Greek life has been around for many years in the United States, including, the University of Denver. Students at DU have viewed and commented on Greek life with skepticism. It’s not uncommon in today’s discussions and news articles for criticism about the history of hazing and associated deaths across time. Others say Greek life offers many benefits that more than overshadow the darker history.
Interviews at the University of Denver show a variety of views on sorority life and, in particular, its impact at DU student’s college experience.
For students such as Vickie Pereira, a third year student at the University of Denver, being apart of a sorority has been life changing. Pereira is originally from Brazil and the only knowledge she had of Greek life was from movies. She currently stands as DU’s Panhellenic president and is apart of Tri Delta’s Chapter on campus.
She said, “I actually dropped recruitment, but was offered a Bid to Tri Delta. And I really wanted to go in there with the mentality of why not?”
For Pereira, being apart of a sorority has been more than just making new friends, it’s about finding a home and a community among empowered women who support her. She has found academic, as well as leadership opportunities through her time at Tri Delta.
It was only in 1874 at Syracuse University that the first women organization be called a sorority. Gamma Phi Beta was the first and definitely wasn’t the last. Generations of young women today are “rushing” to “go Greek,” on their own college campuses.
As a college freshman, an open mindset and the “why not” mentality is a great way to start off your college experience. At the University of Denver, sorority life has been described as one outlet or mode of engagement that students can join to feel embraced by the University.
Social interactions and opportunities have been difficult over the last few years due to the pandemic. Social anxiety and making friends in college has been a struggle for new students and it can make adapting to college challenging.
“It’s easier to tackle a smaller group of people like a sorority Chapter, than tackling all of DU,” said Pereira.
For an organizations, such as sororities, that have been around for many many years, there are associated stereotypes. These stereotypes portray sororities in a dark light. Ones that include: hazing rituals, having to look a certain type of way, if you’re not involved in a sorority you’re not popular, and or won’t get the full college experience.
Mackenzie Allen, a graduating fourth year student at DU, was deterred from joining a sorority because of the cost. WithFrank.org stipulates that with the rushing registration fees and the chapter dues, joining and remaining in a sorority could range from $600 to $6,000 per semester. Financially, Allen wasn’t convinced it would be worth it, especially when she felt confident in substituting that provided community with other clubs, organizations, and social settings on campus.
Allen stated, “Don’t get me wrong, every sorority on campus is viewed in a positive manner in my eyes, but the cost was really expensive, especially since we go to a private university. I joined club women’s lacrosse and I would say the relationships I’ve built on this team have been sufficient in replacing not being in a sorority for the past four years.”
For the University of Denver’s campus sororities and Greek life, in general, don’t have a strict hold on the social life of students. Be in one or don’t be in one, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved on DU’s campus. University of Denver’s Student Affairs section provides ample opportunities to seek and explore different social facets that the college has to offer.
The impact sororities and sorority life has on a college student’s experience is complex and multi-layered. Being involved in a sorority provides a multitude of benefits. It provides women to be apart of something bigger than themselves. It allows women and the community to come together to support a larger philanthropy. For instance, Tri Delta on DU’s campus, each year hosts a pancake event where the public is invited to donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. All of the proceeds are also donated to the hospital to fund Cancer reasearch and provide housing for families whose child is going through treatment.
Nia McHugh, a second year student at the University of San Francisco, joined a sorority because her siblings had a great experience being involved in one and urged her to join. Being able to join a sorority during the pandemic, she has said, to be one of the best choices she’s made so far in college. It was the perfect way for her to meet friends, and through philanthropy events like the one mentioned above, she was able to branch out and meet new girls from other sororities. It’s one large web of networking.
As Vice President of Philanthropy at her sorority, McHugh struggled to find balance from the demands of her role.
“It’s like a real job. Having a leadership role in my organization taught me how to work under pressure and become more organized. It can be taxing at times, but if I’ve learned anything from being involved in such a large organization, it’s that you get out what you put in,” exclaimed McHugh.
Not everyone sees the benefits and good that sororities bring to college campuses and students. For some, they see the deaths from hazing traditions and increase in drug and alcohol consumption.
According to an article written by Ashley Asel, Tricia Seifert, and Ernest Pascarella on the effects a sorority membership has on a college experience, they write about seeing a higher increase in community service as well as alcohol promotion and consumption. It’s no secret that Greek life is known to host and attend parties that can get out of hand.
Per Wikipedia’s list of hazing deaths in the United States, over 200 hazing deaths have occured since 1838. Between 2007 and 2017, there was at least 40 deaths.
And according to Eastern Kentucky University’s Online Safety page, 73% of students involved in social sororities and fratertinities have gone through hazing. Hazing is one of the darkest sides of greek life and many universities and organizations have taken great strides to break the tradition and cycle.
There are dark sides and flaws to every organization, but the impact on a student’s college experience is where we see the results of those flaws. Students have lost their lives to hazing or alcohol and drug consumption prompted by some sorority organizations.
The benefits can also be seen. On a student’s college experience, the social life, the friends, and the relationships they make are one of the biggest things they’ll take with them when they graduate and move on with life. For McHugh, she was able to see her sister-in-law’s bridesmaids all be former sorority sisters. And for Pereira, she was able to obtain an internship from the work she does for Panhellenic and her sorority.
Pereira recounted, “I wouldn’t trade my choice to be in a sorority for anything. I have made some of my best friends. Tri Delta and Panhellenic has afforded me so many opportunities to grow as a person and has really made DU feel like home.”
MFJS Reporter Spring 2022 