By Gabriella Fleming-Shemer
Contributing Writer
This past week I went through two rounds of rush before confirming the idea that sorority life isn’t for me. I don’t want to insult any members or potential new members of sororities on campus because rushing gave me the opportunity to hear about all the positive results of joining, such as giving more to the community and supporting other girls’ school activities. Nevertheless, what was revealed to me during the process was more than my lack of enthusiasm toward crafting. It was that Greek life is a university’s religion. During those long hours spent sweating in the staircases, I thought about the plethora of similarities between these two institutions. Joseph Campbell said that humans need beliefs and stories, such as that of Christ or Hercules, in order to tie together humanity and give us examples of how to live. I believe that Greek life is a set of stories to live by that is both a social and psychological fulfillment.
Consider the rituals, such as the initiation ceremony and Big/Little gifts. Consider the beliefs of each sorority or fraternity that set them apart from the others. Consider the specific guidelines, morals and practices. Consider the conformity necessary to truly belong to the group. This kind of institution provides people with their need to belong to something greater. Both solidify our existence and our place in the world by belonging to a higher power. By becoming part of a symbol and partaking in those rituals, your individualism is put on hold for the sake of group identity.
With that established, I have to say that as well as most religions, I find this institution problematic. While I support the community service initiatives and social connections, I think the system as a whole is founded on false pretenses. All students rushing receive the Panhellenic Recruitment book with the subtitle “empowering women from college onward.” As I stood in the staircase shoulder-to-shoulder with hundreds of heavily eye-lined girls, all compulsively flattening their hair and searching for any type of reflective surface in which to examine their reddening faces, I wondered where the empowerment part came in. Personally I felt like a pretty crappy feminist. Here I was on a Saturday afternoon sporting short shorts and red lipstick, repeating the same answers to each girl’s identical questions, (I row, I’m from Texas, I’m utterly undecided about my major, I’ve traveled a lot), all in the hopes of fitting into a certain group’s standards. Where are our own standards? While we are supposed to “be ourselves,” we are also supposed to be immediately engaging, physically attractive, confident, etc.
In a place such as college where people grow to accept and appreciate diversity, Greek life encourages conformity and the juvenile desire to always fit in. But perhaps this is important, even crucial, because isn’t college just a microcosm of the real world, and shouldn’t we throw on our pearls and get used to the female competition that dominates our patriarchal society? Maybe the problem actually lies in people like me, the sassy and cynical who are perturbed by the NorthFace trend and have a deep rooted fear of mass ideology.
John • Sep 29, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Damn I’m late to the party on this one.
The frat dudez who commented on this article are f***ing hilarious.
“There are two types of people in the world. Artists and art critics.” THAT’S DEEP BRO I WANT 2 B AN ARTIST JUST LYKE U FRANK!
All I know is that of the handful of guys I was friends with who joined KDR and SAE after Freshman year, MOST went from decent students who partied a lot to raging, foul drug addicts who were struggling not to get kicked out of school. The only thing keeping these guys from NOT failing was their frat’s collection of old Management/Accounting/Other BS majors tests they used to cheat off of.
Would Bucknell be a safer, more inclusive place without Greek life? Most definitely. Would it be as fun? Probably not. It is just hilarious to hear frat bro’s talk about leadership and community and philanthropy. I mean MAYBE TKE is about all that stuff, everyone else just wants to get laid.
Scott • Sep 14, 2011 at 8:20 pm
While I don’t have as many harsh words for the Greek system that many of your peers seem to be taking offense to, I too have chosen to go through my years here as an independent. I think you’re taking a lot of undeserved flak for this article and I’d like to try and defend your (and independent’s everywhere) decision to take a pass.
1.) “Going to be a very long 12 months for you with that attitude”
Yeah, especially since she’ll be able to remember all of it.
2.) “Ask yourself, is it perhaps you that is afraid to put yourself out there, truly out there, for fear of rejection?”
Well I’d say not. Isn’t she putting herself “out there” by writing this article that clearly reflects a minority opinion? And I’m guessing she anticipated some form of negative response to this so I don’t think she fears rejection.
3.) “In a town in the middle of nowhere, with few social alternatives or events, what do independents contribute to the social fabric? Nothing. One could even go as far as to say that they are parasites leaching off the social efforts of others.”
Well I can’t speak for Gabriella here but I can tell you that as an independent that has made it three years here, I’m certainly no parasite. I made the decision to save money that would have gone towards dues and spend it traveling the state. I’ve driven friends to some of the most beautiful places around here for hiking and cliff diving seeing live bands and sampling life outside the bubble, all on my own dime. I’ve contributed to a social fabric within the student body yet outside the Greek system. It’s not out of a particular disdain for it, but simply because I’d rather spend my weekends in a different venue.
“Embrace life, create and join others that do so.”
I’m sure she does, and she (like us other independents) can do it despite choosing not to go Greek.
Frank Riccard • Sep 12, 2011 at 6:52 pm
In a town in the middle of nowhere, with few social alternatives or events, what do independents contribute to the social fabric? Nothing. One could even go as far as to say that they are parasites leaching off the social efforts of others. Most people don’t go to college to sit in their dorm rooms with 2 other people, believing they are the first ones to discover the great thinkers in Philosophy 101, and rail against the “system” they feel is exclusive. There are two types of people in the world. Artists and art critics. You are an art critic. Make an effort to break free of your self imposed isolation. Embrace life, create and join others that do so. Don’t sit bitterly in your dorm room and give a “thumbs down” to others that are having fun. You get 4 years at college, don’t waste these precious yeas being negative.
Go out, for a real meal…of food. Maybe put on the Cysco CD. Keep on trucking.
David Parcel • Sep 12, 2011 at 5:13 am
Very Brave of you to write this article. The Greek system at Bucknell is something that really needs to be looked at. I resent the comments below. “by coming to Bucknell you chose a group of wealthy, stuck up and elitist” people.
Choosing Bucknell does not mean that one chose some of the distinct problems that Bucknell has to offer. The Greek system at Bucknell is simply suffocating. Does it build community? yes. Does it allow for leadership? yes. Does it build skills regarding team work, etc. ? Yes.
Does it alienate those who choose not to be involved? Yes. Does it offer an avenue for hazing and binge drinking? Yes. Does it pressure you to consume alcohol at least three times a week? yes. Does it encourage a hook up culture? yes.
Bucknell is not honest when it reveals statistics about the greek system. “if your not Greek, there are plenty of things to do – etc.” The social culture IS the Greek System.
You can pick on her article all you want – however – the Greek system at a Bucknell is a prime example of what is destroying our collegiate youth today across America. Blacking out is not normal. Being hospitalized is not normal.
Hazing is not normal.
Thank you for this article.
Tina • Sep 11, 2011 at 10:04 pm
Having been a member of a sorority at Bucknell I can assure you that there is plenty of room for individuality being a member of a sorority. Do you really think that a group of over 100 women is forced to conform to one standard?
Within my sorority there was an immense range of personalities, values, and interests. I’m sure there still is today. But you wouldn’t really know, would you? You didn’t stick around long enough to really find out for yourself.
We always used to joke that recruitment was a skewed image of actual sorority life. The events of that week have nothing to do with what actually goes on during the year.
Lamar Latrelle • Sep 10, 2011 at 8:13 pm
The hypocrisy of your position is amusing. You identify yourself as a feminist. Websters defines feminism as “an organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.” Funny, that sounds like an organized group or institution…but in this case one in which you have no problem joining or letting define who you are. So when it is something you like or agree with, shared common philosophy and a community of like minded individuals is a valid expression of who you are, and something you fully embrace. Yet when it’s something you either don’t understand or agree with, it is something to be vilified. You self identify with groups everyday. You choose to be part of the feminist philosophy. You chose to go to Bucknell rather than another school. Many people would consider that a choice to be part of a group of wealthy, stuck up elitist group. Why not state school dear?
P.S. You betray your insecurity with your own words. “While we are supposed to “be ourselves,” we are also supposed to be immediately engaging, physically attractive, confident, etc.” Most people are engaging and confident when being themselves. Sorry you find this a challenge.
Pinto • Sep 9, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Having graduated from Bucknell in ’96 and worked in the real world for 15 years, I can not tell you how strongly I disagree. While none of your conclusions are supported, I take particular issue with your statement that “Greek life encourages conformity and the juvenile desire to always fit in.” In my experience nothing could be farther from the truth. Perhaps you should turn your perception inward and ask yourself why you harbor such resentment for friendships and group cooperation. In the professional world I encounter people that have similar attitudes as yours. They use sarcasm and snarkiness as a replacement for intelligence and intellect. They sit on the sidelines and tear things down, never build. As a result, they always feel alienated and blame everyone else for their lack of success or fitting in or being part of something successful, when ironically, it is of their own doing. Ask yourself, is it perhaps you that is afraid to put yourself out there, truly out there, for fear of rejection? Or is there something in your past that makes you bitter and resentful. Whatever the case, take off the grumpy pants.
P.S. Who refers to themselves as sassy?
Kent Dorfman • Sep 8, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Going to be a very long 12 months for you with that attitude