In college, I made the decision to join a sorority. Before I joined, I thought about it long and hard. Joining a sorority is a committment, both concerning time and money. The other day, I read "15 Things Every Non-Greek Is Sick Of". The author, a non-greek, wrote an article regarding everything non-greeks are tired of hearing. She starts the article saying:
"No greeks were harmed in the making of this article", and "I am in no way putting social sororities down",
and proceeds to bash greek life for the remainder of the article. As a member of a sorority, I think it is completely unfair for someone to, A. stereotype an entire group of individuals into one lumped categories and B.to judge something you have never been involved in. For example, I will not, in this article say that all Non-Greeks are exactly like Amber, because that would be an unfair assumption. Likewise, I will not say that football is stupid because I am not on the football team and I do not know what it is like to play football. On the contrary, here are 11 things that Greek students are tired of hearing.
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1. "Don't ask me what sorority or fraternity I'm in."
I completely acknowledge that not everyone wants to be a part of Greek life, and that's perfectly fine! It's completely normal and expected. Everyone is a different person and being a part of Greek life is not for everyone. There are tons of things to get involved with on campuses around the country. That being said, I would not be offended if someone asked me if I was a part of the Student Government. I'm just not involved in it. If I ask you if you're in a sorority or fraternity and if so, which one you're in, I'm not asking you to offend you or because I want to make sure you join, I'm asking you because I'm trying to get to know you and relate to you. Please don't get upset if I ask you if you're involved in Greek life and if so, what you're involved with.
2. "You pay for your friends"
You are entitled to believe that I pay for my friends. In fact, I knew a lot of my sisters before I even rushed a sorority. Here's what I can tell you regarding our dues. First of all, a large portion (close to half for my sorority, personally) of our dues goes towards our fall and spring philanthropies. Some of it goes to insurance so that if something happens while we are doing service or something like that, they are covered. I don't pay any money to my sisters. It's not like I slip them a $20 here and there so they keep being friends with me.
3. "Your Instagram pics are getting a little old"
If my pictures really bother you that much, unfollow me. I don't like everything I see on Instagram or Twitter or Facebook, but that's just life. No one is forcing you to like it or even look at it.
4. "People always ask me to join greek life and I'm never going to join."
Every club advertises to get people to join them. It's not just Greek life. I've asked my friends to come to choir practice with me. I've asked my friends to come to Bible study with me. I'm only asking you to do things with me because I like you as a person, I want to be friends with you, and I want to spend time with you. No one is ever going to force you to join greek life. No one can force you to do anything. I'm sorry for offending you by asking you if you want to do something with me. All you have to do is politely decline and I won't ask you again.
5. "Big and Little screeching is annoying"
I'm sorry that being excited to see my friend is annoying to you. The next time you run up to your friend excited to see them, I'll be sure to get upset with you too. Or maybe that isn't your thing. That's fine too, I'm not going to yell at you or call you annoying for not being just like me.
6. " You became "sisters" because you judged each other off of a week's worth of judging, questions, etc. Friends, well, that one is also questionable because I hear an awful lot of sh*t talking between you and your "friends.""
I took this quote directly from the opposing article because I don't think I could have rephrased this into something I was tired of hearing. This is a completely unfair thing to say. Everyone fights with their friends sometimes. Even non-Greeks. No relationship is perfect and people disagree sometimes. On top of that, how do you get to know people? Yes, you ask them questions, you get to know them. Sure you don't get to know a person completely in a week, but if you don't talk to them, how are you supposed to get to know them?
6. "Why do you guys wear letters all the time?"
We wear our letters just like every other organization wears their clothing on campus. Sports teams have clothing, sororities and fraternities have letters. To be completely honest, I don't even know why this bothers anyone. No one is forcing you to wear letters and it's no different than you disliking a shirt or outfit that some random person you've never met is wearing.
7. "Sorority squatting is not a thing"
We sorority squat because sometimes it's hard to fit 100 girls in one picture especially when we don't have a giant set of stairs. It's just a term to describe a squat in a specific context. And I think it's safe to say that every sorority girl knows that we did not invent squatting and that our legs were made this way.
8. "All sororities hate each other"
This is absolutely not true. Yes we get competitive sometimes. But that doesn't mean we hate each other. In fact, we often go out of our way to work with other sororities and fraternities. Friends get competitive, sports teams get competitive, even siblings get competitive. That doesn't mean we hate each other. Competitive and hate are not synonyms, my friends.
9. "Please exclude us a little more"
I'm confused? You specifically say that you don't want to be involved in Greek life, but you feel excluded? You don't want us to force greek life on you, but you want us to involve you? I'm sure that it could be stated a little more friendly or polite than "It's a Greek thing," but you are literally complaining about being included when you just said you didn't want to be a part of Greek life. And no, you don't really understand what it's like to participate in Greek life if you don't participate, like I said, it's just like any club or sport.
10. "You guys just met an hour ago, how can you love each other already? Do you even know each other's names?"
Once again, I don't think I could say this one any better. Yes, I know my big's name. I even met her before big reveal. And I love her because I know that I can count on her because that's what bigs do. They help you when you need help and they're there for you. It's just what the big-little relationship has been and will always be. And likewise, I'll be there for my little if she needs me.
11. "Just because you don't want to go to an event, you should probably not have joined"
I'm human. I get tired. I have class. I have exams and homework like everyone else. Sometimes athletes don't want to go to practice. Sometimes students don't want to go to class. Just because I don't want to go to something doesn't mean I hate the entire organization. It might mean I'm tired or sick or have an exam.
I'm glad I joined Greek Life. I'm sure most people are. That doesn't mean you have to join or even like it. You can hate it. That doesn't mean you can judge something you've never experienced or generalize an entire population of unique individuals.
