For as long as I can remember, every person that I have had a conversation about Greek life with has had a strong opinion. They are either very supportive of Greek life or they HATE it. There is no in between. But quite frankly, I just don't understand why views on Greek life have to be so polarized. 

Perhaps I am biased because I am a part of a great Greek community on my campus where I have been given the opportunity to realize my potential as a leader and to make lifelong friendships inside and outside of my own chapter, but I really don't see why anyone should HATE Greeks. I think it is totally fine to realize that Greek life isn't for everyone, and if you're one of those people who wouldn't benefit from joining a Greek organization, then more power to you. But why do you have to make fun of people that have decided to join a Greek community? Do your posts mocking sorority girls "throwing what they know" really help you in any way? Or does making up your own Greek letters for your friends really benefit anyone other than maybe the members of Oozma Kappa Flacka, or whatever random words you decided to string together? 

But don't get me wrong, it goes both ways. Greeks sometimes tend to hate on the "independent" culture. Non-Greeks aren't hurting anything or anyone by choosing a different path. With hundreds of options of involvement on campus, there are plenty of other ways to network yourself that doesn't involve Greek letters. I can be guilty of this way of thinking too, but our letters don't make us better than anyone else. They've made us better than ourselves before we had them, but they do not make us better than anyone who chose not to go Greek. 

The core of the problem is that the two groups can't seem to get along. I am by no means saying Greeks and non-Greeks have to have the same views on everything. That would be unrealistic considering Greeks share a lot of the same values, and non-Greeks share a lot of the same values, too. But each group can and should respect the values and views of the other group. 

For every non-Greek posting a photo of fake letters and fake hand signs, there is a bitter Greek posting about how independents all wear cargo shorts. There will never be an agreement between the two groups if people keep bashing on each other. So instead of putting down your friends who chose a different path than you did, maybe try focusing on your own choices and encouraging your friends in whatever they choose. Then we all win.