Athletics in Greek Life

[33girl]

Like EE-BO said, I think there used to be a lot of sorority and fraternity chapters that would let a member get away with blowing off a lot more things if they were an athlete - because of the prestige. Clarion was D1 in swimming/diving when I attended and the top diver joined a sorority. The only time I EVER saw her doing things at them was...Greek Week, during Greek Swim. But they got to say "Donna Smith is an ABC" at rush.

I think that nowadays, far fewer Greek groups put up with that kind of thing. As it should be, IMO. I've never believed in giving someone a "pass" because they're an athlete or student senate prez or a pageant winner. One of the girls we open bid decided not to pledge us because she was elected to Student Senate (she eventually became President) and knew she wouldn't have the proper amount of time to give us. I really, really respect her for that.

So...if you can handle both to your satisfaction and that of your team and GLO, fine. But don't try to half-ass it.

[ISUKappa]

I think it depends on a lot of factors: the school, the chapter, the individual and the sport. I know I've said this in another thread, but the husband sucessfully managed athletics, fraternity and academics at his DIII engineering college. I asked him once and he said about 1/4-1/3 of the guys when he was in the house were involved with a sport, with other chapters on campus having about the same ratio.

At one point when I was an undergrad, we had half the tennis team in our chapter. They were excused from mandatory events when they were out of town competing and were given some leeway for practices, but otherwise they were expected to attend all other events just like other members. Many of those women also held an office while they were competing (I believe one was even President) and maintained excellent grades. That worked for them, but may not for someone else.

I think a coach is completely within his or her rights to discourage or even deny membership in a GLO for a collegiate athlete, especially if that person is attending on an athletic scholarship.