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October 2, 2008 11:07 am
Thanks for this great post. I used skills from my sorority leadership positions to score the job I have now. I wish more people would see the positives in the Greek communities at colleges. Thank you for advocating for it!
October 2, 2008 11:19 am
@sarahtownsend - I think it is up to the Greek Alum to prove the value and the positives of Greek communities. Unfortunately, the Greek community created a lot of bad stereotypes for itself years ago and now needs to recreate itself as an experience that is still important in college communities.
@Ryan - Thanks for sharing this. It is one of the only pieces I have read on Greek experiences that did not make me cringe. Very well done.
October 2, 2008 12:20 pm
Here's the problem I have: You appear to be the exception, but none of the frat-guys I've known have ever grown beyond the college party days and they still suck worse than a Dyson vacuum. Let's face it, middle-age adolescence is NOT a pretty sight.
October 2, 2008 12:27 pm
Apparently your pledge period did not include learning the dictum "You wouldn't call your country a c**t, don't call your fraternity a frat!"
Those who aren't greek can never know the rewards of fraternity. Don't trivialize it by using "frat". That just plays into the negative stereotypes.
Go Alpha Sig.
October 2, 2008 12:33 pm
I was in the perfect position when I was in college. My school was a small women's college with a (proportionately) huge greek system. I myself was independent, but most of my friends belonged to sororities. I got see both sides of the coin without having to give anything up or spend any money. I didn't learn the secret handshakes or the rituals, but that really isn't what makes a sorority. I had the friendship and camaraderie across the board with several houses, and had plenty of time to still lead on campus. I was an RA, worked on the student activities board, edited the literary magazine, worked in the writing center, TA'ed, worked with the admissions office on recruiting events and campus tours, etc. And I never had to commit to a house or pay any money.
October 2, 2008 12:38 pm
Alrighty, there's some of that stereotypical *frat* mentality coming from Maus. I guess us lowly non-Greeks could never imagine what it's like to be close to a group of other people. Don't assume you're somehow superior to everyone else because you have a shirt with Greek letters on it.
October 2, 2008 12:50 pm
Maus reinforces the negative stereotype, as do the frat guys in my town who burned down their frat house and the ones who drink all day, every day. Sorry Ryan, that's just how I see it.
Generally, I avoid fraternities like the plague. Honor societies, on the other hand, have produced some of my more fruitful connections...and they, too, bear Greek letters.
October 2, 2008 1:11 pm
@Anna - I think the commitment aspect of Greek life is one of the best parts. I am still involved with my organization. I am part of an alum group that meets monthly and I still go back to the collegiate chapter as an advisor. The true benefits of membership really come to light when you move on to the alum dimension.
One of my favorite post-grad Greek memories is when I went on a vacation by myself, was lost in a city and another sister noticed my letters (it was on my tote bag) and helped me out.
October 2, 2008 1:35 pm
@Dorie
I definitely understand your point of view. It's like joining an extensive network. I still don't think going greek was the right thing for me, and I don't feel like I missed any opportunities. Although I must admit, I did almost join Phi Mu--your letters, I think?
I agree that there's much to be gained from greek life. But, in my opinion, everything you learn from going greek, you can learn from other, equally rewarding, opportunities.
October 2, 2008 3:44 pm
Hey Everyone,
Thanks for the comments. And sorry I wasn't able to jump in sooner to give my two cents.
I think it's really difficult for a non-greek to see the benefits of fraternity because like I said, we get a bad rap. And often for good reason. But on the other hand, you don't need to go greek to experience community. This post only represents my college experience.
As Ben points out there are so many ways to learn about community outside the realm of fraternities (honors society, etc). I'd never suggest that a frat is the only way to go. And fraternity can mean so many things anyway, right? What it's really about is bonding with people who share similar goals and interests (and sometimes bonding with people very different than you as well). That's what I got out of my fraternity.
So maybe we partied a lot. Drank. Occasionally got too rowdy. That doesn't mean we didn't care about other things too.
My fondest college memory was raising over $80K for pediatric cancer with my brothers. Then standing on my feet for 48-hours straight while my friends cheered from the stands. I'll never forget that experience, and I likely never would have been a part of something like that without the fraternity I pledged.
With that said, I'd love to hear other stories about the value of community. Frat stories, non-frat stories ... whatever. As long as you learned something from the experience it's worth sharing, right?
-RP
October 3, 2008 8:32 am
Greek life isn’t the only answer for building a college community. Activities like band and other organizations and activities can form just as strong friendships.
Joining a sorority with women with values and that I respected was the best decision I made in undergrad. The leadership skills I gained and the volunteering I did has laid groundwork for my post-grad years. I had sorority women from my chapter checking up on my move to their new city and asking me to different activities. I can’t think of a better example than knowing you have the support of 150 other women wherever you go.
Building a community is what you put into it. Blogging is the same concept. When it comes down to it, life is what you put into it. Spend your time with people you care about (Greek or non) and doing what you love. That's when you will create the best community for yourself.
October 3, 2008 9:05 am
Carla,
Absolutely. Surround youself with people you love to be around and you can't go wrong.
-RP
October 3, 2008 12:23 pm
Ryan - Loved the post. It got me thinking... Since the BC is like this huge group/frat/society/community/online party thing... You should definitely consider a pledge period for all the new members.
The Blogger Meet Ups could be a form of RUSH. And then you could start little BC communities in each city... Kind of like Fight Club. Of course, if you did this, we'd have to figure out proper ways to haze everyone... but that shouldn't be hard. We're creative people. We'll just need 100 gallons of KY, a few pigs, and a slip and slide...
Totally kidding.
I do wish I could have met Ryan Paugh "the frat guy." Maybe you could dress up as him for Halloween. :)
October 3, 2008 6:30 pm
Andy,
Maybe you need to roll up to UW for the Penn State game next week. I'm sure a small piece of frat-guy Ryan Paugh will show up at the party.
-RP
October 4, 2008 7:45 pm
Great post. Too bad people are turning this into a debate about the merit of frats. If this is what you learned from the experience then good for you.
October 5, 2008 4:21 pm
Thanks Rachel. I kind of assumed I was opening up Pandora's Box with this one. But I'm glad you saw the real meaning behind what I wrote and not just a debate about the value of greek life in college.
-RP
October 5, 2008 4:50 pm
One of the best decisions I made in college was to go greek. Eventually I became VP and pledge educator. When I was in college, we got in some trouble and were "reorganized." Needless to say, we were down to 8 members. By the time I graduated we had 80. Those 8 guys believed and built the fraternity back up.
The moments I remember in college are not the grades I received on my tests, but the times I spent with my brothers.
Bottom line is I received my first internship because of a fraternity brother and now that I'm out in the real world I'm always helping undergraduate brothers network to jump start their careers.
Joining a fraternity makes a difference in one's life and I highly recommend it for anyone reading this post.
October 6, 2008 12:25 am
Brian,
I'm glad you had an amazing fraternity experience. I'm sure you learned a lot about building community from your fraternity as well.
My frat had an overhaul before I got there and older guys would always talk about how hard they worked to build the house to where it was today. I'm sure you share a similar feeling to what they did.
-RP
October 7, 2008 9:37 am
So what ARE the perks of fraternity life? Chicks? Partying? Of course!
I worked at two huge state schools and the Greeks, generally, were pretty much like you would imagine. Great guys, hard partiers, serious skirt chasers. I'm friends with many Greeks from those days. Hey, it's part of college life, and I partook even though I wasn't a Greek.
I also worked at a small Private school and the Greeks there were awesome. They worked their asses off in the community, fundraised, and took legit leadership positions on campus. I was always very impressed and I thought those folks were true role models.
October 7, 2008 2:52 pm
Thanks Lance. It's nice to hear someone with something positive to say about the whole hard-partying aspect of college life. It was a lot of fun, and anyone who says you can't learn anything in the process is crazy.
December 24, 2008 8:02 pm
I think many greeks could agree that you learn time management, juggling your time with partying, work, school, family, etc. Joining a fraternity will help shape you, give you those experience that you wouldn't have anywhere else. I support anyone thinking of joining the greek community.
As an undergrad i am still an active member of my fraternity on campus. It has allowed me to contribute by using my skills i've gained through my successes and failures as an entrepreneur. Its great to hear stories on how greek life has given enhanced lives.
best,
Josh
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Grad School Zone
UVA (Darden) MBA Admissions Deadlines for 2010-2011
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The University of Virginia's Darden School of Business recently published its application deadlines for the coming admissions season. Here they are, followed by our comments in italics:
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