California Greek Systems

[FIJI-UC]

Berkeley - I know you didn't ask about UCB specifically but I figured I'd share anyways. Berkeley has a very, very old greek row (probably the oldest in the state?). Campus reaction is mixed... Greeks are very visible because of their housing but the school seems to like them less and less (more dry-house rules have some into effect, etc...) yet they still cary the school socially.

Irvine - 12 on campus greek houses and another dozen or so without chapter houses. The school is rather anti-greek both admin and student population wise (editorials bashing the greek system and a general dislike by the admin for the "parties" and "negative role of greeks"). However UCI is a commute school so greeks make up much of the social life on the campus and clearly play an important part in the school as I've been told.

Riverside - Houses are rather spread out and from what I hear greek life is growing there. I know there are several big chapters but I've always had the impression that it wasn't a very big system.

Long Beach State - I'm not sure what the housing is like but there is certainly a greek presence on the school. You see plenty of LB greeks around Southern California and they're certainly a fair amount of parties which implies their system is indeed active.

Generally the UC's tend to dislike greeks IMO and accordingly most schools are under 10% Greek with very odd systems. If you read the rush threads or other threats about greek life they tend to show a very different story than UC greeks would tell. At nearly every UC and California state school I have been to I hear the same stories about problems with admin, problems with students who really do not like Greeks and such.