Think Greeks are all about parties and paying for friends?? Have the idea that sorority women are promiscuous and fraternity men are stupid? Imagine goats being sacrificed when you think of ritual? Call Greeks followers and conformists?? If so, you may want to rethink everything because in reality you're the one following the stereotypes of Greek Life given by the media and gossip.
The REAL secret behind Greek Life is simple but first lets look at some facts!
*Nationally, 71% of all Greeks graduate, while only 50% of non-Greeks graduate.
*The All Greek GPA is higher than the overall collegiate GPA.
*Since 1910, 85% of the Supreme Court Justices have been Greek.
*85% of the Fortune 500 key executives are Greek.
*Of the nation's 50 largest corporations, 43 are headed by Greeks.
*76% of Who's Who in America are Greek.
*All but two Presidents since 1825 have been Greek.
*70% of the U.S. Presidents' cabinet members since 1900 have been Greek.
*76% of U.S. Senators are Greek.
*Both women appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court were sorority members.
*Over 85% of the student leaders on 730 campuses are members of Greek-letter organizations.
*Less then 2% of an average college students expenses go towards Greek membership dues.
*A study by the University of Missouri found that Greeks throughout the US and Canada are more involved on their campuses and rate their overall university experience better.
*The same study found that Greeks are more involved in their communities; and give more generously to their alma maters.
*Greeks form the largest network of volunteers in the U.S.-Nationally, Greeks volunteer approximately 10 million hours of community service annually.
*Greek Life strongly encourages within its community to uphold the ideals that they were founded on: sisterhood and brotherhood, scholarship, leadership, philanthropy, and becoming better citizens of society.
*Hazing is against National Greek Headquarters policies.
*Nationally, Greek organizations are the largest and most visible value-based student organizations.
Now that you have read some facts concerning Greek Life, here are *some* familiar names who are Greek who might help you see how Greek Life helps people succeed!
Martin Luther King Jr, Adam Sandler, Admiral James J. Carey, Al Michaels, Ali Landry, Alice Sheets Marriot, Allen Bean, Alonzo Mourning, Amy Grant, Andy Griffith, Andy Rooney, Ann Margaret, Aretha Franklin, Ashley Judd, Aston Kutcher, Ben Savage, Bill Clinton, Bill Cosby, Bob Barker, Bobby Jones, Brad Pitt, Burt Reynolds, Cedric the Entertainer, Colonel Sanders, Coretta Scott King, Cybil Shepard, Danny Thomas, Dave Thomas, David Duchovny, David Letterman, David Spade, David Stern, Dick Clark, Dionne Warwick, Dr. Alyce Gullantee, Dr. Collette Kohler, Dr. Seuss, Drew Carey, Dwight Eisenhower, Elvis Presley, Faye Dunaway, Fred Savage, Gladys Knight, Goldie Hawn, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Garner, John Wayne, Johnny Carson, Kate Spade, Katie Couric, Kurt Vonnegut, Lucy Lui, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Jordan, Molly Sims, Neil Armstrong, Nick Lachey, Roger Ebert, Rosa Parks, Shaquille O'Neal, Sheryl Crow, Stephen Spielberg, Will Ferrel, Woody Harrelson, just to name a few...
Quotes Regarding Greek Life:
*Letters today, Leaders tomorrow
*No matter the Letters, we're all Greek together
*Not four years, but for life
*Fraternities and Sororities symbolize all that we wish to accomplish in our lives. They represent the struggles we all face as we grow. Why we cling to them no one can explain, but in the end, we are all stronger for it
*People ask why I am in a sorority and I try to explain all the things a sorority is that they cannot see. A sorority is more than letters on a sweatshirt, I say. More than traditional songs, a gold pin, rituals, and obligation, or a way of life. A sorority is learning about people, a sorority is giving without expecting a return. A sorority is earning respect from others, as well as for yourself. A sorority will not solve all your problems. But I have made good friends and found confidence there to help me take life one step at a time.
*Even though the dues I pay for are like any other club fees (though more expensive because my organization is much more than a club) go toward housing, if I WERE paying for my friends, I wouldn't be paying enough!!!
So now that you have seen a glimpse of what Greek Life is all about, I hope that you will gain a better understanding about Greeks and not give in to believing the stereotypes. After all, the REAL secret behind Greek Life isn't that we hold some magical powers in our rituals or that we only get to high places through networking. We are regular people wanting to do great things and we accomplish all of this with the skills we acquire through our time spent in our Greek organizations! Oh yeah and we have a blast doing it!
FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, YOU CAN NEVER UNDERSTAND IT. FROM THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT, YOU CAN NEVER EXPLAIN IT!
