Fraternities and Sororities: Alphas on Campus
By SAMANTHA LASCALA
Greek life: it’s the epitome of college.
When people think about going to college or see schools portrayed in movies, Greek life always holds its weight. Recently, fraternities, often referred to as frats, and sororities are under fire by many for being dangerous.
While the critics focus on the negatives, Greek life has many positive effects on the campus, and the people within it.
The most significantly positive aspect of joining a fraternity or a sorority is the philanthropy. The houses often pick a charity or organization to support, and over the course of the year, they raise money for their chosen organization.
Some examples of outstanding community service include the Sigma Chi fraternity, who raised approximately $1.5 million dollars for the Huntsman Cancer Institute, and the Delta Gamma sorority, who raised approximately $800,000 for Service for Sight. Some other organizations supported are Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, the USO, and the Red Cross.
Their community service often goes unnoticed, as many people choose to focus on the negatives of Greek life. Community service is proven to help develop a variety of skills, make contacts outside of school, improve education, help the members aid in bettering the lives of others, as well as develop members’ leadership skills.
Being in a fraternity or a sorority can give students power on campus. They represent the school on an individual basis, but they also represent their schools as groups as well. Schools are often known for their Greek life, making the student members leaders on campus.
Some events that are popular with fraternities and sororities are their philanthropy events, where the student body comes together to raise money for the community. Their influence and individuality can motivate and inspire other students to take initiative in their communities, as well as participate more in school life and activities.
If you attend a larger school, finding friends may be difficult. Participating in Greek life can help make even the largest schools a little smaller. By joining a fraternity or a sorority, you find people like you, with similar goals and interests, and can fit in and make friends. The lifelong friends you make during the college years can also help you when you graduate. If you join a sorority or fraternity on your campus, you can make connections with the outside world. When the older students graduate, they will find jobs, and if it is within your field of interest, you might have an in when you graduate. Having connections is extremely helpful in getting a job in your field of interest, and you may even be working with a lifelong friend of yours.
Fraternities and sororities are essential to college life. Within your chapter, you will learn to give back to your community through community service. Being a figurehead on campus makes you learn to be in a position of leadership. Through sororities and fraternities you can make lifelong friends, and even helpful work connections for the future.
Are you ready to be an alpha?