I would like to applaud the editorial last week regarding Greek life here on campus. I felt it was insightful and featured some true revelations.
However, I believe the writer overestimates the effect that becoming a member of a fraternity/sorority has on a person. While one’s behavior may change after you are initiated into a Greek letter organization; it is ultimately up to the person whether or not they will let it change them dramatically, not the other way around.
I must say that when I was initiated into Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, it profoundly changed the way I acted. I remember trying to step all over the place soon after probate last spring as if I was the best stepper around (thinking and laughing about it now, it was likely the polar opposite). I remember how it seemed that somehow I had to mention something about my fraternity every sentence. In fact, I must’ve worn my line shirt with the fraternity’s letters on it about ten times in the first three weeks.
But all of that can likely be attributed to the fact that I was a fresh and excited neophyte who was happy about my accomplishment and just proud to show people how much it meant to me. I never rubbed it in people’s faces; I am the same Sean Mitchell as I was before I pledged. I still talk to and attempt to associate with everyone I did before I became a member of the fraternity and I never look at anyone as if they are beneath me because I have letters.
Since I returned to school this fall, it is merely one thing that defines who I am as a person, though no doubt there will be countless people around “The Yard” who will refer to me as “that A-Phi-Q who writes for The Panther,” or “that A-Phi-Q who worked in the writing center.” That is something that has to be accepted once you become a member of an organization but I’m certainly not going to act as if I am at a higher status than someone who is not in an organization.
Do my feelings speak for everybody? Certainly not, I believe the editorial does ring true about some people. There are people who only want to hang out with people in their organization or brother/sister organization, if they have one. But it has been my experience just looking at my organization that we still mainly talk to and hang around everybody we did before we became members of the organization, though obviously we hang around each other a lot more often. “Ditto” for the majority of my sorority sisters in Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority.
Though my experience may be different from others since my organization is smaller than other Greek organizations on campus, I think it portrays a more accurate picture than the stereotype that pledging gives a person an aura of superiority.
The people who do feel this aura are likely in need of a self-esteem boost because they didn’t feel as good about themselves before they crossed and now have something to throw in people’s faces to “prove” they are better. If nothing else, that makes them look worse than before they crossed into the organization.
Another point highlighted in the editorial was that sometimes members of these organizations do things to promote the organization negatively. I respond to this by saying that once again, it is merely a stereotype and that the few people who do represent their colors negatively are a slice in a much larger pie.
I believe most people realize that what they do will not only reflect them, but also their fraternity/sorority ultimately because, as I said, people in them are frequently referred to by the nickname given to a member of that organization (example: “that A-Phi-Q,” “that Alpha,” etc…). I know personally that I have to go about my business the right way because I want other people to look at Alpha Phi Omega in a positive light and consider trying to join us. I believe this feeling is mutual among many, people in my position.
On a final note regarding the point made about organizations strutting at parties, all I can say is that while it may seem rude or that they are hogging the floor, it is a way for a fraternity/sorority to express themselves and have fun. Would you want to spend hours at strut practice to just stand around or dance regularly when you and some of your friends are at a party? Additionally, something we are taught is to never let anyone break your strut line. Something I’ve found out as one organization approached my fraternity brother very negatively for doing so at the very first Hump Day.
While Greeks as a whole should be considered no different than the average student, there are certain practices and principles that have to be approached with respect no matter who you are. A person will, change some after they pledge, but it is ultimately up to them how they will let it affect them and most of the time the amount of change can be exaggerated by some people.