When people first hear that I am in a sorority, they start to look at me differently. Usually, it starts with a pause and then a barrage of questions that all seem to stem from the stereotypes that Hollywood has so kindly placed on Greek life. The most common questions that I get asked are about sorority housing. People ask things like: “How much do you have to pay to stay in the house?” “Is it annoying living with so many girls all the time?” “What is it like to live in a sorority house?” While I will admit that I have always been curious as to these answers myself, I am perfectly content with not having any housing for my sorority. None of the sororities or fraternities on my campus have chapter housing and, although it is different from the stereotypical style of Greek life, it is still very enjoyable.
When people find out that I do not live in a house with all of my sisters, they ask me questions along the lines of, “How do you stay close to your sisters without living with them?” and, “Is it even a sorority if you do not all live together?” To start with, the answer to the first question is that we have chapter meetings every weekend, philanthropy events, sisterhood events, socials, and so much more. That's not to mention that we all go to the same school, so we see each other on campus all of the time. I am in so many GroupMe chats that keep me up to date on all of my sisters, my Panhellenic sisters, and the gentlemen in fraternities on campus.
For the second question, yes we are very much still a sorority. Housing is not mandatory to have a bond with a group of wonderful and inspiring individuals. We have so many opportunities to spend time together and, since we do not live together, it makes the time that we spend together even more special. I look forward to going to chapter meeting every Sunday because I get to spend time with all of my sisters.
Although my campus does not have a Greek Row, we are still a community. We all go to the same school, therefore, we are bound to see each other. If you walk through our campus student union, you will see different chapters at tables and socializing with one another. It’s an area where you are bound to see sisters, brothers, and friends. These are the people who come out to one another’s philanthropy events, who meet up in the library to study, and the people who just want to have a good time while they get an education. The support and relationships that Greek life creates are immeasurable and having chapter houses is not a necessity to create them.
A sisterhood is a special bond that is difficult for those who are not in Greek life to understand. Just know this, housing is not needed to have a strong sisterhood and Hollywood is a source of entertainment, not truth.
