I'm sick of all the back and forth between Greeks and non-Greeks. Personally, I am a non-Greek but I did rush my sophomore year (both I and the sororities reached a mutual decision that we were not for each other). I will admit that I have made my share of anti-Greek comments during my years here at Wofford but usually they were about the stranglehold that Greek organizations seem to have on the social life here at Wofford (something which is not entirely their fault) rather than an attack on the group itself. I've caught alot of flack from both sides of the issue, not being pro-Greek enough for the Greeks or anti-Greek enough for some others. I have always said that I felt Greek life provides an important social outlet for a campus in a town with very little to do, however I also feel that alot of people take their Greek organization far to seriously. My point is this, I think you should do whatever you damn well please as long as it is exactly that, what YOU please. If you truly enjoy the things that sorority or fraternity life provides, please by all means, join one. If you do not, for god sakes don't. I think you should make an informed decision, and not be pressured by others. I think you should weigh your options and be true to yourself. But I think the same thing about all decisions. Don't join a sorority because you are afraid of being unpopular, dont join because your mom and your sister and every female member of your family all belonged to XYZ sorority when they were in school, dont join because your best friend does. However, don't not join a sorority if you want to just because some of your friends say its for rich kids or dumb girls, don't not join because you like to dress a particular way and you are afraid you wont be accepted (you might not but it's worth a shot). Basically, do what you want to do.
Sure, Greek life can get in the way of school, so that's something to think about when making your decision (one of the reasons I decided not to rush as a freshman) but so can lots of other things. Everyone has a hobby or an activity, some people scrapbook, some watch tv or surf the internet, some go to church or join organizations about recycling or human rights, some join Greek life. Ultimately these are all the same, some may seem more worthy than others but in the end they are all just pastimes, things we choose to fill our days and give us a sense of purpose and community in the world. College should be about alot of things, not a just a GPA or an organization or a reputation (though for some I am sure one of those things becomes their whole life). It should be a time of (as corny as it sounds) growth and exploration, so my only concern with anyone else's choices concerning Greek life or lack there of is whether or not their choices are going to allow them the maximum opportunity for choice and exploration that college could offer. But then again, that's for them to worry about, not me.
...Oh, and for heaven's sake, everyone quite bashing each other, Greek's trying to tout the importance of their organization as anything more than a hobby is ridiculous and nieve and non-Greeks talking bad about Greeks but drinking the free beer they provide at the row every weekend (while acting like you are too cool for the whole scene) is pretentious and pathetic. Mind your own business.
I agree. I mean, being non-Greek, I do get tired of the whole "let's promote ourselves in every little things that we do" thing that Greeks have going on. But they don't bash on the non-Greek things that I do.
I mean world hunger, terrorism, Darfur, and we're worried about Greeks vs. Non-Greeks?
It's called the Wofford Bubble.
Posted by: Blair Burke | November 10, 2007 at 10:42 AM