The whole Greek system here fascinates me. I’ve previously written a post on the madness
that was Sorority Bid day but I can’t just stop at that. So expect to see at
least a few more posts on Frat and Sorority life here in Columbia.
The big question I have is ‘why’?
Why do so many girls and guys put themselves through
recruitment to join, what seems to me, elite sister and brotherhood? Don’t
these people already have real brothers or sisters? Unless you’re an only
child, I think it would be weird to refer to anyone but my family as my sisters
or brothers. I guess that’s the point. Being a part of these groups is like
having a second family. But with that said I will bet 100 bucks that at least
one person decided to go through recruitment just because their childhood
friends were going to sign up too. That’s right – followers. Nothing but sheep.
They couldn’t possibly be left out. But surely there’s a very realistic chance
that you wouldn’t even be placed in the same Sorority as your friends. So why?
So you don’t have to put yourself out there in Fresher’s week and actually make
friends with people who have the same interests as you because you’d already have
this ready-made clique of friends? I don’t know if I’m missing the point and I’m
only seeing them on a face-value kind of way. Never judge a book by it’s cover
ehh? Well first impressions can be very influential. Apart from the ‘Legally
Blonde’ movie I didn’t have any idea what Sorority life was like, my first
impressions were that these girls only ever dress in over sized t-shirts with
different phrases written all over them and thought that because they were Sorority
girls they automatically had a right to date any Fraternity boy they took a
fancy to.
I desperately wanted to be proved wrong. I wanted someone to
explain to me that above all these shallow reasons there was some deeper
meaning. I’ve heard all the hype around
Sororities and that all they’re renowned for is partying and nasty hazing initiations.
But deep down I know that isn’t true. Otherwise the grades you get in high
school wouldn’t mean a thing. It would be like needing a C in your A Level’s to
get into Oxford. To get into a Sorority you have to be high flying academically
(as well as socially) and the support systems within Sororities are huge. I
know because I’ve witnessed it.
The only way I was going to battle stereotypes was to see
these girls beyond skin deep and actually have a sneak into their lives. Luckily
for me, I have met one of the friendliest and down to earth Sorority girls here
at USC and she invited me to attend her ADPi welcome bbq.
Walking through Greek Village my eyes felt like they were
growing larger and larger with every house I passed. Mansions with tall white columns
and stone lions, fitted with Southern rocking chairs on the porches in front of
large green lawns. ‘What is this place?’ I thought. Students in the UK seem to
live in squalor with mould growing on the wall and heating that never works
compared to this life of luxury. The ADPi house was beautiful. I think I was
walking around with my jaw dragging along behind me. I couldn’t get over the
fact that students actually got to live here. Home to 35 girls this mansion
included an industrial sized kitchen and dining area, a formal library, a plush
TV room, further study rooms, and the
biggest bathroom I have ever seen. More like the back stage dressing room of a
famous actress fit for a princess than for supposedly skint students. They have
their very own chefs and even a ‘house mom’ who watches over the girls. I’m not
sure you could get much further from student accommodation in England!
So now I’m even more confused about this whole Greek system.
Pretty girls, who wear oversized t- shirts, are always smiling and laughing, never
seen without a backpack on their back, always willing to lend a hand, raise money
for the disadvantaged, maintain 100% in every class, probably apart of some
sports team or extra-curricular group on campus AND they get to live in a
mansion! Where am I?
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