Outside The Greek Circle...

[emleepc]

There are always going to be people around you that don't like the greek system, that think you have purchased friendship. There are so many others that support it, though. The thing you have to decide is whether someone else's opinion matters to you regarding your fraternity or sorority. My brother opposed me joining ADPi, and he is a Lambda Chi!!(just because I joined as a junior) If it's your family, or someone you work with, try to present greek life as a positive thing. Unfortunately, there are greeks out there that cast negative light on the greek community, but that is not the norm! Our (the greek system as a whole) work with philanthropies can speak postively for itself. I think sometimes part of the problem is that people don't know how much volunteer and community service work greeks participate, or the organizations they support. Be proud of your organization, and get the word out about your philanthropy, and others!!! Let this speak for itself.
If others cannot see the greek system in a positive way, then your conversations with co-workers and family members in opposition to greeks should not exist, sad as that is. Some people will never change......and it's not your job to try to change them.

[Erik P Conard]

your "friends" are either jerks or ignorant.
they should have been altered at puberty

[BSUPhiSig'92]

If you think its difficult explaining your fraternity/sorority membership/volunteerism to others, try explaining it when you are a campus advisor! My father, to his dying day, thought that I planned keg parties for a living! I tried to explain what I actually did, but I don't think he ever really understood. Most people now, I initially tell them that I'm a university administrator, and if they're interested (which most people really aren't, they're just being polite), they'll ask what that means. Then I'll explain.

[Tom Earp]

Ignorance of the unknown is common place.

Just remember the fond memories of what was and is accomplished in Your Greek Life time.

[Pike_Cardinal]

I find it absolutely hilarious that almost everyone on the outside sees us "buying friends." Here at Louisville its a huge running joke within the greek community because we know what really seals our bonds. I think it is just a justification for people who don't understand, when in reality we are all just paying THOUSANDS of dollars in insurance. Like they say..."From the outside looking in, you can never understand it. From the inside looking out, you can never explain it."

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by Pike_Cardinal

I find it absolutely hilarious that almost everyone on the outside sees us "buying friends." Here at Louisville its a huge running joke within the greek community because we know what really seals our bonds. I think it is just a justification for people who don't understand, when in reality we are all just paying THOUSANDS of dollars in insurance. Like they say..."From the outside looking in, you can never understand it. From the inside looking out, you can never explain it."

You put that so well. I always here the buying friends thing too. That is so incredibly stupid.

[Pike_Cardinal]

Another angle that sucks about this...I graduated high school EXTREMELY close to about 15 of my classmates. In college only one girl at another school, two guys at two other schools(Alpha Sigma Phi and TKE), my roommate and I(both Pike) went greek. Well, now when we all get together the rest of the group seems to hold something against us. I'm not gonna lie, I have grown closer to the other greeks, even though theyre not all Pikes, just becuase of what being greek means. My friends are all dealing with it differently. Some make fun of it, some act like they might want to go greek, some really dont care. All I know is that we all HAVE changed, but thats not bad. We have all changed for the better, becoming the better men and women that we are.

[AlethiaSi]

i say... if i pay for my friends, i didn't pay enough... no amount of money would ever cover the love and friendship i have.