It’s Time to Get a CLUE Lindsay Carriera Dr. Sherry February

Problem: - Most Individuals do not understand the true genuine aspect of Sororities and have the stereotypical image in their head of young women who are promiscuous, praise drinking, and do not appreciate their education.

What the Sterotypes Look Like…

Background: My Freshman Year by Rebekah Nathan  The Greek system is a traditional part of college life that contrasts to the studious approach to academics.  However, the Greek life contends with both the left sided end of the spectrum as in the rebels to the right side of the spectrum the outsiders. Coming of Age in New Jersey by Michael Moffatt  Sororities were newer and less developed than Fraternities.  A paper written by a Senior Sister describes the new policies of her sorority after a sister willingly participated in a “gang bang” with another Fraternity on campus.  No prolonged making out on the dance floor or any public area.  No public display of affection with anyone other than one’s boyfriend while wearing one’s pin, letters, or crest.  When staying a Fraternity be discrete. Do not make a scene for the entire party as you go upstairs. Do not roam the halls half naked. Most importantly do not stay for breakfast with the brothers. If you can smell the bacon you have obviously over stayed your welcome.  Never participate in group sex. It will make you as well as everyone else in the house extremely famous.  Attempt to avoid riding on campus transportation the morning after your fraternal slumber party. No one wants to have dogs follow thame o fellow Greeks yell “Hey Bimbo” at them…  Most importantly, use some reliable method of birth control. One’s collegiate years are no time to be creating legacies.

Method: I interviewed three different Sororities to show viewers that not only are Sororities organizations with morals and priorities they also vary from sisterhood to sisterhood each one being unique in their own traditions and ways of functioning as a Sorority.

ΧΣΡ The sisters of Chi Sigma Rho hold true to their motto “Unity Through Individuality”. A Current sister describes her Sorority as a “ Laid back atmosphere where people are not rude and no sister is anything like the other sister. (Luscher) The new member education is a non hazing Sorority and does not involve any hazing at all. They require new members to bond with current sisters, alumni, and each other through a positive pledging experience. The whole point of becoming a new member is to learn the history of the Sorority and value what previous sisters have done to keep the Sorority functioning. The number one priority of Chi Sigma Rho is for members to take pride in academic achievement and involvement in the community.

ΡΣΣ Aspire, Act, Achieve is Phi Sigma Sigma’s motto. Phi Sigma Sigma is a national Sorority that has created more than 150 collegiate chapters in the United States and Canada. This Sorority likes to give back to their community through philanthropy that “Shapes their women into leaders, while they are serving their community”. (Bloom) Every year they hold an annual Rockathon that helps with the National Kidney Foundation. Along with car washes, the sisters do a 5k breast cancer walk/run, blood drives, and clothing drives. Here on campus, the sisters of Phi Sigma Sigma are one of the most involved Sororities with community service. A personal interview with one of the sisters sums up the moral of Phi Sigma Sigma as being “The perfect fit for her. There is a different emotion for each girl and being apart of Phi Sigma Sigma is a place where she naturally fits while being herself.(Bloom)

ΔΕΒ Delta Epsilon Beta prides themselves in being the oldest Sorority on campus with over 800 alumni and current sisters. When a girl becomes a member of Delta Epsilon Beta there is no alcoholic drinking involved and each sister is required library hours so that their studies remain as a top priority. A current member describes being a sister as “A rewarding experience where she shares a lifetime of laughter with current sisters and sisters to come and that the thing she likes most about her Sorority is the diversity in majors and in personalities that made her feel welcome.”(Angelone) Once a part of Delta Epsilon Beta you will always be a sister no matter how old you are.

Conclusion: Before passing judgment on Sororities and what they stand for individuals need to take a deeper look into what defines today’s Sororities and what reputations they uphold. From Michael Moffatt’s novel to today’s Sororities expectations their persona has changed dramatically. Currently, main concerns for Sorority sisters are their grades, involvement in the community, creating a life long bond of sisterhood, and being active leaders on campus. TV and media has corrupted Greek life into a party scene without showing the true meaning of becoming a part of a Sorority. Nonetheless, a Sorority is a sisterly bond that is there for life and they are all unique in their own way while being similar with their scholarly achievements. "The ties that bind me to my Sisters are not wrapped around my wrists, but rather are fastened to my heart.“

Works Cited Angelone, Alexis. Personal interview. 9 Feb Bloom, Amanda. Personal interview. 14 Feb Luscher, Mel. Personal interview. 7 Feb Moffatt, Michael. Coming of Age in New Jersey. New Brunswick, New Jersey, and London: Rutgers University Press, 1989 by Rutgers, The State University. Print. Nathan, Rebekah. My Freshman Year: What a Professor Learned by Becoming a Student. New York: Penguin Group, Ltd., Print.