Greek Sororities Are More Than Just Fun And Games
Greek Sororities, and Fraternities, have been a part of the college scene since 1870. They often struggle with a poor reputation, either because of the “Frat House” image portrayed in movies and television, or from news stories that focus on unfortunate or tragic events. But there’s a lot more to Greek Sororities than fun and games.
In general, sororities are engaged in philanthropic activities and have core beliefs that include giving back to the community. Each year, they donate several million dollars to assist charitable and worthy causes. And their participation isn’t just monetary. Thousands of hours of volunteer time is provided to assist their chosen cause.
From a personal perspective, there’s a great benefit to being a sorority member, too. Statistically, sorority members perform better in the classroom than non-sorority members. After college, sorority alumnae achieve greater success than their peers.
If you’re considering joining a sorority, you’ll want to do more than just sign up and get the traditional sorority gear. Who are they? What’s their history? What do they have to offer you, besides a dorm room? Here’s a look at three of the top sororities on campus.
Chi Omega (Chi-O)
Who they are: Chi Omega is the largest women’s fraternal organization in the world. Boasting over 350,000 initiates and 180 collegiate chapters, they’re easily one of the most recognized sororities anywhere.
Noteworthy because: They work closely with the Make A Wish Foundation, and have donated $20 million and over 1 million hours of their time to help Make A Wish grant the wish of every child diagnosed with a critical illness.
Zeta Tau Alpha (Zeta)
Who they are: Founded 120 years ago, they currently have over 250,000 members and have a presence around the world. They’re one of four women’s fraternities founded at Longwood University (Virginia)
Noteworthy because: They support the American Cancer Society, heavily focusing on breast cancer and breast cancer awareness. Originated and hold copyright to the term “Think Pink.”
Delta Gamma (DG)
Who they are: With a motto of “Do Good,” Delta Gamma is one of the oldest sororities and currently has presence on over 150 college campuses and 150,000 members.
Noteworthy because: Delta Gamma was the first sorority to establish an independent philanthropic foundation, Service for Sight, and directly or indirectly have partnered with 150 sight and vision-related organizations nationally.
Is a Sorority For You?
Whether you should join a sorority or not is a very personal decision. There’s no right or wrong answer. There are ample benefits to doing so, but it also takes an additional commitment beyond the demands of being a college student. That commitment is to yourself, your sorority sisters, and the community.
What’s certain is that like anything else, you’ll benefit most by being 100% committed and ready to take on an adventure, and challenges, like you’ve never had before.
