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During these rush events, take advantage of the occasion. Since they are free, just have a good time. Talk to the members when you have a chance to get a feel of what they are about. It’s a bad idea to be overly excited or to sound/appear desperate. However, it’s a good idea to appear interested. Do not pretend to be someone you’re not. They look out for those who keep it real and those who are pretentious. If there is an interview, answer the questions to the best of your knowledge as honestly as you can. Do not try to impress anyone. They will see through you.

Before any of this though, you should understand some of the reasons to join these organizations. Everyone has their own personal reason, but do not be fooled by the stereotypes. Some people do not believe in being a part of these organizations because of the same stereotypes. For example, many believe that greek organizations are pointless and stupid. They do not think any real bonds can be established in the course of a semester. They also feel they do not need to prove themselves to anyone by pledging. They think joining such organizations is another way of “buying” friends because of the dues you have to pay.

Some of the myths about greek organizations are strictly stereotypes and nothing more. For example, I have heard from some people that they think people who join these organizations are not capable of making their own friends; therefore this is their only way. Many believe fraternities just sit around and drink. They act cool and tough around campus and sleep with sorority girls. One quote that clearly illustrates the frustrations of fraternity/sororities is, “From the outside you can’t understand it. From the inside, you can’t explain it.”

I’d like to clear up some of these stereotypes and maybe display a more realistic picture of what being in a fraternity/sorority is all about. First of all, no one can “buy” friends. If friendship was so easily bought, how strong can that bond be? The bonds of pledge brothers/sisters cannot be explained. Imagine a bunch of soldiers who fight next to one another. They may not know each other really well, but they are sharing the same burden together. They are supporting one another against the enemy (members in this case). The struggles and support with and for each other does in fact help strengthen these bonds, hence the quote, “band of brothers.”

Some argue that they cannot perceive someone as their “brother” or “sister” if they don’t know them. How can someone they barely know for a semester or two replace their best friend who has been there for them all their life? I like to see it as having a new stepbrother/sister. Even though you may not know this person, regardless of anything, this person(s) is part of your family. I am not saying that the bonds between a “brother” or “sister” of a greek organization is stronger than that of your best friend. What I am saying, however, is that it is a different relationship and the bonds you form as a pledge and then as an active member will be real and strong.

There are many ways to make friends. Joining a greek organization is just one of them. It has been said that your lifelong friends are made in college. Are members of greek organizations not capable of making their own friends? Everyone is capable! However, being in a fraternity or sorority gives you more of a chance of making lifelong friends because of the time you would spend with the members. That is not to say you will not have friends outside of the group. I don’t know of anyone who is in a greek organization who doesn’t have close-friends who are not-affiliated. Being affiliated doesn’t exclude you from other people. In fact, most of my friends in college were not-affiliated.

Another concern is that some people feel they do not need to prove themselves to anyone. I personally believe pledging is a microcosm of life and its struggles. It will teach you how to handle yourself in certain situations. Situations like how to deal with superiors or how to properly manage time. Pledging shows you a different aspect of how to be mentally strong. You will need strength and determination to get through it and you will find out more about yourself along the way. You will realize what your real strengths and weaknesses are. Most importantly, it teaches you self-discipline and how to be a team player—two things that are necessary for the outside work. Pledging should not be viewed as a test the organization imposes on you, but like a bonus stage in a video game to acquire more experience points.

One of the stereotypes of being in a fraternity is that they sit around and drink all day. I will not deny that drinking is done quite often, but not any more than any other college student. Greek organizations on average collectively make up at most 10% of the college population, assuming that there is an average of 30 members per organization and there are at least 30 organizations on campus. That’s only about 900 or so students. If we assume that half of the remaining 90% of the students drink and half of them drink excessively, that would still constitute about 22.5% of the population of the entire school. Statistically, in any school, there are more cases of alcohol poisoning from non-affiliated students as opposed to those who are affiliated. From my own personal experience, I have only witnessed two incidents where a member of the greek community was hospitalized for alcohol poisoning as opposed to an average of one non-affiliated student every other week.

For those of you who are pledging for a fraternity to get sex from sorority sisters, I’d have to put down some of your hopes. It is true that being in a greek organization will help you to meet more people, but when it comes to sex, you are on your own. Some people I have spoken to think sex is served on a silver platter once you become a member. I have no idea how they got this idea or if they think they are in another world, but realistically, girls do not get turned-on by the fact that you are in a fraternity! Being a “frat-boy” is not the same as being an investment banker!

So what do members of greek organizations do if they don’t drink all day or sleep around? You’d be surprised, but greek organizations are like any other organizations. They elect a board every semester or year which governs the interests of that establishment (a chapter or a colony). They have weekly or bi-weekly meetings in which they discuss plans and events they wish to do or participate in. Usually, at the beginning of the semester, they hold rush events to get new members. While pledging-in new members during the semester, they will have events like mixers (a social event with two or more greek organizations). Mixers are usually between a fraternity and a sorority, but it is not exclusive to that. It can be any combination of fraternities and sororities.

Many organizations do community service throughout the semester. To my knowledge, in my school along with various other schools, greek organizations make up the largest group that does community service. For many of these organizations, community service is part of their agendas and it is easier for them to organize and mobilize for projects.

Parties are without a doubt. Anywhere from house parties to organizing parties at clubs, social fraternities and sororities will attempt to do as many as these as possible. Much of the reason is mainly to have fun, but also to build a reputation as a social organization. Those who throw the best parties, get the most props.

Besides throwing parties, some organize workshops to discuss issues and to brainstorm new ideas. I’ve attended workshops from dealing with hate-crimes, to binge drinking, to cultural workshops, such as making origami. These are all learning experiences and are healthy for any campus.

From personal experience, I really believe that pledging for my fraternity was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Pledging was one of the most challenging obstacles in my life, but from it, I have learned many lessons that are necessary for the outside world. Everyday, I am faced with problems that I can relate to from my pledging days and it has brought me a tremendous amount of experience.

The best thing is the people I have met along the way. I can seriously say that some of the brothers I have met and gotten to know, will most probably be some of my lifelong friends. We have struggled together, worked together, gotten drunk together, road-tripped together, and lived together. Nothing can replace the memories and experiences I had from my fraternity brothers.

I hope that everyone will have a chance to do the same. What is the worst that can happen? You pledge and you cross, only to see that it’s not for you? You didn’t lose anything. You have gained experiences that you cannot find elsewhere and if looking for unique experiences isn’t one of the purposes of life, what is?

Ray Lee is the Halfway Production Manager

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