Greek Life

Undergraduate Greeks (students in fraternities and sororities) perform more than 850,000 hours of community service and raise approximately seven million dollars for charities each year. People too often make unfair judgments from stereotypes that fraternity brothers are beer guzzling jocks and sorority sisters are superficial snobs. What better place than Brigham Young University to prove that those negative aspects do not have to be incorporated into Greek life? Fraternities and sororities create bonds and ties that last long after graduation. Greek life promotes service, high expectations, school involvement, leadership, and future professional connections. As director of fraternity and sorority affairs of University of Rochester, Monica Smalls explains,"It's about choices. Some fraternities and sororities - some people - make the right choices, and some make choices they will regret later on." Let the BYU students make a choice to go Greek and create lasting bonds while enhancing their college experience.

Brigham Young University is a prestigious school in which the majority of students continually strive to be the best of the best. Fraternities and sororities give students more opportunities to do this. Greek life provides leadership positions within each chapter and many members also hold leadership positions on campus. Positions such as president and treasurer look impressive on resumes and they set you apart from the other students. All but two presidents of the United States since 1825 (when fraternities and sororities were first established) have been members of fraternities. Their commitment to Greek life by maintaining high GPA’s and holding difficult and demanding leadership positions has helped these men achieve the unimaginable. Students involved in Greek life can also be involved in other clubs that interest them and are encouraged to. However, they will not gain the same connections and will not benefit as much by only being involved in clubs provided at BYU. Fraternities and sororities have members interested in different majors and involved in different clubs which builds students’ networks and provides countless opportunities in countless fields. The doors that will be opened to students in fraternities and sororities will help them exceed in college and later in a profession. Greek life also provides many service opportunities for its members. Brigham Young University puts emphasis on serving and sororities and fraternities would increase opportunities which also help students succeed. Members of sororities and fraternities will benefit from doing service and the majority graduated Greek life students continue to serve others even after college.

Fraternities and sororities have the stereotype of being organizations that promote drinking and immoral behavior. However, cheerleaders have a similar stereotype.. Does this mean that Brigham Young University shouldn’t have cheerleaders? No, because BYU is a school based on morals and standards that carry into all clubs and organizations at this school. This too would be true with fraternities and sororities. The students who choose to come to BYU know that they must sign the honor code and abide by it. It comes down to individuals and their choice whether to obey those rules or not. Whether a Greek life exists at BYU or not, some students will break the rules and others will follow them. Having fraternities and sororities will not increase misconduct on campus. Instead we can look at this organization as being a support group that encourages each member to abide by the honor code. Having a “family” of close friends constantly being exemplars of righteous people will make it hard for students to go of the strait and narrow path. The backbone of these organizations will still be high standards while also promoting beneficial functions such as service projects and mixers. BYU is a place where students from around the world strive to be the best. We need to give the students a chance to prove that having Greek life (where everyone doubts the students’ ability to uphold high standards) will be beneficial to Brigham Young University.

Students leave their families, friends, home, and everything they are familiar with to go to college. The transition can be extremely difficult and lonely, but fraternities and sororities can make it much easier. During rush week, students become familiar will all of the different fraternities and sororities and what the members are like and what they focus their charity and service hours on. Students can see which organization they would best fit into and most relate to. Brigham Young University provides Freshman Academy that gives students a sense of security and the same students in their classes that they can study with and become friends with. However, because sororities and fraternities focus on having individuals with many similarities, each house often acts as a family. Freshman Academy is good for study groups and class purposes but strong ties and relationships are not typically formed from it. Greek life creates a home away from home. Students love being around their “brothers” and “sisters” and create lasting bonds with them. Strong friendships make college easier and a lot more enjoyable. Creating strong relationships is an important aspect of life that Greek life provides. This organization also helps students mingle. Students are encouraged to participate in intramural sports and attend school functions. Sororities and fraternities also have mixers and fun events that give students the opportunity to have fun and meet members of other “houses.” Relieving stress from college and giving students opportunities to love their social lives is important. Greek life gives students the social life they need with the friends they have always wanted while still pushing for excellence.

Despite the stereotype of Greek life, fraternities and sororities enhance the college experience for students. They push students to achieve more and participate in service. Students are expected and required to maintain good grades while holding leadership positions that will help them grow. Fraternities and sororities create special friendships that last and give students a home away from home. Greek life will provide students with connections that will benefit them and their families long after college. Brigham Young University is the perfect school to show the world that the honor code can too be upheld in Greek life and that the students will contain to be the best of the best.