Prospective Members
What does Greek Life have to offer GSW University students?
How does a student become involved with Greek Life at GSW?
What are the advantages of becoming affiliated with the GSW
Fraternity
and Sorority community?
Will being a member of a fraternity or sorority assist students
as they
begin their careers?
Does it cost a lot to be a fraternity or sorority member?
What is the time commitment involved in a Greek letter organization?
Are Greeks really like the actors in Animal House?
What about hazing in fraternities and sororities?
What does being Greek really mean?
What is some common Greek Terminology that I may need to know?
What does the Greek Alphabet look like?
What does Greek Life have to
offer GSW University students?
The fraternity and sorority community at GSW University
is comprised of twelve (inter)nationally affiliated Greek letter
organizations. Many students find that joining a fraternity or sorority
provides them a home away from home and a foundation upon which to build a
new and exciting future. In addition, the GSW University fraternity and
sorority community opens many doors by providing leadership, academic,
athletic, service, and interpersonal opportunities. The decision to join a
Greek letter organization is a lifelong commitment with an organization that
stands for the best things college has to offer.
How does a student become involved with Greek Life at GSW?
Each semester, the Inter-fraternity, National
Pan-Hellenic and Panhellenic Councils sponsor a number of organized
recruitment events opportunities for non-affiliated students to become
acquainted with the fraternity and sorority community. During Formal
Recruitment and Intake, non-affiliated students have the opportunity to
visit all of the fraternities and sororities to meet the members and decide
which, if any, of the chapters best suit their needs. The recruitment
process is one of mutual selection in which fraternity and sorority members
invite individuals to be a part of their organizations, and likewise,
potential members select the chapters that are best suited for them.
Recruitment and NPHC Intake at Georgia Southwestern is alcohol-free: that
is, NO alcohol is allowed at any formal recruitment or intake activity. Even
if students are unsure about joining a fraternity or sorority, recruitment
and intake offers a great opportunity to meet new people!
What are the advantages of becoming affiliated with the GSW Fraternity and
Sorority community?
Becoming a member of the fraternity and sorority
community will provide you with a number of experiences that will help you
prepare for not only a career, but also for life. These advantages include
developing leadership skills by chairing a committee or assuming an
executive board position; succeeding academically with the help of organized
study hours; increasing awareness and knowledge of a variety of topics such
as alcohol awareness, risk management, multiculturalism, and acquaintance
rape prevention; and developing enduring friendships and memories that last
long after graduation. The following are but a few areas in which you can
benefit through participation in Greek Life at GSW University:
Leadership
At GSW University, the fraternity and sorority
community is committed to providing its members with vast opportunities for
leadership responsibilities. Each member is encouraged to actively
participate in chapter and campus-wide leadership roles. Fraternity and
sorority members also develop leadership skills through leadership retreats,
national conventions, and other resources available on campus, in addition
to the learning and self-discovery associated with holding a leadership
position.
Scholarship
The fraternity and sorority community strives for the
development of academic excellence among all members. All chapters at
Georgia Southwestern maintain GPA requirements for both membership and for
assuming major leadership positions. There is a commonly held belief or
stereotype that joining a fraternity or sorority is harmful to one's studies
and grades. Georgia Southwestern reviews grade performance each semester for
Greek-affiliated and non-Greek students. Studies over the past several years
have shown that there is virtually no difference in grade performance
between these groups. Obviously, individual differences can be dramatic at
times on both sides of the equation, but a fair and complete review has
shown that on average there is no statistical difference between these
groups of students.
Service
Community service and philanthropy work are an
important aspect of Greek Life at Georgia Southwestern. Chapters offer
hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars each year to fulfill their
commitment to both the campus and the community. Funds raised and time
donated directly benefit local and national charitable organizations.
Social
The Greek community provides a unique social life which
blends events such as formal dances, sports, Greek Week, theme parties, and
brotherhood and sisterhood functions to encourage the personal development
of members through social contact. Each chapter develops its own social
calendar and is encouraged to responsibly plan events which promote a full
spectrum of social activities for its members.
Athletics
Fraternities and sororities offer a special opportunity
to become actively involved in athletics at Georgia Southwestern.
Fraternities and sororities are active participants in the campus
intramurals program, and many chapter members are involved in campus-wide
varsity athletics as well.
Will being a member of a fraternity or sorority assist students as they
begin their careers?
One of the tremendous assets of affiliation with a
fraternity or sorority is the nationwide network of alumni/ae members of the
organization. As a student prepares for entry into the career world, alumni/ae
members can assist in job placement through their knowledge of where jobs
are and who is hiring. In addition, Greek Life will assist students in
developing transferable skills that will be needed in the career world, such
as management, leadership development, communications, and more!
Does it cost a lot to be a fraternity or sorority member?
Joining a fraternity or a sorority does have a
financial commitment. The chapters are self-supporting through dues paid by
their members. When students join a fraternity or sorority, they also agree
to pay dues and fees while in school to maintain membership. Although
chapters may make accommodations for special needs, students should discuss
the financial obligations with their parents before deciding to join.
Each chapter has different dues for membership that cover such things as
chapter and national dues, dues to the chapters governing council, social
activities, resources, and other miscellaneous costs. Specific financial
information for each organization is available during Recruitment.
What is the time commitment involved in belonging to a Greek letter
organization?
There is no
minimum or maximum time that a student must donate to the fraternity or
sorority. Through involvement with the chapter, students will learn to
better manage their time by balancing academics, work, and other
commitments. Students find that being active in a fraternity or sorority is
well worth the time they put into it.
Are Greeks really like the actors in
ANIMAL HOUSE?
Many people
have the misconception that the image of fraternities and sororities
depicted in Animal House
is really what is happening on college campuses across America. In reality,
the Animal House
image of Greek Life could not be further from the truth.
The GSW University Greek community promotes responsibility in our
activities. The governing councils encourage responsibility in a number of
ways. Through judicial boards, chapters, and governing councils, we hold
accountable those members of the fraternity and sorority community who do
not act appropriately.
What about hazing in fraternities and sororities?
Fraternities and sororities were founded on strong moral, social, and
academic principles. Hazing, or any activity which subjects members to
harassment, intimidation, physical exhaustion, or mental distress is
entirely contrary to those founding principles. Each of the (inter)national
organizations at GSW University as well as University policy and state law
forbid hazing in all student activities at the University.
What does being Greek really mean?
Membership in a fraternity or sorority is a lifetime commitment. Choosing
the Greek community means working with a group of men or women who can
exchange and stand for common goals and ideas while being held to a higher
standard than other college students. The fraternity and sorority experience
during the college years is a gateway to many rewards and connections later
in life.
Each of the twelve chapters develop a special bond often called brotherhood
or sisterhood. Both are nurtured through common work, laughter, service
projects, intramurals, and the shared successes and frustrations of all.
Throughout the student's life, membership will be an unwritten bond of
friendship no matter what course his/her life takes.
What is some common Greek Terminology that I may need to know?
Common Greek Terminology
Active: An initiated fraternity or sorority member who is affiliated with a campus chapter.
Alumnus: An initiated member of a fraternity or sorority who is no longer in college.
Badge: The badge of an initiated member is received during the initiation ceremony and worn in a designated location.
Bid: A formal invitation for membership from a Greek-letter organization.
Chapter: A term used to describe the collegiate group of a fraternity or sorority.
Colony: A term used to describe the collegiate group of a fraternity or sorority in a new organization on the campus.
Greeks: A term applied to members affiliated with Greek-letter organizations.
Greek Week: An annual celebration held in the spring in which chapters participate in athletic events, community service, brotherhood and sisterhood activities, an awards ceremony, and various
Initiation: A traditional, secret ceremony that brings a new member into full Greek membership.
Inter-fraternity Council (IFC): IFC is the governing body of all five campus fraternities. This organization provides leadership and programming for the chapters.
Legacy: A potential member whose grandparent, parent, brother or sister is a member of a fraternity or sorority.
New Member: A potential member who has accepted a bid from a fraternity or sorority. May also be referred to as an “associate.”
Non-affiliated: Those GSW students not involved with an inter/national Greek-letter organization. Often referred to as “independents.”
NPHC – The National Panhellenic Council is the governing body for the seven historically African-American fraternities and sororities chartered at GSW.
Order of Omega: Members are juniors and seniors who are initiated members of a fraternity or sorority and have attained a high standard of leadership and scholarship in the Greek community.
Panhellenic Council: Panhellenic is the governing body for the eight campus sororities. This organization provides leadership and programming for the chapters.
Potential Member: An individual interested in becoming a member of a fraternity or sorority.
Quota: The number of women to whom each sorority may extend bids.
Recruitment: Refers to the process by which chapters select new members. Deferred Recruitment refers to a time when the formal recruitment process happens in the second semester.
Ritual: The traditional, secret initiation ceremonies of a fraternity or sorority.
Recruitment Counselor: A representative from a sorority that aids female potential members in their formal recruitment process.
What does the Greek Alphabet look like?
