Greek
Life at ASU is an important aspect of its own community because Greek life
provides social interactions for part of the students who attend ASU.
Administration is kind of against Greek life but the students who participate
in it (including myself) are fighting to keep it alive. Greek life is fun for
anyone who joins, it does charitable work, and it helps with social experiences
in life.
Me: “why
is greek life fun?”
Alicia:
“because you meet a lot of new people, and create a lot of good friendships. Creating
these friendships is easier when you are involved in Greek life because
normally you are around these people all the time. For example my brother is in
Greek life and all he does is talk about the friends he has in his fraternity
and how he views almost all of them as his brothers. It is a common
misconception that Greek life is only about partying and things of that nature.
But the bonds that are built inside of Greek life is what should really be
talked about. My brother only talks about the experiences he has with the “brothers”
of the house and how he views all of them as either his “brother” or his best
friend.”
Me: “How do you feel about sororities?”
Alicia: “As for
sororities it is completely different and it just offers different pathways
that it would allow me to take in life, giving me options with my future with
the connections it provides and with making new friends. I believe it is easier
to make friends in Greek life because you’re almost forced to make new friends,
which in turn forces someone to talk to other people giving people necessary
social skills they will need in life.”
As you
can see from this short interview Greek life is an important part of this girl’s
life and she views it as something that people can benefit from. What Greek
life is looks at from administrations point of view at ASU is that all we do is
party and nothing else. Yes I will admit that we do probably party more than
the average student but that is not all we do as a fraternity. Also partying is
not the most important thing to us as well. As being part of a fraternity I would
say the most important thing to me is the brotherhood.
Me: “Steven
how do you feel about the brotherhood in fraternity life?”
Steven:
“I feel as brotherhood is the most important aspect. Why would someone join a
fraternity if they didn’t view everyone in this house as a potential best
friend? It wouldn’t make sense because I am around these people almost all day
every day. So for someone to say they joined just for the partying they are
lying or they just don’t want someone to know the truth. We all share
experiences together that bring us all closer together as a house and
individually.”
Brotherhood
is probably the most important aspect of fraternity life and for sororities it
is basically the same thing but what both sides do that is also great is that
we throw charitable events. About a month ago the fraternity I am a part of,
Kappa Sigma, we threw a philanthropic event for the military. The funds were
not direct funding for the military but instead for the troops. What we did was
raise money to send troops letters and gift baskets so that they knew what they
are doing for us overseas is greatly appreciated and admired by everyone.
Sororities also participated in this event so they got to contribute to this
good cause as well.
Social
skills are a very important aspect in life. It is something now a day that is
more necessary in a job search or in keeping a job than more people realize. It
could be the thing that decides whether or not I can beat out that last person
for a job or not.
Me: “How
do you feel Greek life has helped you be able to socialize with people?”
Mark: “Greek
life has helped my social skills enormously. Before college I was a kid with
low self-esteem and didn’t have many friends. I came into my first semester not
knowing what to expect and I had a hard time meeting people in the dorms and making
new friends. When I rushed and got initiated into a fraternity it changed my
life. It gave me a new found confidence that I never experienced before. It is
completely different it is like dorming all over again but with 100 of your best
friends by your side encouraging you to go talk to people and make new friends.
For me it was great because now with internships and even just talking to
people from back home I have the ability to make conversation and the ability
to make new friends wherever I am. It is something I will look back at as one
of the best decisions of my life.”
Greek
life has the ability to change someone’s life as you can see from Mark’s
interview. It also helps benefit the people around them on the outside and
inside by bringing them in or just by being friendly to them. Helping the
community is also an important part of what we do. As being part of a
fraternity or at least in Kappa Sigma we are required to do a certain amount of
community service hours. This can help the community and show administration
that we are not all about partying and that we actually care. Another important
part that people tend to look over is that in some houses or chapters there is
a required GPA to be a part of that fraternity so academics is important and
partying is not the only thing that crosses our minds. After all we are in
college and school does come first no matter what anyone says who is in a
fraternity or sorority they care about school and the image they present about
the house or chapter they are involved in.
