When I was looking into what colleges I wanted to go to in high school, being a part of a sorority was never really in the picture for me. I don’t know why, the idea just never appealed to me. However, I know that for many girls who go to BC, they feel like they would be in a sorority if they went to another school. There are definitely times on campus where having a huge homecoming parade, insane frat parties, or having a large support group of “sisters” seems extremely appealing, but the lack of Greek life on campus is one of my favorite parts about going to BC. There are all of the cliché arguments for not liking Greek life, like not having to take the (what I think of as) stupid posed sorority pictures and pay a lot of money to “have friends and party,” but to me there are other, more important reasons.
One of the main reasons that I am happy there is no Greek life on campus is because it makes it much easier to get involved in organizations that reflect the variety of interests that I have. Hearing about the time commitment you make when you join a sorority, it seems like it would be very hard to be involved in other activities. It makes sense, it is a social club, a service organization, and for many people a place where you live. However, I think having that large of a time commitment with just one group can be limiting when trying to explore all of your interests.
Another reason I enjoy the lack of Greek life at BC is that I am not required to socialize with certain groups. I know that defenders of Greek life always make the claim that the people in your sorority/frat are not your only friends, but there are definitely times when you are practically required to socialize with certain people while excluding others. Think of events like mixers, date nights, and bid/pledge weeks that you hear about on other campuses. There is pressure to be friends with certain people, which I think can lead to fakeness. The lack of Greek life at BC allows you to have an array of friends that you do different things with. The people you volunteer with may not be the same people you go out with on a Friday night, and that is perfectly fine. But in a sorority, you can’t compartmentalize friendships and expand your relationships in the same way.
Finally, I think that there are many unhealthy aspects of the Greek system. I know that this in no way reflects all sororities and fraternities, but it is a reality in some. The horror stories of pledge week at fraternities or the way that sororities can poorly shape a young woman’s self image and worth have been around for years and there is no reason for me to reiterate them, except to say that they haven’t disappeared and in the near future probably won’t. This is not to say that issues like this don’t occur on BC’s campus, but I feel as though Greek life is a breeding ground for them.
So to all of the people that wonder if I am missing out on my college experience by not having a “little,” not going on a frat date night, or not going through the process of rush, I say no. It is more than possible to have a fulfilling social and extracurricular life without being in a sorority, and I think it is one with more variety and rich opportunities.
Photo Sources:
http://sororitysugar.tumblr.com/post/18329337160/throw-what-you-know-tie-dye-dg-salute
http://elitedaily.com/life/culture/not-all-sorority-houses-are-created-equal/