Going Greek?

Going Greek?

You’re a new student at Cal State Fullerton, and you’re looking to get that timeless college experience that you’re supposed to have. You see guys and girls alike at booths along Titan Walk asking you if you ever thought about going Greek. But wait, frats are lame, all your friends have already warned you about how Greeks are just about drinking and partying. So you walk away from the offer, because you’re above that lifestyle. But do you really find a good alternative to the Greek experience? You’d like to think so, but the fact is you don’t know because you never actually took the chance to experience it for yourself.

I, myself am an alumni of Pi Kappa Phi, and having lived in the fraternity house for 3+ years in which I literally consumed the experience that is Greek life, I feel I am as qualified as anyone to take on this taboo topic.

You see the issue of Greek life is rather controversial on this campus, and in this office in particular. But I feel its time I set the record straight on the issue of rushing and recruiting at CSUF.

Let’s start at the beginning, what are you looking to get out of college? Education? Sure, but you want to meet people, you want to make friends and you want to live. There is a lot more we can get out of college than by just attending our respective classes, and if you don’t think so you are flat out missing out on a huge aspect of your youth.

The best word that sums up what you can get out of going Greek is opportunity. That’s really what being in a fraternity or sorority provides: The opportunity to meet all kinds of people, to have countless memorable nights, to become a better person.

When I first came to Fullerton I knew nobody, I mean I actually lived in a studio apartment by myself; I was a loner. Today I can’t walk from one part of campus to the other without seeing at least one person I know, and sometimes a walk through campus feels like a reunion; on Monday alone I must have run into over 30 friends of mine.

Maybe you already have a good group of friends? Bring them along for the ride, rush together, you will watch your friendship grow into a bond stronger than you ever thought possible.

Greek life gives you the opportunity to be a leader, and to take on roles and responsibilities you never would’ve foreseen yourself taking on. I’ve seen some of the most timid people burst out of their shells through consistent social opportunities, myself included.

What about the stereotypes? First, recognize that you are your own person, you make your own judgments and decisions based on what YOU see and hear, not what people tell you.

Rather than trying to find stereotypical traits in Greek students, try searching for the unique and original qualities in them. I promise it won’t be hard to find, and you might just be blown away by the variety in personalities you come across.

Maybe you’ll find someone in your class that you can study with, someone with the same major who you can network with, someone who shares your crazy taste in music, someone who works in the same field or job as you, the possibilities are endless.

Think about how often you see a person wearing Greek letters, and then think about the fact that only some 2% of the students at CSUF are actually Greek. No group has the presence on campus like Greeks do.

If you still have doubts I have one piece of advice for you: try it. Maybe it’s not for you, you can always drop, at least you gave it a shot and saw firsthand what it’s about. I’ve known many people who fall under this category and none of them ever regretted the experience, brief as it may have been.

I’m not stamping a guarantee of satisfaction on the CSUF Greek system, but it’s definitely worth a look.

As I said in my introductory column, I can only speak one person’s voice, well in my opinion, going Greek was the best decision I’ve made in college. But don’t do it because I said it, be your own person and find out for yourself.