Greek Life on Campus

A large campus community that is prominent through out the University of Alabama is the Greek system. The Greek system is made up by a clear-cut portion of the student body. This is distinct from any other part of the campus because of the impact they have. The Greek system is what makes this University unique and unlike any other campus because of the embodiment of power that they have upon this campus. Greek life at the University of Alabama is a well-defined system that extends past the realm of the University by not only having advantages while in college but far after as well.

The Greek system is made up of the members of fraternities and sororities. The quest to become a Greek and to find new members is never ending. For sororities, a female oriented sisterhood, the search begins in the spring semester with a number of teas held to meet their potential new members. Each individual sorority holds a tea inviting the girls who are planning to attend The University of Alabama, with high hopes for joining a sorority. This process begins when active members write letters to prospective girls informing them of the teas that will be held in their area. The teas are a precursor to the week of Rush. Rush is and intense and tiresome week-long process held every year in the heat of August a week before classes begin. Rush is when potential new members parade from house to house meeting each sororities members and trying to picture where they best see themselves fitting in with each sororities personality and character.The long week includes two days of ice water teas, two philanthropy days, one skit day, and the final day, “pref night”. All of these events lead up to bid day, an exciting day where invitations are extended from the current members to the potential new ones. However, rush for boys is a whole other entity in itself. For some it all starts at Bama Bound. While walking around the campus active members of a fraternity try to meet new boys and invite them to a party they’re hosting. These parties are meant to be a bonding event for both active members and incoming students. The potential new members are also able to see what the fraternity is like as a whole. After the party the boys are messaged through facebook being notified that the fraternity is interested in them becoming a possible member. Once school starts each fraternity hosts parties on Friday and Saturday nights for about a month trying to get to know the boys better and potentially offer bids to the ones that meet the fraternities’ standards. Bids are formal invitations to join the fraternity. Although, before they are active members they have to go through a trial period called pledge ship. Pledge ship is very different for males and females because male pledge ship is mentally and physically much harder. For guys, pledge ship is a long and tough couple of months of proving themselves to be worthy of the fraternity’s brotherhood. For girls, pledge ship is a time for the potential new members to learn the meaning of sisterhood and the delicate bonds it creates with its members. After pledge ship is over a person is then initiated. Once initiated into the fraternity or sorority, they are then considered an active member, and are expected to abide by the constitution and by-laws of their fraternity and sorority. The moment a member is made active they’re then able to obtain the full advantages and resources of being Greek.

Being a member of Greek life has many benefits including strong social ties, making new friends, and becoming apart of a community. Members of Greek fraternities and sororities have access to countless social events. Creating strong, unique bonds with one another is one reason why sororities and fraternities thrive. Creating a large network of people is another reason social life is vital to Greeks. A network opens up a whole new level of people to meet and impress for opportunities later in life. Sometimes in life it is not about the degree people recieve, it is about the hands people shake. Sadly this can be true. People are more willing to offer jobs or internships to a friend or to someone with a similar connection of something as small as being in the same fraternity. The connections that are made through Greek life can be very helpful down the line. Overall, the community is effective in providing a social setting for fun and networking outside of school. There are many social events consisting of band parties, date parties, formals, and swaps aimed at providing optimal settings for members to make a variety of new friends and connections. It might seem as all the parts seem to work together while co-existing peacefully, it seems to be that they can actually sometimes be divided. This can be the result of certain sororities and fraternities have a certain dislike towards another sorority or fraternity. At times neighbors create a certain rivalry towards one another. This especially applies to fraternities when hoping to pull the biggest crowd for a band party. Not only are some fraternities and sororities divided from each other, but many people seem to think that the Greek system as a whole is sometimes seen as divided from the rest of the University.

It is quite apparent to most people who attend the University of Alabama that the Greek system is a prominent way to get involved with the running and ways of the campus. As a result, this sometimes makes some non-members develop certain feelings of resentment towards the Greek system. It is not rare that in a class room setting one of first questions you are asked is what your Greek affiliation is. The Greek system is strong, not only because of what they do for each other but for what they do to help improve the school, community and society that surrounds them. Such as the many philanthropy events and fundraisers held throughout each year. The members of the Greek system are involved in activities, clubs, and organizations all over campus, covering everything from sports to the business club, and a member of the Save Darfur club to the president of the Student Government Association. The Greek system’s active involvement and recognition on campus is known and appreciated by many.

Networking, leadership opportunities, and making new friends are only a few of the advantages of joining a fraternity or sorority. Although the disadvantages of time commitment and expenses are relevant, the positives of being in the Greek system outweigh them. The Greeks are the most prominent force on campus, but overall they need to drop petty rivalries and arrogance. This way the Greek system can make a change for the better and enhance campus evolvement.