Sorority Parents Blog

college life, community service, Greek life, mother's perspective, Parent's Perspective, philanthropy, sorority life, volunteering

It’s that time of year again-end of the school year.  Not just for college students but also high school students.  They are making final commitments to where they will attend college in the fall and starting to explore the question, “do I want to join a sorority?”  The answer I hope will be yes!

One of my roles with Zeta Tau Alpha is to recommend women from North Carolina as potential members to chapters around the country.  I start talking to my friends and neighbors with daughters who will be going to college in the fall and highlighting the benefits of joining an NPC sorority.  Inevitably, I am rebuffed by a few who have made up their minds that all fraternities and sororities are filled with drunken party people who haze their members or damage property and don’t want their daughters to be part of it.  They have bought into the media perception of Greek life as over-privileged young people and this idea completely overshadows all the good that fraternities and sororities do for their members, their communities and for the greater good.

Now don’t get me wrong.  I am not naive enough to believe that the above mentioned bad behaviors don’t happen.  I know they do-you see the stories on the news, in the paper, all over the internet.  But for everyone one of these types of stories, there are hundreds of stories that go unprinted that would shine the light on just how much community service and philanthropy work these young men and women do in the name of their organizations.

All Greek organizations support both National philanthropies as well as local causes to instill in their members a sense of service, giving to others and to learn about something greater than themselves. Zeta Tau Alpha adopted Breast Cancer Education and Awareness as its National Philanthropy in 1992.  Even though I had already graduated college, as an Alumna I got involved in this philanthropy.  I have passed out ribbons at NFL games, spoke at Komen Race for the Cure events and raised money for the ZTA Foundation to support this philanthropy.  I don’t think I would have learned to make this an important part of my life had it not been for my Greek experience.  And early on, I brought both my daughters with me to events to expose them to serving others.  So it was no surprise to me that when Emily started Formal Recruitment, that her favorite day was Philanthropy Day.  It was important to her, that whatever sorority she joined had a strong commitment to philanthropy and service.  Alpha Omicron Pi’s national philanthropy is the Arthritis Foundation and my daughter has participated in her chapter’s 2 major fundraisers-an annual dodge ball tournament and an annual spaghetti dinner.  Members of sororities also get the opportunity to help with other Greek organizations’ fundraisers and service projects.  But it doesn’t stop with just helping each other out.  Most Greek organizations participate (in some cases organize and coordinate) their campus Relay for Life events for cancer research.  You will find fraternities and sororities helping Girl Scouts and Boys Scouts troops or Big Brothers and Big Sisters, collecting items for local shelters and food banks, cleaning sections of highways, bringing awareness to issues that affect all of us.

One such cause that has come light in the last few days is the UA Greek Relief Fund.  The city of Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama were hit hard by the tornadoes last week.  The Greek men and women mobilized and created an organization to help their community.  They have been raising funds as well as collecting and distributing meals to those in need.  They are also collecting toiletries, health supplies and clothing.  This time of year, you expect college students to be focused on finals or end of year parties or packing up and going home.  These men and women are staying behind and giving of themselves.  They are living their creeds, their values, the rituals of their fraternities and sororities.  Their Founders would be proud.

So if you are a parent not sure if you want your daughter to join a sorority because of the negative news you have heard, I encourage you to dig a little deeper.  Look beyond the news and find the great things Greek men and women are doing.  If your daughter is already a sorority member, ask her what her group does for philanthropy and service.  You might be amazed just how much they do!

One of my favorite quotes about Greek Life is this: “Fraternity and Sorority members are not only encouraged and expected to do well, but also do good.”

May your daughters also do both!

If you wish to help the UA Greek Relief Fund, see their website:  www.uagreekrelief.com