The Many Pros and Cons about Sorority Life
By Ashton Morrow
With pledge week quickly approaching, it is important to address the many stereotypes associated with sorority life.
There are a multitude of stereotypes associated with rushing. “It’s unfair for people who don’t know Greeks personally to apply uneducated stereotypes,” junior Kelsey Sowers said.
It has also become a commonality among anti-Greeks to associate dues with paying for friends. “Dues for my sorority and others probably range from $50 to $100, depending how many semesters you have been active. These fees cover everything from function costs to decorations for our rush dinners, so the money a sister puts in directly benefits her,” sophomore Savanna Tickle, new member of Kappa Phi Alpha said. Dues for national organizations range in the thousands.
Drama is a big reason college students give for never joining a sorority. “People say, ‘why join a sorority when they are just a bunch of drama?’” Eric Hess of Alpha Beta Chi and Greek Council president says, “but girls are going to cause drama whether or not they are affiliated with a sorority.”
“ABX means more to me than I could ever possibly put into words. It is timeless, and although we have our fair share of drama, knowing that I have 26 active sisters who would drop anything to be there for me if I needed them far surmounts any occasional bickers,” senior Alpha Beta Chi member Kayla Morelock said, addressing the idea that sororities are only temporary as well as drama within sororities.
Timelessness is evident through the tremendous alumni support. “Many of the friends, then sisters I made through ABX I still keep in touch with today, 40 years later. Emory & Henry is a special and beautiful place and those years, of which ABX was a part, will always hold a fond place in my heart,” writes Pat Wilson Hatfield, member of Alpha Beta Chi from 1965-1967.
Each sorority has its fair share of parties and social gatherings. “I would never join a sorority because I do not drink and that is one of the main parts of being in a sorority,” Jena Lytle, sophomore, said. “My sorority knows how to have a good time, but there is so much more to us than our parties,” sophomore Heather Taylor, member of Sigma Epsilon Nu, said. “Many of my sisters will drink and party on occasion, but there are still many of them who choose not to,” junior Katy Neal, member and legacy for Delta Omicron Pi, said.
Another popular stereotype about the Greek organization is that pledge week shatters all boundaries set by hazing rules. “I believe that pledge week is going to be challenging, but completely worth the hard work,” rushee Elyssia Reedy, junior, said. Each sorority follows its own procedures during pledge week. “Our pledge week is meant to create a strong bond between current sisters and the new pledges,” sophomore Katie McLaren, member of Pi Sigma Kappa, said.
With the many stereotypes addressed, the question “is rush for you?” still remains. It is worth getting to know what each organization is about before dismissing the possibility of rushing. If you allow yourself to stay open-minded, you may find that Emory sororities are not the backstabbing money pits that the media portrays. Instead, it may be a chance to share a bond with someone you may otherwise have never known. In the end, you may decide that rushing is not for you, but you may also find a sisterhood for a lifetime.
Filed Under: Campus News • Greek Life • News
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