Athletics in Greek Life

[EE-BO]

When I was at Texas, when chapters took athletes they pretty much excused them from most pledge activities. It is the trade-off of having the prestige of athletes in the fraternity.

Besides, someone who dedicates himself to something as demanding and rewarding as college athletics is the kind of guy you want in your chapter anyway. So why not make some compromises so he can do both?

One thing is for sure, anyone doing collegiate athletics is already getting a lot of the education pledgeship provides.

[alum]

It's a D3 school. Obviously there aren't quite the demands on D3 athletes but they still are putting in 20 hrs per week between practices and competitions.

My brother played baseball at MIT, was a 4 year active member and officer of his fraternity, and graduated with a 4.0. Most of his fraternity brothers were baseball and rugby players. Again, just Division 3 but still extremely time-consuming.

[PhrozenGod01]

Originally Posted by EE-BO

When I was at Texas, when chapters took athletes they pretty much excused them from most pledge activities. It is the trade-off of having the prestige of athletes in the fraternity.

Besides, someone who dedicates himself to something as demanding and rewarding as college athletics is the kind of guy you want in your chapter anyway. So why not make some compromises so he can do both?

One thing is for sure, anyone doing collegiate athletics is already getting a lot of the education pledgeship provides.

My chapter has had a bunch of athletes go through. Currently, there is a basketball player and a baseball player in the chapter, and a recent grad played football. In my chapter's history, the school's first Black quarterback was a member as well as hall-of-famers throughout the years.

But NO ONE gets any special treatment. We respect obligations to athletics(or any important student group for that matter) but no responsibilities are shirked or compromised.

[speedsters]

i'm an athlete and also in a sorority, granted its a DIII school, but i'm captain of my school's very successful crew team as well on the panhel council.

on my team we have always had girls in sororities, my co-captain is president of her sorority. and in my sorority we have other rowers, basketball, soccer, lacrosse and volleyball.

but greek life and sports are quite common for some sports here - rowing, women's basketball, volleyball, baseball, but others the coaches frown upon it - mens basketball and lacrosse.

[Tom Earp]

Maybe it is because that when the Jock period is over there is another alternitive, being a Greek where one can learn many more things!

1. How to work with people.
2. How to manage people.
3. How to run official Offices.

Oh, you don't get brusied and beat up as easly too.!

[noobishactz]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Maybe it is because that when the Jock period is over there is another alternitive, being a Greek where one can learn many more things!

1. How to work with people.
2. How to manage people.
3. How to run official Offices.

Oh, you don't get brusied and beat up as easly too.!

I agree with this. I mean even if they have to wait till the next semester to pledge I think Athletes should be able to pledge.

[BamaDad DZ]

Let me add a comment on this subject. My freshman daughter currently rows for the University of Alabama, an NCAA Division I program. We advised the Bama coach of her interest in joining a sorority and participating in varsity crew. She currently rows, is an active DZ, and a Committee member with the UA Student Government. Her grades are excellent. Below are the exact words of the Alabama crew coach:

Regarding your mention of the Greek system, Kristen needs to be aware
that membership in most sororities is not compatible with being a
varsity athlete. While some of our club athletes have been and are
sorority members, it is the exception and not the rule. These same
athletes will need to adapt to more defined practice times/schedules, if
they choose to be part of the varsity squad. Most sororities are not
flexible when it comes to their meetings and activities. As coach, I
expect our varsity rowers to defer to the requirements of the team and
academics, not to voluntary pursuits. Kristen must be very selective if
she is intent on both sorority and varsity participation. She will need
to be adept at time management, something not usually the forte of most
freshmen. This is advice from the voice of experience encouraging
caution.

Note to 'speedsters': Kristen rowed stroke in Alabama's highest-placing novice eight at last week's Head of the Hootch. The Alabama novice team has 44 members. Since the Coach's original e-mail in August '06, he decided to keep all freshman on the novice team.

[BamaDad DZ]

Now let me further add that the University of Alabama Novice coach has been great in terms of dealing with Kristen's participation in both. The varsity coach was simply cautioning her as to priorities before she committed herself to both activities in August. I think it was very wise on his part. From what I gather, DZ and Bama Crew have been mutually supportive in actual practice.

I admire both organizations and their willingness to support the Greek athlete.

[Elephant Walk]

We wouldn't take an athlete so it's not a question.

[BamaDad DZ]

Which sorority will not take an athlete, out of curiousity?