--Megan L. Padua

 Most of all students come to college to become educated and to succeed in life, but some find different ways to get through the whole college experience. In my project I decided to collect data to see how the “Greeks” not only get educated, but to see how active they are on campus.

My freshman year by Rebekah Nathan:  (page. 48) I found that students' greatest objections to the Greek system were its steep demands-that it required so much time ( I can‘t, give up that many nights a week to one organization") and so many resources ("Why should I pay all that money to a fraternity to have friends when I can make friends for free.  Yet, the one AnyU student in ten who did join a fraternity or sorority was, according to 2003 surveys conducted by the Office of Student Life, much less likely to drop out of school and much more likely to report the highest level of satisfaction with campus life. My thoughts of Greek life:  Most of this passage is nothing, but stereotype. I do think that the students who join fraternity or sorority are less likely to drop out, but I disagree when it says that “your paying to make friends.” Greek life is not for everybody, it has more to it than to just socialize and party. It may require a lot of time, but that’s why the people who join it are the ones who want to have a dedication to something that means something to them.  Most of the Greeks that I interviewed talked about how they love their sorority/ fraternity because they like helping the community out. Some of them said that they love Greek life because of how organized and responsible they have became. Everyone had different reason of why they love the “Greek life”, but they all gave me positive feedback.

 Are the Greeks obtaining to many responsibilities that they cannot handle, that they are not getting enough rest, and that it’s interfering with school work?

 I interviewed four people (males and females) that were Greeks to know more about sororities and fraternities.  I also looked at their schedules to see how much more time they spend compare to those students that are not Greeks.  I also took pictures of their rooms to see how clean they kept their rooms.

 To be a part of a sister or brother hood  Community service  Commitment  Dedication  To be more social  Party

 After interviewing Greeks: I noticed how hard of a topic “Greek life” was because each Greek that I interviewed was not trying to give to much information, but they was still trying to answer the question with as much information as possible. They all took quite a while to answer each question I asked. Some of them gave me Yes or No as an answer, but did not explain themselves to me. One of the students that I interviewed went to their chapter online page to make sure she was giving the correct information. You could tell how much it meant to her to be in sorority and it also showed her commitment.

1. Do you think you joined in a sorority/ fraternity to gain friends? No 2. How has it changed your life? I became more organized, responsible, and appreciative. 3. What type of activities or community service do your sorority/ fraternity do? We raise awareness of political, educational, cultural, and social issues by hosting programs. We also cook at the CCM house for dollar dinners, and volunteer at places such as the women resource center. 4. What is the main thing you like about it? I love what we stand for, wisdom through education. 5. Do you think being in Greek life interferes with your school work? It can at times because I have a lot of responsibilities since I’m the vice-president of my chapter. 6. Now that you’re a Greek, what is one myth that you now know is not true? It’s not all about partying and socializing, there’s a greater business aspect. 7. What does your sorority/ fraternity stands for? Wisdom through education. 8. Is your sorority/ fraternity national or local? National

1. Do you think you joined in a sorority/ fraternity to gain friends? Yes, and to get to meet different people. 2. How has it changed your life? It had made me more reliable and organized with my school work. 3. What type of activities or community service do your sorority/ fraternity do? We have plenty of different community service, like bowl for kids, coin drops, and breast cancer walk. 4. What is the main thing you like about it? I like that I get to network a lot and I also get to experience new things. 5. Do you think being in Greek life interferes with your school work? No, it actually helped me be more organized. 6. Now that you’re a Greek, what is one myth that you now know is not true? Hazing is a myth. 7. What does your sorority/ fraternity stands for? My sorority stands for first and forever, our mission is to be sisters forever and help our community. 8. Is your sorority/ fraternity national or local? Local

1. Do you think you joined in a sorority/ fraternity to gain friends? No 2. How has it changed your life? My motivation has became stronger. 3. What type of activities or community service do your sorority/ fraternity do? Coaching basketball and community help. 4. What is the main thing you like about it? Helping people have a better life. 5. Do you think being in Greek life interferes with your school work? No 6. Now that you’re a Greek, what is one myth that you now know is not true? Greek life is not a whole new world. 7. What does your sorority/ fraternity stands for? Achievement 8. Is your sorority/ fraternity national or local? National

1. Do you think you joined in a sorority/ fraternity to gain friends? No, for networking. 2. How has it changed your life? I became more responsible and more active on campus. 3. What type of activities or community service do your sorority/ fraternity do? I’m a CA and community assistant, and also do community service for the university. 4. What is the main thing you like about it? I like how active I became and that it’s all for a good cause. 5. Do you think being in Greek life interferes with your school work? No, if anything it makes you more organized and responsible. 6. Now that you’re a Greek, what is one myth that you now know is not true? That the students who are Greek are not stuck up. 7. What does your sorority/ fraternity stands for? Achievement 8. Is your sorority/ fraternity national or local? National

Student #1 6:45 AM: Wake up 6:45- 7:40 AM: Shower & get ready 7:40- 7:50 AM: Breakfast 8:00AM- 1:00PM: Classes 1:00- 2:00PM: Work 2:00- 3:30PM: Eat lunch 3:30- 4:30PM: Volunteer work 4:30- 6:00PM: Relax 6:00- 7:00PM: Dinner 7:00- 9:30PM: Homework 9:30- 10:00PM: Shower 10:00- 12:00AM: Watch tv 12:00AM: Go to sleep Student #2 9:30AM: Wake up 9:30- 9:45AM: Breakfast 9:45- 10:45AM: Shower & get ready 11:00AM- 3:00PM: Classes 3:00- 4:00PM: Community service 4:00- 6:00PM: Work 6:00- 7:00PM: Dinner 7:00- 9:00PM: Homework 9:00- 11:30PM: Watch tv 11:30PM: Go to bed Student #3 8:30AM: Wake up 8:30- 9:30AM: get ready 9:30- 9:45AM: Breakfast 10:00- 11:00AM: Volunteer work 11:00- 3:15PM: Classes 3:30- 5:00PM: Homework 5:00- 6:30PM: Dinner 7:00- 8:00PM: Relax 8:00- 8:30PM: Shower 9:00- 10:00PM: Study 10:00- 12:00AM: Watch tv 12:00AM: Go to bed Student #4 7:00AM: Wake up 8:00AM: Breakfast 9:00- 9:50AM: Class 10:00- 1:00PM: Work 1st job 1:00- 1:50PM: Class 2:00- 4:30PM: Volunteer work 5:00- 9:30PM: Work 2nd job 9:45- 10:30PM: Shower & relax 10:30- 2:00AM: Homework 2:00AM: Go to bed

Findings As you can see many of them may not have time to clean their room because of their busy schedule not only because they are Greeks, but because most of them also have jobs. They are out the house 10Am the latest and come back at night time.

As you can notice my room compare to the students that are Greeks was kept clean, but the reasoning for that is that I have more free time compare to them. 8:30AM: Wake up 8:30- 9:30AM: Shower & get ready 9:30- 9:45AM: Breakfast 10:00- 12:50PM: Classes 1:00- 1:45PM: Break 2:00- 3:15PM: Last class 3:30- 5:00PM: Homework 5:00- 6:30PM: Dinner 7:00- 8:00PM: Gym 8:00- 8:30PM: Shower 9:00- 10:00PM: Study 10:00- 12:00AM: Watch tv 12:00AM: Go to bed Greeks compare to any other college student will both have a busy schedule, but Greeks will dedicate more of their time to their sorority/ fraternity to do some volunteer work

Many students will find that “Greek life” is not for them. Some may think that it’s to demanding and just a way to make friends by paying a lot of money, but these organizations are just very traditional. The students in Greek life deserve more of our support. Living with people that are “Greeks” makes me realize how much dedication and commitment they put into their organization. I always notice all the volunteer work that they do and how many programs they host and I think their just steps away from making a lot of communities a better place. Most of them will have long nights and may not rest as much as other students in college. However, they still dedicate themselves because they know that at the end of it, it’s all worth it and it’s for a good cause. This gives them more of that “college experience” everyone talks about and this also don’t stop them from having a good time.

Nathan, R. (2005). My Freshman Year: What a Professor Learned by Becoming a student. New York; Penguin Group, Ltd.