March 3, 2006

War of the Words: Going Greek

By JAKOB KANE LOUKAS
jkl001@marietta.edu

I am Alpha Tau Omega.  I am part of its legacy, brotherhood, and traditions.  I have more than a group of friends; I have brothers.

All of the Greek organizations on campus have rich histories and traditions.  They encompass a diverse range of people, and each fraternity and sorority has a unique character.  There is a house that will fit any personality, and each house shapes the character its members. 

Greeks take pride in their institutions and in themselves.  When you act as a representative of your brothers and sisters, you have an obligation to represent yourself well.  Greeks learn to take pride in themselves and support each other unconditionally.

Students who join a Greek community leave Marietta as better people because of it.

The benefits far outweigh the sacrifices.  Though it can be expensive (still a pittance compared to tuition), it is an investment in yourself.  The time commitment can be a concern for athletes and others, but it is time spent with friends.  Greek life is an opportunity for new experiences: taking a leadership role or serving the college and the community.

Greek life is a decision that builds a wonderful and memorable college experience. As a Greek, you represent an institution greater than yourself, you have a group of friends who will support you and give you memories for the rest of your life, and when you bear your letters, you can take each step with an extra swagger of pride.

By KATIE SCHWENDEMAN
kjs001@marietta.edu

What are the merits of going Greek? Hmmm...that's a tough question. Well, of course, there's always the thrill of belonging to a group. Greek organizations are great, I'm not dissing them, but for the sake of the argument, there are some downfalls of going Greek. Putting myself into a hypothetical situation, let's see what it would be like for me to go Greek:

1. Commitment. I am taking six classes, have three work-study jobs, and am involved in the music department of my church....how am I going to find time to meet with my sorority or other Greek organization? Answer: I won't. Greek organizations take up a lot of time. This is time well spent, I'm sure, but nevertheless, for people like me who have a heavy load, it's not feasible to join these organizations. This can be a serious downfall if you really want to join one.

2. Camaraderie. Yes, going Greek would help me create new social networks, but would it become too exclusive? Perhaps. If I was spending every waking minute with my “girls,” I doubt I’d have much time to meet other people who weren’t Greek. If this was the case, there might numerous people I might not meet, which would be very sad indeed.

3. Reputation. I'm not going to comment on this one. First of all, because I don't even know what the reputation is, and second of all, because if I did and it wasn't good I might be taken out into the middle of town and beaten with wiffle bats. So, I'll let you decide this one. Take a minute and sit and ponder...(it helps to put yourself in a lotus position and hum.)