"You're always wearing your letters."

[Kevin]

Here are some problems with what I've seen in this thread:

It's great to think that you can be nice and "non-stereotypical" to everyone, always. Even if this was possible, the ONE time someone you don't know sees you in letters doing something stupid (or knows that you're a member of a GLO), often, they'll be quick to make a snap-judgement about all Greeks. Fair? Hardly.

Unfortunately, we are all judged by the actions of our worst behaved members.

Is it important to cultivate a good image on campus? Hell yes. Look at campuses where Greeks apparently did not place a value on their relations with the university administration, etc... Places like Alfred University where the entire system was shut down because of the stupidity of a local group.

On the other hand, there will always be those that see GLO's as organizations expressly for the elite. For those folks, unfortunately, there's nothing you can do to change their perception They may befriend you in spite of your greekness but it will probably be an obstacle.