What is Greek Life? Why should I join? How do join?
How do I determine which organization is best for me?
Can I be involved in other things on campus if I am Greek?
Does it cost a lot of money to join? I don't want to pay for my friends...
What are the requirements to join?
What if I only want to be in a certain fraternity or sorority?
Does hazing still exist as part of the new member process?
Is there a lot of alcohol and substance abuse associated with fraternities and sororities?
I don't understand all of the Greek Letter and Terms!!
Greek life is the collective term referring to the sororities and fraternities on a campus. Each fraternity and sorority is a group of students bound together by brotherhood or sisterhood, common goals, and aspirations. Together these members learn, grow, and make the Greek organization stronger.
Greeks are very cliquey, aren't they?
Shared experiences and a set of core values build ties that last a lifetime and Greeks do spend a lot of time socializing with their brothers and sisters. Alternatively, every fraternity and sorority has mixers with other organizations. Members of every chapter are involved all over campus and have friendships and relationships with members from other chapters as well as non-Greeks.
Is it like Animal House, Greek, or Sorority Life on MTV?
Every fraternity and sorority is different and unique. Ashland especially prides itself on its diverse Greek culture. The images portrayed in the movies and on TV do not reflect the attitudes of Ashland University or its Greek life. All Greeks work closely with their respective governing councils and national offices to conduct safe social activities. The focus of Greek life, for all organizations, is growth in academics, service to others, and developing strong bonds between members.
How do I determine which organization is best for me?
Although each sorority and fraternity is unique in its members, they all share common founding principles that are of interest to any AU student. Greek organizations enhance your educational experience by emphasizing intellectual, interpersonal, and social development. Greek members strive to for the ideals of lifelong friendship, a sound education, campus and community service, and social interaction.
Can I be involved in other things on campus if I am a Greek?
YES! Greek life is an integral part of life for many Ashland students, but it is not the defining factor. Students should also look into clubs or groups within their academic departments and majors. Intramural sports are available for interested students, as well as fitness classes and tournaments. Religious life offers services and bible studies on almost every day of the week! All of our active Greek members are also active members of the campus community.
Does it cost a lot of money to join? I don’t want to pay for my friends...
Membership dues are not a payment for friends. Dues are financial contributions to the organizations that allow chapters to offer tutoring and academic support, philanthropy projects, social programming, special events, house/suite maintenance, and insurance.
Each chapter has a set of dues required of each member. These dues are approved by local and national advisors, and all money is accounted for during annual audits. The first semester of initiation is often the most expensive. Extra monies cover the cost of your badge, initiation fees, and new member education materials. Depending on the chapter, fees range from approximately $185-465 per semester.
What are the practical benefits of membership?
Career & Leadership Development- Greeks have the opportunity of being connected as a part of a national organization. Sororities and Fraternities allow students the opportunity for leadership positions within the organization and Greek Councils. Many national organizations also provide members with seminars, conferences, and other developmental opportunities.
Academic Support & Excellence- All Greek organizations at Ashland University require a minimum GPA to be considered for active membership. To accommodate this requirement, chapters may also provide study groups, incentives and rewards, study tables or mentoring programs.
Social & Sport Activities- Spontaneous movie nights in the sorority suite and pick-up football games on the intramural fields are only the beginning of the social opportunities available for Greeks. Movie nights on the fraternity lawn, 80’s themed and black and white dances, bowling nights, are among some of the most recent Greek mixers between sororities and fraternities. Other events include formal and informal dances, annual Greek Week Events, and intramural teams are a part of the Greek social calendar too.
Lifelong Friends- College is a time to develop lasting friendships and meaningful relationships. Belonging to a sorority or fraternity adds another level to these friendships. Greeks share great moments and challenges during their college years. Having a support system of brothers and sisters eases the transition to post-graduate life, and gives members a family away from home.
Career Networking- All national sororities and fraternities have networking systems in place to help members connect to others in their career path. Local alumni associations are great contacts for internships, references, and prospective job interviews.
Community Service & Philanthropy- Every Greek organization at Ashland was created to include service to others. Each year, Ashland Greeks raise money and hold events to benefit national and local philanthropies. Each organization also requires volunteer hours from members. These events are not only service to others; they form the bonds of substance, hard work, and dedication between the members.
Lifetime Membership- Joining a Greek organization is a lifelong commitment. After college, you can be as involved as much or as little as you would like to be. Opportunities for involvement include local alumni chapters, being a chapter advisor, or serving as a national officer.
What is Rush/Recruitment?
Recruitment is the time when sororities and fraternities seek and recruit new members. Formal recruitment at Ashland University is held during the first semester and is a week long event. During this week, interested students have the opportunity to visit the groups and see what each has to offer. Look for signs around campus and updates to the website with dates and times for pre-recruitment registration and information sessions.
Ashland University holds formal recruitment during the fall semester of each year.
What are the requirements to join?
Interested members are required to have a 2.5 high school GPA (if he/she is an incoming freshman student), or a 2.3 GPA as a transfer student. Individual chapters may require higher GPAs, involvement in another campus activity, various financial commitments, and a commitment to community service.
What if I only want to be in a certain fraternity or sorority?
Keep an open mind. Joining a Greek organization is a lifelong commitment. Recruitment is a process of mutual selection; you match yourself with a chapter and the chapter matches itself with you. No one can guarantee you a bid to a particular organization. Decide first if Greek life fits your lifestyle, and then explore all of the chapters. Each chapter is based on a set of specific set of values. The combination of these values, the member personalities, the philanthropies of the chapter, the time commitments, and leadership opportunities will help determine which sorority or fraternity suits you and your lifestyle.
What is a bid?
A bid is an invitation from a fraternity or sorority to become a member of its organization.
Does hazing still exist as part of the new member process?
Hazing is a violation of the University policy and state law. University judicial charges can be brought forth for individual students and/or organizations alleged of hazing. Hazing is defined as doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation with any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm or humiliation to any person.
Taken from the Ashland University Student Handbook
Is there a lot of alcohol and substance abuse associated with fraternities and sororities?
For many students, the social aspect of Greek Life is enticing and a major reason to explore fraternity and sorority life. Ashland University is a dry campus and Greek housing is not an exception. Additionally, because of the dangers associated with college binge-drinking and substance abuse, most chapters have mandatory alcohol education sessions on the dangers of substance abuse. Precautions are taken at all events to ensure a safe environment.
How will being in a fraternity or sorority impact my grades?
All of Ashland’s Greek chapters uphold the ideals of academic excellence. Joining and participating in a Greek organization does take time and a student needs to be able to balance the challenge of affiliating with an organization and keeping up with their academic responsibilities. During recruitment, students should ask about the time involved as a member to make sure they can balance their schoolwork, jobs, and other commitments along with Greek life.
On an encouraging note, Greeks at Ashland have a consistently higher GPA than the all-campus average GPA. Each chapter devotes time to scholarship programs, study tables, mentoring programs, academic incentives and other academic support systems.
More questions? Visit other areas of our Greek Life Web site, individual chapter web sites, or feel free to call the Greek Affairs Office at x5303. We look forward to helping you!