The college experience is a very important part of many people’s lives, because it is the time when they transit from adolescence to adulthood. For most college students, going to college is the first time that they live away from home, and they have to learn to be more responsible and independent. Having a good college experience does not only prepare students for the work that they will do in the future; it can also shape their opinions, attitudes, and values towards life. To provide the most enriching college experience for students, most universities and colleges in the United States adopt the Greek system as part of campus life. Students can make their college lives more interesting and fulfilling, improve their social skills, and make lifelong friends by joining the Greek system.

What is the Greek System?

The Greek system refers to a social system in a college that consists of single-sex houses called fraternities and sororities. Most systems name their houses using Greek letters, such as Kappa Alpha Psi or Delta Phi Epsilon, while others use school-specific nicknames. The significance of the Greek system in student life varies from one college to another. Many of the fraternities and sororities that are presently found in colleges belong to national organizations, such as the Phi Kappa Theta, Pi Kappa Alpha, Beta Sigma Psi, and others. There are also houses that were founded locally or became independent from national groups. The main function of Greek houses is to provide a place for students to reside, study, and socialize.

• What is Greek Life?
• An Overview of the Greek System
• FAQs about Greek Life
• A Look at Greek System at Stanford
• FAQs about Greek Life at Louisiana Tech University

History of the Greek System

The history of the Greek system dates back to 1776, when a secret society was established at the College of William and Mary. This society was called Phi Beta Kappa, and it had its own badge, motto, code of laws, secret rituals, and unique handshake. Later on, it revealed the meaning of its name to the public. Phi Beta Kapha stood for “philosophia bios kybernethes”, meaning “philosophy is the guide to life”. The Greek system gained popularity in the beginning of the 19^th century with the establishment of the Kappa Alpha, Delta Phi, and Sigma Phi societies. These three societies are known today as Union Triad. Soon after that, three fraternities were formed at the Miami University in Ohio. The Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Chi, and Delta Theta became known as the Miami Triad. The first sorority, Alpha Delta Pi, was established in the 1850s.

The Greek system experienced great problems throughout World War I and II, because many college-aged men were sent to battle, and many women had to join the workforce. Many Greek organizations were shut down because of insufficient membership. Following the end of World War II, the passing of the GI Bill brought a tremendous influx of men into colleges, and this resulted in the flourishing of the Greek system. The strong anti-establishment sentiments that were prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s led to a decline in fraternity and sorority membership, but the Civil Rights Movement caused many organizations to discard former racial and religious preferences in the selection of members. In the 1990s, many groups managed to depart from the negative stereotypes that existed previously, and they were once again focused on promoting scholarship, leadership, and community spirit among students.

• General History of Greek Life
• History of the Greek System
• Another Account of the History of the Greek System
• History of Greek Life in America

Rush/Joining the Greek System

In most colleges, the rush week will be held on the first week of school. Fraternities and sororities will set up informational tables to provide information for students and recruit them. Nonetheless, not every student will be accepted as a member of a Greek house. Most fraternities and sororities set a minimum GPA as a requirement for formal recruitment.

• Surviving Sorority Rush
• Common Rush Information
• What is Fraternity Rush?
• Why Should You Join a Fraternity or a Sorority?
• Joining a Greek Organization

Fraternities

Fraternity in the Greek system means an all-male association with members who share certain common interests. It is dedicated to improving the social lives and academic achievements of students, giving them a better college experience. Members of a fraternity usually reside in the same living quarters, and they take part in a wide range of activities together. Some of the well-known fraternity chapters include Sigma Phi Epsilon, Theta Chi, Kappa Sigma, Alpha Tau Omega, Phi Beta Sigma, Sigma Nu, Pi Kappa Phi, and others.

• What is a Fraternity or a Sorority?
• More Information about a Fraternity
• Fraternity Ritual of Phi Kappa Sigma
• Sigma Phi Epsilon
• Phi Beta Sigma

Sororities

A sorority is a female-only association in the Greek system. Joining a sorority offers a lot of benefits for female students, including residence at sorority houses, opportunity to socialize and make friends, and access to scholarships. Sorority sisters are required to work together to make their sororities more popular and successful. Famous sorority chapters include Kappa Delta, Delta Sigma Theta, Tri Delta, Alpha Sigma Tau, Alpha Chi Omega, and others.

• The Sorority Life
• Sorority Rituals (PDF)
• Kappa Delta Sorority
• Delta Sigma Theta
• Alpha Chi Omega

Stereotypes

Members of Greek communities in colleges are often considered hard-partying, wild, lacking virtue, and snobbish. It is true that members of some fraternities and sororities fit these stereotypes, but there are also people in the Greek system who do not. Actually, stereotypes that are related to Greek communities come from movies, television, books, and other media. In reality, many fraternities and sororities in colleges focus on building strong and meaningful relationships among students, organizing decent activities, and helping their members do well in their studies.

• Challenging Stereotypes
• Dispelling Myths about Greek Systems