When I started college, I swore I would never join a sorority. I'd fallen into the trap of believing everything I'd heard, from hazing horror stories to the high cost of being part of these groups. Besides, I wasn't sorority material. I'd never been the popular girl, nor was I even the pretty one. Yes, I went to college with a great many judgments, but sorority and fraternity life had never been portrayed to me as anything but a big party that only those higher up on the social ladder were a part of.
In my first year of college, I found out that I wasn't completely right about the whole thing. As a founding member of my own sorority, I was given the chance to mingle with other Greek organizations on my small college campus as well as sororities from other colleges in the state. What I found was quite surprising to me. Fraternities and sororities weren't all bad. Granted, there were a few stereotypes that were met quite well. They did throw some good parties after all. But my predetermined impression was all but shattered and I spent my college career reaping the benefits of being in a sorority.
To any parent worried about their student joining a fraternity or a sorority, or to any college student unsure if a Greek organization is for them, the following is a list of the positive benefits of joining. You won't see these on a movie or a reality show, but they are just as real and can make for a great college experience.
So you've made the decision to rush. Depending on the Greek System at your college, that might mean meeting hundreds of girls in anywhere from four to twenty-four sororities. No, you won't remember everyone's name. Yes, you will be torn between a couple of sororities. And possibly, you might not get asked back by your first choice. Take a deep breath, be true to who you are, and remember, there is life after rush.
One of the highlights of crossing into a fraternity or sorority is gifts. After all the hard work, you finally get to show off the organization that you labored to enter. The gifts become a part of you and your experience.
Out of all the gift that you could receive, the one of the most popular ones is a paddle. Wikipedia says that paddles are "commonly exchanged between 'little Brothers' to 'Big Brothers,' or as a gift from 'little Sister's' to their 'big Sisters'. It is a symbol of their induction to the sorority or fraternity." You honestly can't go work with presenting someone a paddle of a gift in this situation. They make great gifts, especially for deans. A common practice is for an entire line a line is the group of people that the dean brings into the organization. People how have been deans numerous times usually have paddles from the various lines they've brought in. Paddles are really fun to make and are also very easy to make.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Horror Stories
On almost every college throughout the United States, students have joined fraternities and sororities. However, recent horror stories in the news have frightened students and scared them away from joining a campus' Greek life. A recent story was brought up by every major news outlet in the country in which a guy in a fraternity at Rider University died after drinking half a bottom of vodka during a pledging event. Other horror stories emerged in Long Island of people viciously hazed in order to gain acceptance into the fraternity. Sorority girls have been no exception as they have been known to circle the fat on a girl's body and order her to lose weight if she intends on joining their sorority. While I admit that these events and stories are tragically true, Greek life does have a side that most people never see- the fundraising, community service and campus unity that Greek life represents.
Most fraternities and sororities are known for hosting charity events. In the Northeast region, members of a fraternity chapter in Syracuse, Albany and Binghamton took turns moving a keg across the region in a marathon. The money raised from the event went to the family members of a former fraternity brother who died fighting for his country in the Iraqi War. The noble charity event caught national attention and the charity event was able to raise a lot of money for the fallen soldier's family.
Another charity fundraising event on the Syracuse campus involved a pudding wrestling competition between girls and guys. The money used from the entrance fee of the participants and viewers went towards a cancer foundation. The event was a huge success as more than a hundred people came to participate in the fun and exciting event that the fraternity had.
Reasons to join a sorority are many. If you are the only one of your high school friends attending your college, it might be a good idea. The Greek System is a great way to meet new friends and find your niche so to speak. If you are a born leader, joining a sorority is a great way to shine and continue to build your leadership skills. At a lot of schools, entry into other high-profile campus organizations is paved by connections in the Greek System. While campus officials and non-Greeks don't like to admit it, there's a lot more exposure and opportunity for Greeks. While that exposure, as you've probably seen on the news, is not always positive, no publicity is bad publicity right? Leadership opportunities abound within the sorority as well. Depending on the size of the sisterhood, there might be anywhere from six to twenty elected executive board positions every year. These can range from President to Rush Chair to Alumni Relations to Panhellenic representative. If you enjoy sports, a lot of sororities participate in intramural leagues on campus. It is important to get involved in college so that you are well prepared for the outside world. Don't ever take for granted the opportunities that you can get through college.
Most fraternities and sororities are known for hosting charity events. In the Northeast region, members of a fraternity chapter in Syracuse, Albany and Binghamton took turns moving a keg across the region in a marathon. The money raised from the event went to the family members of a former fraternity brother who died fighting for his country in the Iraqi War. The noble charity event caught national attention and the charity event was able to raise a lot of money for the fallen soldier's family.
Another charity fundraising event on the Syracuse campus involved a pudding wrestling competition between girls and guys. The money used from the entrance fee of the participants and viewers went towards a cancer foundation. The event was a huge success as more than a hundred people came to participate in the fun and exciting event that the fraternity had.
Reasons to join a sorority are many. If you are the only one of your high school friends attending your college, it might be a good idea. The Greek System is a great way to meet new friends and find your niche so to speak. If you are a born leader, joining a sorority is a great way to shine and continue to build your leadership skills. At a lot of schools, entry into other high-profile campus organizations is paved by connections in the Greek System. While campus officials and non-Greeks don't like to admit it, there's a lot more exposure and opportunity for Greeks. While that exposure, as you've probably seen on the news, is not always positive, no publicity is bad publicity right? Leadership opportunities abound within the sorority as well. Depending on the size of the sisterhood, there might be anywhere from six to twenty elected executive board positions every year. These can range from President to Rush Chair to Alumni Relations to Panhellenic representative. If you enjoy sports, a lot of sororities participate in intramural leagues on campus. It is important to get involved in college so that you are well prepared for the outside world. Don't ever take for granted the opportunities that you can get through college.
Greek Honors Society
Sororities aren't just about partying.
Scholarships
Every semester, graduating seniors who have a 3.5 grade point average or higher and second semester juniors who have 3.65 GPA or higher receive an invitation to be initiated into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. This year, Phi Kappa Phi chapter received a 50-year honor society award. To continue to have the honor society, the top 10 percent of students at the school should maintain a 3.5 GPA or above, said Gus Lease, the SJSU chapter president. Phi Kappa Phi honor society in 1954 with Fresno State University, Lease said.
Phi Kappa Phi is one of many recognized honor societies in the nation, and it has existed for more than 100 years, Lease said. SJSU joined the honor society early in comparison to the other institutions, Lease said. We're Chapter 67 in the national society, and today they have almost 300 chapters. Lease said he wants students to understand what a privilege it is to be in Phi Kappa Phi. About 800 Phi Kappa Phi invitations are sent every year to students with a 3.5 GPA or higher, however, only some students are initiated.
A lot of them don't want to take the time to fill out an application. When Stacey Ruesch, a senior photojournalism major, received a Phi Kappa Phi invitation, she said she lost the paperwork and didn't apply for membership. However, Ruesch had an opportunity to meet with Lease, and he recommended that Ruesch apply for the $2,000 fellowship from the SJSU chapter.
Before she joined the honor society, Ruesch said, she thought, I'm not going to get a scholarship, that will never happen to me, but I did." Although Ruesch has a college fund, she said because of an economic crisis, she had a little difficulty paying tuition. "But now I have a scholarship, and that helps me a lot, Ruesch said. Ruesch is the only local student who received a $2,000 chapter fellowship last semester.
Even though some students have a GPA higher than 3.5, they may not receive the invitation, Lease said. If this happens, Lease said, students shouldn't hesitate to ask to join the honor society. Having proof that students were in the top 10 percent of students in the university is very honorable, Lease said. Even though students worked hard during their school years, if their effort isn't recognized, Lease asked, Who else will honor you?
The honor society isn't only for students, but also for outstanding faculty and community members, Lease said. They are recommended by other faculty members. Each year we will invite three-to-five faculty members, but they have to be recommended and voted on to membership, he said.
Head football coach Fitz Hill was invited to join Phi Kappa Phi this March.
I was very honored, Hill said. It has been always very important to me combining athletic and academic. It is great combination of teaching students about life to let them know that you can do both.
Lease said, "Everybody likes to be honored." He said he can't find anybody in any field who doesn't want to be honored. Lease, a lecturer and an emeritus chair of the school of music and dance, has been teaching at SJSU for 55 years. Exactly 30 years ago, Lease was the president of the chapter, and last year he was re-elected as president.
He is a very unique individual and fun to be around. It's been great thanks to Phi Kappa Phi (of ) San Jose State. It was very fortunate he felt I was a qualified to receive such a distinguished award. Hill said. Once a student becomes a member, they have several scholarship opportunities.
Some are offered the opportunities to study abroad and fellowship in both local and national chapters, Lease said. Local chapters give $2,000 awards for second-semester juniors such as the one Ruesch received, however, students are expected to come back to study at SJSU. National chapters also give $5,000 awards for graduating seniors who will continue their education at graduate schools, Lease said. Learning doesn't stop when people finish their college studies, Hill said. Learning is a long-term continuation. Hard work, studying and persistence" are the keys to learning, Lease said. Lease said he is very proud of SJSU to have a 50-year honor society award. He said, It's wonderful that we here at San Jose State can honor students for 50 years for academic achievement.
Scholarships
Every semester, graduating seniors who have a 3.5 grade point average or higher and second semester juniors who have 3.65 GPA or higher receive an invitation to be initiated into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. This year, Phi Kappa Phi chapter received a 50-year honor society award. To continue to have the honor society, the top 10 percent of students at the school should maintain a 3.5 GPA or above, said Gus Lease, the SJSU chapter president. Phi Kappa Phi honor society in 1954 with Fresno State University, Lease said.
Phi Kappa Phi is one of many recognized honor societies in the nation, and it has existed for more than 100 years, Lease said. SJSU joined the honor society early in comparison to the other institutions, Lease said. We're Chapter 67 in the national society, and today they have almost 300 chapters. Lease said he wants students to understand what a privilege it is to be in Phi Kappa Phi. About 800 Phi Kappa Phi invitations are sent every year to students with a 3.5 GPA or higher, however, only some students are initiated.
A lot of them don't want to take the time to fill out an application. When Stacey Ruesch, a senior photojournalism major, received a Phi Kappa Phi invitation, she said she lost the paperwork and didn't apply for membership. However, Ruesch had an opportunity to meet with Lease, and he recommended that Ruesch apply for the $2,000 fellowship from the SJSU chapter.
Before she joined the honor society, Ruesch said, she thought, I'm not going to get a scholarship, that will never happen to me, but I did." Although Ruesch has a college fund, she said because of an economic crisis, she had a little difficulty paying tuition. "But now I have a scholarship, and that helps me a lot, Ruesch said. Ruesch is the only local student who received a $2,000 chapter fellowship last semester.
Even though some students have a GPA higher than 3.5, they may not receive the invitation, Lease said. If this happens, Lease said, students shouldn't hesitate to ask to join the honor society. Having proof that students were in the top 10 percent of students in the university is very honorable, Lease said. Even though students worked hard during their school years, if their effort isn't recognized, Lease asked, Who else will honor you?
The honor society isn't only for students, but also for outstanding faculty and community members, Lease said. They are recommended by other faculty members. Each year we will invite three-to-five faculty members, but they have to be recommended and voted on to membership, he said.
Head football coach Fitz Hill was invited to join Phi Kappa Phi this March.
I was very honored, Hill said. It has been always very important to me combining athletic and academic. It is great combination of teaching students about life to let them know that you can do both.
Lease said, "Everybody likes to be honored." He said he can't find anybody in any field who doesn't want to be honored. Lease, a lecturer and an emeritus chair of the school of music and dance, has been teaching at SJSU for 55 years. Exactly 30 years ago, Lease was the president of the chapter, and last year he was re-elected as president.
He is a very unique individual and fun to be around. It's been great thanks to Phi Kappa Phi (of ) San Jose State. It was very fortunate he felt I was a qualified to receive such a distinguished award. Hill said. Once a student becomes a member, they have several scholarship opportunities.
Some are offered the opportunities to study abroad and fellowship in both local and national chapters, Lease said. Local chapters give $2,000 awards for second-semester juniors such as the one Ruesch received, however, students are expected to come back to study at SJSU. National chapters also give $5,000 awards for graduating seniors who will continue their education at graduate schools, Lease said. Learning doesn't stop when people finish their college studies, Hill said. Learning is a long-term continuation. Hard work, studying and persistence" are the keys to learning, Lease said. Lease said he is very proud of SJSU to have a 50-year honor society award. He said, It's wonderful that we here at San Jose State can honor students for 50 years for academic achievement.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Advantages of Holding a Position
Now that I have talked about some of the basic disadvantages of holding a position in the sorority house, I will talk about some of the major advantages as well. One of major advantages of holding a position in the sorority house is that it makes you a more mature, responsible person. How many people do you know can go through college saying they were responsible for taking care of 45+ chapter members by listening to all of their problems and dealing with them, taking care of all of the events, scheduling things, and talking with other sororities about planning and deciding events? This is definitely something that will make you a more rounded and mature person whether you like it or not; it will definitely help you enter into the real world when you leave college.
Holding a position in the sorority house will also keep you on your toes at all times. When I say this, I mean that holding a position will make you be ready for anything. You never know when a problem will come about with a girl that you have to figure out how to handle, or issues among your chapter with other chapters are happening. Holding a position will make you be ready to make decisions right away. This is a great advantage of holding a position; knowing how and when to make decisions quickly. I have seen this many times in my own sorority and have been impressed by the chapter members who do this.
It is obvious that holding a position is good for your resume. I have been to multiple interviews now, and almost 99% of my interviewers ask me when I have demonstrated leadership. If you hold a position, this is a great way to expand on your leadership abilities and it look so good to employers. Who knows, you just may get the job you want because you were responsible and help a position in your sorority house!
Another advantage of holding a position is that you are in charge. A lot of people like to be in charge. When you hold a position, you tell everyone else what to do, not vice-versa. This will make you very stern but in a good way. You will be seen as a role model by the members in your sorority, especially by the new chapter members who just join. They will look up to you and if you do a good job, they will want to follow in your footsteps.
Another huge advantage of holding a position is that you get your own room in the sorority house. You do not have to share with anyone! This would be great because when I lived in the sorority house I had to share a very small room with two girls. Although it was nice to have their company, I would have liked to have my own room at times.
These are only some of the advantages to holding a position in a sorority house. Some people might say the advantages are endless, but I wanted to give you a few major ones that I thought you would like to know about.
Holding a position in the sorority house will also keep you on your toes at all times. When I say this, I mean that holding a position will make you be ready for anything. You never know when a problem will come about with a girl that you have to figure out how to handle, or issues among your chapter with other chapters are happening. Holding a position will make you be ready to make decisions right away. This is a great advantage of holding a position; knowing how and when to make decisions quickly. I have seen this many times in my own sorority and have been impressed by the chapter members who do this.
It is obvious that holding a position is good for your resume. I have been to multiple interviews now, and almost 99% of my interviewers ask me when I have demonstrated leadership. If you hold a position, this is a great way to expand on your leadership abilities and it look so good to employers. Who knows, you just may get the job you want because you were responsible and help a position in your sorority house!
Another advantage of holding a position is that you are in charge. A lot of people like to be in charge. When you hold a position, you tell everyone else what to do, not vice-versa. This will make you very stern but in a good way. You will be seen as a role model by the members in your sorority, especially by the new chapter members who just join. They will look up to you and if you do a good job, they will want to follow in your footsteps.
Another huge advantage of holding a position is that you get your own room in the sorority house. You do not have to share with anyone! This would be great because when I lived in the sorority house I had to share a very small room with two girls. Although it was nice to have their company, I would have liked to have my own room at times.
These are only some of the advantages to holding a position in a sorority house. Some people might say the advantages are endless, but I wanted to give you a few major ones that I thought you would like to know about.
Disadvantages of Holding a Position
Even though it may seem like there could only be advantages to holding a position in a sorority house, there are a lot of disadvantages that most people do not think of when they take up the responsibility of holding a position. First of all, holding a position is a major responsibility. It can make you feel like you have a lot on your shoulders and stress you out. I know a lot of girls in my sorority that hold positions and are extremely stressed out because they have so much to take care of all of the time. This isn’t how you should feel in your sorority; it should be a stress free environment all of the time.
Another disadvantage to holding a position in the sorority is that you have to live in the sorority house when you hold the position. Many people may not see this as a disadvantage because they like living in the sorority house, but for an older member, they might not like this because they would probably want to get their own apartment. What senior do you know would want to live with a bunch of new members just to hold a position in the house? Probably not many. This is why it is important to think about taking a position before you actually do; you should not rush into it without thinking because if you do you might regret it.
Holding a position is also very time consuming. Whoever takes on a position must be ready to give up their free time. This can conflict with school work and your social life, which will not be the best thing if you like to party and have time to relax by yourself. I know personally that I need time to relax and I like to go out so this would probably not be something I would be interested in. I am also very conscious about my grades so I would not like it if I started doing bad in school. This is just personal, some girls are able to balance their school and sorority work very well.
You also have to watch what you do at all times. Remember, when you hold a position you are representing your whole sorority house. The president has this the worst because everyone knows who she is not only in her sorority but in other sororities as well; she is responsible for talking to other sorority presidents about events, etc. If a problem arises, the president is the first person a member will go to. She needs to be someone that is respectful and trustworthy. My president was someone I always felt comfortable talking to and she represented our sorority well.
These are only a few of the disadvantages that can go along with holding a position. However, as I stated above, not everyone will see these things as disadvantages; some people may actually see these as advantages. I am just telling you these as a personal perspective of how I feel about them.
Another disadvantage to holding a position in the sorority is that you have to live in the sorority house when you hold the position. Many people may not see this as a disadvantage because they like living in the sorority house, but for an older member, they might not like this because they would probably want to get their own apartment. What senior do you know would want to live with a bunch of new members just to hold a position in the house? Probably not many. This is why it is important to think about taking a position before you actually do; you should not rush into it without thinking because if you do you might regret it.
Holding a position is also very time consuming. Whoever takes on a position must be ready to give up their free time. This can conflict with school work and your social life, which will not be the best thing if you like to party and have time to relax by yourself. I know personally that I need time to relax and I like to go out so this would probably not be something I would be interested in. I am also very conscious about my grades so I would not like it if I started doing bad in school. This is just personal, some girls are able to balance their school and sorority work very well.
You also have to watch what you do at all times. Remember, when you hold a position you are representing your whole sorority house. The president has this the worst because everyone knows who she is not only in her sorority but in other sororities as well; she is responsible for talking to other sorority presidents about events, etc. If a problem arises, the president is the first person a member will go to. She needs to be someone that is respectful and trustworthy. My president was someone I always felt comfortable talking to and she represented our sorority well.
These are only a few of the disadvantages that can go along with holding a position. However, as I stated above, not everyone will see these things as disadvantages; some people may actually see these as advantages. I am just telling you these as a personal perspective of how I feel about them.
Holding a Position
Positions
There are many positions that you can hold in your sorority. The first and more important position is the President. The president is responsible for basically everything. Even though this sounds like a lot of work, it is actually really smart because you get the most recognition and everyone looks up to you. I thought about running for president, but then I realized how hard it would be. However, it does look really good on your resume when you graduate college. The president in my sorority barely goes out because she has so many responsibilities. It is also important to remember that when you are president of your sorority, you are representing your whole chapter. You can not do things that would make your chapter look bad because it reflects on each and every member. The president is in charge of scheduling all events, taking care of all of the problems in the sorority and is basically like a mom to all of the girls. She is definitely someone you can look up to. If i could go back to when I first joined the sorority, I would think more about being the president because it shows definite leadership skills that employers are looking for.
Vice President of Recruitment
Vice President of Recruitment is also another position that can be held. This is actually a very fun position because you get to take care of recruitment. However, it is a ton of work and requires a great amount of flexibility. VP of recruitment is fun because you get to know all of the secrets of recruitment and are basically a teacher to all of the girls in the sorority. If there was one position I thought about doing right away, it was VP of recruitment. My friend does it now, and likes it because it is fun and she gets to recruit new members, but it is a lot of work and is very tiring.
Vice President of New Member Education
This is also a very fun position that can be held. When you are the vice president of new member education, you are responsible for teaching the new members everything they need to know. You also plan events for them, help them with any problems and are their educator. This position is fun because it allows you to meet the new girls. I remember when I was a new member; I knew the vice president of new education the most because she was with us the most out of anyone.
Treasurer
Being treasurer is also another position that can be held. Personally, I would never want to hold this position. It is very complicated and takes a lot of responsibility. You have to be very careful you do not mess anything up and if girls get mad about money or something that went wrong, you are the one that they will yell at. It can be very nerve wracking and whoever takes this position deserves a lot of respect.
Secretary
This is one of the last positions that can also be held. The secretary is responsible for taking notes at chapter and for e-mailing girls about fines and sending them outlines of what will be covered during chapter meetings.
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