The negative stigmas and stereotypes surrounding Greek life are hurtful. People generalize everyone into one group, "The Greeks." This over-generalization is unfair because every chapter of Greek life differs greatly. The one thing we all have in common is that we do a lot of good for our campus and philanthropic endeavors, but no one ever gives us credit for that. Instead, they only see the bad.

Fraternities and sororities are more than just partying, we are a small piece of a national organization. What you see are our letters. What you see are our houses. What you see are our events on the front lawns.

What you don't see is all of the planning, meetings, training sessions and conventions that we attend. What you don't see are all of the service activities that we take part in. What you don't see is all of the money that we raise every year for good causes. What you don't see are the leadership roles and opportunities that we encourage every one of our members to take up. And most importantly, what you don't see is that we are still students first. Greek life is not all we are involved in. We have jobs, sports and other clubs. Not every organization is the same and I am not speaking on behalf of everyone, but I am speaking based off of my experiences.

Many people say that fraternities and sororities are too exclusive and we are the ones ruining the climate. There are so many clubs and organizations on campus who have closed parties and the only reason why they don't get put on blast like Greek life is because they take up a smaller percentage of the student body. For example, people always claim that only guys have trouble getting into parties, but girls do as well. A bunch of my friends and I tried to get into a sports house a few weeks back and were turned away because they were too full. Organizations that take the risk of throwing parties in their houses and paying for supplies are allowed to pick and choose who gets into their home at certain points in time.

Another thing you don't see is how we are trying to rid of the "exclusivity" stigma. The EPWs (Epic Party Weekends) are a huge step in the right direction. Lehigh University is helping us become more inclusive by giving us a way to have larger parties on the hill. Greek life has always been a large part of Lehigh's social culture and change does not happen overnight. The Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils are working extremely hard to take constructive criticism and find ways to make things better.

I joined Greek life because I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself that would especially allow me the opportunity to have leadership roles and be involved in a philanthropy. Before joining, I wasn't sure if I was going to stick with recruitment, but I am happy that I did. Yes, I could find roles like this elsewhere, but this was MY first choice. I CHOSE to be a part of this. My sorority has become my home. It is where I find my joy and opportunities on this campus. Just because you are not in Greek life, does not mean that you have to criticize our every move, especially when you over-generalize and don't get to know us all.

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Joining Greek life has provided me with more than I expected. Before rush, I was nervous because I too had heard rumors about the different organizations. After rush, I realized that each house is very different and depending on what you are looking for, you will find your home. I wasn't a huge fan of Lehigh my first semester, because I was beyond homesick. Since joining, I get homesick when I'm home because my sorority is my second family. They are the ones I come home to, the ones I have family dinners with, and the ones who have become my best friends. Each of my sisters has other organizations that they are involved in. They have friends in other houses and friends who are not in Greek life at all. My sorority invites cultural organizations and other clubs up to the house for dinner and movies. We try to be inclusive, not because we have to, but because we want to. We celebrate each of our differences and make sure to always attend sister's events. Groups of us go to a cappella and choir concerts, Fusion, Dance Marathon, and much more. To us, being a part of Greek life is not just that point blank. Yes, it is a part of us, but so are so many other things.

We are not just "Greek life", we are own individual chapters working towards goals just like any other organization on this campus. To speak and have never been apart of it, or speak out about Greek life in such a negative manner, over-generalizing us all, without getting to actually know us and see how we work, you are wrong and hypocritical. We have to respect each other, whether in Greek life or not.

Lehigh has so many opportunities for all of us. We are a growing and diverse student body that has so much to offer. We are a rigorous and prestigious school. We are here because we are the top of the top students. Lehigh can't continue to improve if we all have such hatred towards other people in our student body. I agree that the climate of this school needs to change because it isn't fair for Greeks or non-Greeks, athletes or non-athletes to feel excluded or targeted by each other. To make amends, we need to see the good in each other and build off of that. We are all individuals who are here at Lehigh for a reason. There is more to see than what meets the eye.