Personal Experience: How Triangle Changed My Life

Never in a million years did I plan on joining Greek life in college. When I got to school I quickly decided that I wanted to be more involved and help make a difference in people’s lives. I decided to rush a sorority which happened to be Delta Gamma. Delta Gamma has provided me with so many wonderful opportunities to make a difference. When the Whited family reached out to our chapter here at IUP I knew this would be something I would remember doing for years to come. The Whited family came to one of our chapter meetings and we got to meet little Lochlan who touched all of our hearts. I have had so many wonderful opportunities from this organization already and have received such great experience by joining

I learned so much about the things I was capable and not capable to do and about the foundation of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc. The lovely ladies of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc. always made me feel very comfortable to the point that I was able to be myself around them. However, when I tried that with the other sorority members it did not felt the same way. The other sorority made me feel left out and uncomfortable when being around them and that’s something that Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc. did not. Being able to talk one on one, ask for help and talk to the ladies like a regular friend was one of the reason why I chose Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority

When one first thinks of Greek life or a sorority the only thing that comes to mind is the social aspect. Most people don’t think of sororities as social institutions that envelop their own culture, with mannerisms, languages and customs that are unique to each individual organization. However, these institutions promote a common set of values that enable members to become connected in a way that has a more profound meaning than just social interaction. Greek organizations are good examples of how institutions can affect and be affected by social status and roles within the collegiate community. They are also a prime example of how race, class and gender can affect a social setting in both positive and negative manners.

This is also with life, to help the stereotype of greek turn to a good one each the fraternities will have to hold each other accountable. This means competing to be the best fraternity on campus. Instead of competing on who throws the best parties compete to see who can raise the most money, or who can have the most new members. One big competition now on campus is GPA and you can see that it has a positive affect because one of the big selling points when new students come and they are being educated on greek life it is the higher GPA. To make greek life have a good reputation it would have to start small. If every fraternity challenged their members to not be the guy that does one thing and messes it up, and if it does happen to give consequences and make it known that we are better than the decisions one guy

Sororities and fraternities are becoming more influential on college campuses and among the professional world. Over 730 schools across the United States have the Greek life system and there are several different fraternities and sororities on each college campus. Many Americans have extremely different opinions about Greek life as a whole. Although many say it is all about partying, there are many pros and cons to joining Greek life. Greek life can be a very good experience in college, it is whatever people make it.

The Greek communities that have risen across the country have created huge impacts on every university that they have established themselves on. Historically, fraternities were designed for students to discreetly meet to discuss issues and host debates that their members believed would be deemed inappropriate by their collegiate faculties. Since their founding, fraternities and sororities have completely revamped their focuses. They are used as social, professional, and honorary organizations that promote many different combinations of community service, leadership, and academic success. The ideas of brotherhood and sisterhood have also transcended the college experience,

Going into college, I knew that I wanted to join a fraternity, but I was not thoroughly sure which one to choose or which ones stood for what. During the organization fair, the President of Sigma Phi Epsilon showcased his fraternity with all of his statistics about his brothers. They have had the highest G.P.A. four semesters in a row, Chapter of the Year for two consecutive years, and the aspect of Sigma Phi Epsilon that caught my attention was their intramural success- softball in particular. Holding that championship title, I knew at this point that Sigma Phi Epsilon was the right fraternity. The day that I signed my bid was an eventful day for me. Sigma Phi Epsilon continued to impress me at the first official meeting in Claypool-Young

He has been a member since the fall semester of 2014. He said, “It’s always been a life long dream of mine to be a part of a strong brotherhood like Alpha Phi Alpha Inc.” He explained to me throughout the years it has taught him maturity and selflessness. He discussed how he has a family away from family because of his choice to join Alpha Phi Alpha. He described the importance of surrounding yourself with people who have the same goal as you, “I would not have made it this far without my brothers”, said Dewayne. He mentioned they know how to have fun but that is nowhere near their main focus. In order to maintain their social life and their grades they vow to study twice as much as they party. Dewayne feels like the people who stereotype them do not know them and have not spent time at any of their events to get to know

This is my first semester at New Mexico State University and I am over all loving the experience. There aren’t many flaws here at New Mexico State University in my opinion however my proposal will be something that I am currently pretty actively involved in on campus, and that is the Greek life here at New Mexico State University. In just my short time here on campus no other program or organization has stood out or had near the effect Greek life has had on me thus far. Within New Mexico State University you find people in Greek life everywhere you go, we have members in ASNMSU, the president of ASNMSU is a Greek. There are Greeks in almost every organization on campus. You find us working jobs on campus, and no matter where you find one, Greeks play a pretty active role here on campus.

One of the most exciting moments as a Greek was being selected as a recruitment counselor for the Greek community. While it meant having to disassociate myself from my sorority for a period of time, it was a rewarding experience. I was honored that the selection committee thought I exhibited the personal qualities necessary to be a counselor.

Pursuing the dream of obtaining membership into the First Intercollegiate Greek Fraternity for African Americans, Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. is one of very few ultimate goals in my life. An organization that was founded to stimulate the ambitions of its members and prepare them for great usefulness within the community has since become one of the most well respected organizations in America. Over one hundred years later, the pivotal movement in 1906 has spread to over the entire country in different collegiate chapters and cities across America and the impact has been tremendous. To some individuals, I was considered very lucky to be reared in the upbringing I experienced. But in my eyes it was a double edged sword.

During this time, one can find the house they like the most. During rush week, a participant will be put into a group of others on a hunt for the perfect fraternity or sorority Together, the group will go to each house to learn about about it and meet the members. “Rush week was so much fun! That was when I made the most amount of connections” (Glass). At the end of the week each person will pledge to a house, this is called bid day. “Being accepted into the sisterhood is different than any other connection I ever had” (Gormley). Once one belongs to a house they will forever be apart of it. They will be connected to all of the other chapters located around the country and the bonds made with the brothers/ sisters tend to last for a long time (Glass). Even though Greek life promotes making new bonds and lifetime friends it does not warn students of exclusiveness. Sororities and fraternities get the ultimate decision if a student to become a member or not. If the rusher is not what they want, they will not be able to pledge.

Teddy Bommarito comments on the top four reasons why he believes Greek organizations are beneficial to universities and colleges around the nation (n.pag.). His rationale is that fraternities, along with sororities, offer participants with the following benefits: lasting bonds of friendship and networking among members, pleasure and enjoyment, help from older members in the organization, and improving their safety awareness in reference to the dangers of alcohol consumption and driving while under the influence (Bommarito n.pag.). Bommarito also shows how each detail of Greek societies can ultimately help an incoming college freshman in the long run (n.pag.). While fraternities and sororities are frequently affiliated with hazing, binge drinking,

By participating in Greek life, the students’ social circles are expanded. Because sororities and fraternities are specific to gender, religions, races, and even majors, those who participate in Greek life create lifelong relationships with people they choose to associate with by

Some advantages of Greek life are leadership skills, more community involvement, and higher grade point averages. Then there are the negative aspects of Greek life which involve alcohol abuse, hazing, and skipping classes because of binge drinking the night before. Even though there are both negative and positive aspects of Greek life one must also consider that the media blows Greek life out of proportion when discussing negative aspects of Greek life and that there are many programs put in place to help prevent hazing along with alcohol abuse as well. Overall when looking into joining a Greek organization one needs to look at it from all perspectives not just the positive and not just the negative. Just like everything one may be involved in there are positive and negative aspects Greek