Greek-life myths, truths revealed

Greek-life on any campus, including Georgia College, has a stigma that comes with it. The “Animal House” stereotype has followed fraternities and sororities for years. Some of the myths that come with this stigma are: Greek life is all about partying, all Greek life members are hazed, being a member of these organizations means that you pay for your friends, it takes up all of your time, and academics can suffer from being a member. According to Lisa Lotyczewski, graduate assistant for Greek Life and Special Events, these myths are believed by many students at GC.

Myth: Greek life means always partying

According to Lotyczewski Greeks are just like everyone else when it comes to partying. Some members may “party” frequently and some may not. All students have different interests. “There might be some people who are in Greek organizations who do that type of thing, but there are plenty of other people who have other motivations, other things they think are fun, and it (drinking) isn’t their main goal in becoming Greek,” Lotyczewski said.

However, according to collegedrinkingprevention.gov, “studies have found that members of Greek organizations are more likely to drink compared with other students.”

“I guess the fact that we have planned theme parties makes people think we party a lot,” said Andrea Peterson member of Delta Zeta.

Myth: Greek life means hazing

Hazing seems to be more prevalent in fraternities than sororities. But some fraternities deny any type of hazing.

“We are strictly non-hazing,” Alex Raposa, president of Pi Kappa Phi said. “It not only turns people off from wanting to join a fraternity in general, but it just breaks down character.”

According to hazingprevention.org “55 percent of college students involved in clubs, teams and organizations experience hazing and nine out of ten students who have experienced hazing behavior in college do not consider themselves to have been hazed.” Some incidents may not be reported because the victim doesn’t consider it to be hazing.

When incidents do happen and are reported, the fraternity or sorority at fault is punished. According to the Department of Campus Life website, “violations may result in university disciplinary action as well as action through the civil courts. University disciplinary action may include the withdrawal of university recognition from offending organizations through a due process hearing.”

Myth: Greek life means paying for friend

Each member has to pay dues to be in the organization, but they don’t consider it to be paying for friends.

“We don’t pay for our friends; we pay to do things with our friends. We put money into a big collective pot so we can do things as a group,” said Lotyczewski.

Just as non-Greek students pay to go to the movies or to sports events with their friends, Greeks pay to attend the same types of events with their friends. They just pay up front, explained Lotyczewski.

Myth: Greek life takes up a lot of time

All organizations take up a certain amount of time, Greek life

is no different. But, there is no set requirement of the amount of time Greek members have to spend on their organization.

“I spend about three hours a week doing things with my sorority. One hour is a weekly chapter meeting,” Peterson said.

Some Greek events are not required. Some of the Greek organizations use a points system, the more events a member attends, the more points they get. It adds an incentive to go to the events that aren’t required, according to Lotyczewski.

“Aside from when you’re initially joining, there are very few things you’re required to go to. We go to weekly chapter meetings and ritual events, like pledging new people in. Those types of things are required,” said Lotyczewski. But, each organization has different events that are required.

Myth: Greek life means academics can suffer

In order to join a Greek organization a student must have a GPA of at least a 2.5, according to Lotyczewski, but some sororities do not accept below a 3.0.

Being a part of any organization may take time away from studying. Just as with the school, if a Greek member’s GPA drops too low they are put on academic probation within the organization and could eventually be asked to leave the organization.

Posted by Alyson Crosby on Jan 26 2012. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.