze" was about.

But, most of these schools are so ingrained into greek life with so many folks being in a BGLO--meaning, professors and students AND the fact that we have such an active alumni participation in the greek experience--at least IMO, the anti-greek sentiment was quelled or even silenced. Basically, we greeks would say to an GDI's (God damn individuals) that their anti-greek hatred is only because they really wanted to join an organization, but they were denied...

To give you the greek and HBCU flavor, during Black college football classics, such as the Bayou Classic in New Orleans, it would be sacrelige (sp.) to NOT have a "step show"!!!! And the HomeComing Queen had better be in somebody's sorority... And it wouldn't be summer if the "philly Greekfest" didn't happen...

I don't know how these things came about.

Your paper is gonna be rather interesting.

33girl · #5 03-15-2001, 11:10 PM

I believe the overall campus opinion of Greeks starts from the top down.

If the administration and faculty believes that Greek life is a great opportunity and that it is worth supporting, the system will be strong within itself, yet not self-segregate or make others feel resentful of it.

However, if the administration just puts up with the Greeks or displays outright hostility, there will likely be greater tensions between greeks and non-greeks.

shadokat · #6 03-16-2001, 11:55 AM

I'm with 33girl on this. Our campus hated Greeks, and it showed, with such a small percentage of students joining GLOs.

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Delta Phi Epsilon, Celebrating nearly 84 years of Dedication, Pride and Excellence!

Lil_G · #7 03-16-2001, 12:06 PM

Heids, I'm currently writing a sociological paper on privatisation of universities and came across an article that may help you out a bit. I don't have it on me right now, but i can find you the title and book today since i have to go to the library to meet for a group project.

ahhkbah · #8 03-16-2001, 02:41 PM

Here is a different perspective from a BGLO member on a predominately caucasian campus. After becoming greek I saw the hcanges in people. Some non-greeks hated us, they considered us to secretive and they felt we were elitist. Many friendships died over the aforementioned misconceptions. You also get the wannabe's who start trying to talk to you every time that they see you. Very annoying, I mean can go to the library in peace? And the most disturbing, from a bruhs prospective, is the groupies. I mean some girls totally disregarding the relationship that I am in simply because I have letters. To sum it up, on the surface they like us; but look deeper and you will see the cracks.

Miami1839 · #9 03-16-2001, 04:11 PM

I think I gave a response on the Greek Life forum related to this but I'll give you my opinions. First, I strongly agree with HeidiHo and Tom Earp.

I am an alumnus of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.

While I was an undergrad(23,000 total students-both commuter and on campus) The school is mostly a commuter school and while I was an undergraduate only 3,000 lived on campus. The only intercollegiate sports really are basketball, track, soccer, and volleyball. Our football is like a club and most of our sports are clubs. So if your not in a athletic team and your not greek than theres little for you. our Administration and community around the campus was(and still is) definitely not pro greek(more like denial) and we didnt have a greek row. But we did and still do so much for George Mason in so many ways. Homecoming court being one(with our football team only being a club), pep rallies for basketball, student government, etc. I dont know what I would of done without my brothers when it came to academics. We all helped each other out. One more thing I thought about was touched on by Mikki(DZ) in the greek life forum about how it gives us a wide range of opportunity in many ways. Greek Life definitely brings you close to people(in various majors) that you wouldnt otherwise met if your werent Greek. Plus, Being greek is a lifetime commitment and if you werent greek, not only would you not meet those people in other majors, but you probably wouldnt meet them in the course of a lifetime. Thats my opinion because when you graduate everyone goes on their own path and if your not greek you may not have the opportunity to meet others that arent in your field. Greek Life however does give you this opportunity.