The subject of Greek Life has been riddled with controversy due to issues surrounding hazing, sexual assault, drug abuse, racial discrimination, queer-phobia, and other concerns. So why would anyone join a Greek Letter Organization? To better understand why many Foresters decide to join Sororities and Fraternities, we need to determine where problematic issues arise and review the values, traditions, and benefits Greek Life has to offer in the context of campus culture. To explain this, I will elaborate why Lake Forest College and her Greek Letter organizations are unique.
To better understand why many Foresters decide to join Sororities and Fraternities, we need to determine where problematic issues arise and review the values, traditions, and benefits Greek Life has to offer in the context of campus culture. To explain this, I will elaborate why Lake Forest College and her Greek Letter organizations are unique.
First, we need to acknowledge the different types of Greek Life experiences present on our campus. We have a service based co-ed fraternity: Alpha Phi Omega; various social sororities: Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta,
Delta Gamma, and Kappa Alpha Theta; and three social fraternities: Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Chi, and Lambda Chi Alpha. Additionally, there are culturally-focused organizations such as Gamma Phi Omega (lakeforest.collegiatelink.net). Depending on the values of each organization, or the personality of the chapter/colony, one should be able to find a good fit.
On larger campuses, there are a variety of Greek Letter organizations catering to social, philanthropic, cultural, and other values of a student body. However, one of the problems that can arise is a greater propensity to self-segregate and homogenize on various factors including race, religion, political beliefs, socioeconomic background, and other values, depending on the social climate of the campus. This is a reflection of a normal social tendency to gravitate towards people who are similar.
Therefore, I would say Greek Life is an extension of a campus culture at large. This can then self-perpetuate homogenized beliefs and may continue unpoliced, manifesting in the negative attributes seen in the media.
Lake Forest College, due to its intimate size, generally does not have the ‘luxury’ of an organization becoming monolithic in its makeup. Therefore, Greek members are led to recruit members beyond the stereotypical image of what one would expect. Unlike most other student organizations, we have members and leaders from various cultural organizations, student governance, athletic teams, academic departments, nationalities, and socioeconomic backgrounds within our membership. It is not because there is an active effort to seek diversity for diversity’s sake…
Unlike most other student organizations, we have members and leaders from various cultural organizations, student governance, athletic teams, academic departments, nationalities, and socioeconomic backgrounds within our membership. It is not because there is an active effort to seek diversity for diversity’s sake…instead, I believe students from various backgrounds see their values represented in Greek
Life and its members. Leadership, networking opportunities, socials, tradition, and philanthropic focus are among the top reasons people join Greek Life. Considering most Greek Chapters function independently of heavy academic or administrative involvement, the members do gain strong personal and professional skills that go beyond their collegiate career.
More importantly, a Greek Letter organization gives a sense of belonging. As Pulkit Diwan ‘16 puts it, “My friends in Delta Chi provided me with an extended feeling of a family. This family was able to create the fantastic experience, I am having at Lake Forest College.” In my opinion, this sense of belonging coupled with a diversity of perspectives and personalities, is what helps our Greek community move past negative stereotypes, and be a rewarding experience for those who are involved.
