Sizing Up the Sororities
TJ Fisher
Issue date: 3/19/10 Section: Opinions
The number of schools doing away with their Greek communities on campus is rising due to the belief that Greek life does not aid an academic environment and is instead more of a hindrance than a help to the school's population. Is this true, or this a situation in which the potential pitfalls of a Greek community overshadow the benefits that fraternities and sororities bring to a campus?
One potential pitfall is that a sorority could cause its girls to feel insecure about their appearance. The connection between body image and sororities has been a hot topic for several years, and the heat is not dying down. Although this is an issue, it is not an issue everywhere. While certain organizations, which have usually been individually branded as the "pretty sorority," put more pressure on their girls to look a certain way, others do not judge girls by their by looks, but focus instead on their characters. I commend the latter of the two because they exemplify the intended purpose of participation in a sorority: the association of oneself with a group of girls chosen for their personalities and the alignment of their values with those of the organization, not how often they party or what size jeans they wear.
The spotlight is beginning to fall on campuses around the country, including Rollins, and it is shining on the sororities with the prettiest girls. Student bodies are rating which houses are the best, based on the sisters' size and clothing. This trend is killing the above definition of what it means to be in a sisterhood. Participation in a sorority should guarantee relationships with girls that are similar in character and personality and build leadership and strength. Sororities also strengthen the campus Greek community. Stressing beauty over character detracts from the benefits of the Greek Community, for when sororities choose to evaluate girls by physical appearance, they only encourage their own removal from campuses around the country.
For those who have experienced Greek life, the idea of universities and colleges taking away that aspect of campus seems wrong, but the Greek community is pushing college administrations to take these extreme measures. The community must show that it is worthy of its inclusion as part of a college campus and that it benefits the whole community. I do not mean that it should do away with social events or take away the fun of being in a fraternity or sorority, but that it should step up in other areas and take extra care in earning its place on campus. It must to show that joining Greek life is not just about partying and ranking each other based on who has the prettiest girls and the hottest guys. They need to express their individual values to the rest of the campus.
Anyone at Rollins can tell you that our Greek Community seems to be faltering. Many changes have taken place this semester, including ATO's four-year suspension, the arrival of Delta Zeta to campus, and NCM's fight to stay unabsorbed by the national sorority. As a whole, the Greek community must to come together and unify. It cannot continue to focus on the best-looking guys and girls, but on enriching our community. If it does not take these steps to better itself, it may be pave the way to a Rollins without Greek life.
One potential pitfall is that a sorority could cause its girls to feel insecure about their appearance. The connection between body image and sororities has been a hot topic for several years, and the heat is not dying down. Although this is an issue, it is not an issue everywhere. While certain organizations, which have usually been individually branded as the "pretty sorority," put more pressure on their girls to look a certain way, others do not judge girls by their by looks, but focus instead on their characters. I commend the latter of the two because they exemplify the intended purpose of participation in a sorority: the association of oneself with a group of girls chosen for their personalities and the alignment of their values with those of the organization, not how often they party or what size jeans they wear.
The spotlight is beginning to fall on campuses around the country, including Rollins, and it is shining on the sororities with the prettiest girls. Student bodies are rating which houses are the best, based on the sisters' size and clothing. This trend is killing the above definition of what it means to be in a sisterhood. Participation in a sorority should guarantee relationships with girls that are similar in character and personality and build leadership and strength. Sororities also strengthen the campus Greek community. Stressing beauty over character detracts from the benefits of the Greek Community, for when sororities choose to evaluate girls by physical appearance, they only encourage their own removal from campuses around the country.
For those who have experienced Greek life, the idea of universities and colleges taking away that aspect of campus seems wrong, but the Greek community is pushing college administrations to take these extreme measures. The community must show that it is worthy of its inclusion as part of a college campus and that it benefits the whole community. I do not mean that it should do away with social events or take away the fun of being in a fraternity or sorority, but that it should step up in other areas and take extra care in earning its place on campus. It must to show that joining Greek life is not just about partying and ranking each other based on who has the prettiest girls and the hottest guys. They need to express their individual values to the rest of the campus.
Anyone at Rollins can tell you that our Greek Community seems to be faltering. Many changes have taken place this semester, including ATO's four-year suspension, the arrival of Delta Zeta to campus, and NCM's fight to stay unabsorbed by the national sorority. As a whole, the Greek community must to come together and unify. It cannot continue to focus on the best-looking guys and girls, but on enriching our community. If it does not take these steps to better itself, it may be pave the way to a Rollins without Greek life.
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Lori Peppitone
posted 3/20/10 @ 7:02 AM EST
The first rule of good journalism is attribution. Where are your "facts?" You state that schools are getting rid of sororities and fraternities. Really? Which schools?
It might interest you to know that Greek Letter Organizations (GLO's) are EXPANDING throughout the country. (Continued…)
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