When college students decide to participate in Greek Life, they are met with a great deal of opportunities. Yet, when becoming a part of Greek life, college students must weigh out the pros and cons. The overall purpose of Greek life is so that college students make meaningful connections with one another and develop leadership skills.
Mary Soutter Pack (9) eagerly anticipates joining a sorority in college and is excited to see what it is all about.
”I am interested in being in a sorority to feel a sense of belonging and home even though I am away. A pro in joining a sorority is that you’ll make friends during the rush process and at campuswide Greek events,” Pack said. “If you’re attending or planning to attend a larger school, it can make the campus seem smaller because you are included in the Greek community. There are also alumni clubs for those who move to new cities, so you can instantly connect with others.”
One benefit to the “rushing” process is that students can expand their social circle and meet a wide variety of people. Greek life is a great way to gain leadership experience and make friendships that last a lifetime. An essential part about Greek life is how these organizations focus on philanthropy. There are many volunteer projects that students can participate in with their Greek life members and play an essential part in improving the lives of others.
Chris Curtis (12) is planning on rushing when he goes to college in the fall.
“I want to rush in college because it’s a great way to meet people and create lifelong friendships as well as have a blast at all the events they have. A con would be that it is taking away attention from my studies,” Curtis said.
Although Greek life has a wide range of amazing opportunities, there are some potential down sides to the experience. Cost is a huge factor for students that participate in Greek life. The estimated total cost for each person is between $1,000 and $4,750 per semester. There are many dues that go toward expenses and activities such as educational programming, fundraising events or organization activities. There are also fees and insurance costs that each member must pay off.
In recent years, fraternity hazing has been recognized as a problem and based on studies is a dangerous issue. According to fastweb.com, “hazing is illegal and no longer tolerated on most college campuses. Often, Greek organizations are extremely careful about following hazing rules. However, there are those houses, as well as individuals, who break the rules. The point of going Greek is to make friends, and if those so-called friends are doing anything to make you feel uncomfortable or in danger, they are not true friends. Further, any organization that makes hazing others an initiative on its agenda is not worth joining and should be reported.”
To rush or not to rush…it is a question that will one day likely affect college-bound Vikings. Research the pros and cons at your selected institution and make sure to weigh the options in order to choose wisely for youself.
