MomofKatie
Dairy World? Fairy World! OH, DARN IT!!
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2004
- Messages
- 11,447
I wasn't going to reply to this post, mainly because I live in a family of non-Greeks, a non-Greek husband, and non-Greek in-laws, and I have been defending my choice of joining a sorority for years. But there are some things I feel compelled to say (yet again).
Sororities are not for everyone. Yes, they are expensive. Yes, they are selective. Yes, some members can engage in dangerous and/or innappropriate behavoir. Yes, some members can drink too much, have sex, and show lack of judgement.
BUT, this is not behavoir that is in any way unusual for the average college student, no matter if she is Greek or not. College is expensive. If you want to go, you find a way to pay for it. Same with Greek organizations. College, as well as dorms, sports teams, and other clubs on campus are selective in choosing the people who participate in their activiteis. If someone cannot handle being not chosen for any of these things, they need a basic life lesson. Competition is a part of life.
As for bad behavoir, my sorority sisters were first and foremost, people. People with different personalities, tempraments, and weaknesses. There was nothing going on at my sorority that wasn't going on in the dorms. We actually had MUCH more stringent rules regarding our behavoir in the sorority house than the dorm residents. We weren't allowed to have men on the non-public floors of the house. We weren't allowed to have alcohol in our house. My sisters and I did party and drink- who doesn't in college? We had girls who didn't drink and that was okay, too.
Hazing of any kind was STRICTLY prohibited. In my opinion, the restrictions have only increased. National Panhellenic standards have gotten so stringent, there are many traditions that are no longer observed because of the potential for the APPEARANCE of impropriety!
I got so much out of my experience in the Greek system- lifelong friendships, social polish, fun, awareness of the need to volunteer my time to worthy causes, study skills, and an experience without compare at school. I would recommend it to any young woman ready to go to college.
Getting off my soapbox now-
Sororities are not for everyone. Yes, they are expensive. Yes, they are selective. Yes, some members can engage in dangerous and/or innappropriate behavoir. Yes, some members can drink too much, have sex, and show lack of judgement.
BUT, this is not behavoir that is in any way unusual for the average college student, no matter if she is Greek or not. College is expensive. If you want to go, you find a way to pay for it. Same with Greek organizations. College, as well as dorms, sports teams, and other clubs on campus are selective in choosing the people who participate in their activiteis. If someone cannot handle being not chosen for any of these things, they need a basic life lesson. Competition is a part of life.
As for bad behavoir, my sorority sisters were first and foremost, people. People with different personalities, tempraments, and weaknesses. There was nothing going on at my sorority that wasn't going on in the dorms. We actually had MUCH more stringent rules regarding our behavoir in the sorority house than the dorm residents. We weren't allowed to have men on the non-public floors of the house. We weren't allowed to have alcohol in our house. My sisters and I did party and drink- who doesn't in college? We had girls who didn't drink and that was okay, too.
Hazing of any kind was STRICTLY prohibited. In my opinion, the restrictions have only increased. National Panhellenic standards have gotten so stringent, there are many traditions that are no longer observed because of the potential for the APPEARANCE of impropriety!
I got so much out of my experience in the Greek system- lifelong friendships, social polish, fun, awareness of the need to volunteer my time to worthy causes, study skills, and an experience without compare at school. I would recommend it to any young woman ready to go to college.
Getting off my soapbox now-
