Going, going, gone Greek
Greek life at St. Mary's University is big. Really big.
It is no great kept secret that StMU has an immense and spirited Greek life. These "Greeks" are easy to spot around campus because they are usually sporting their letters on an article of clothing, laptop, or vehicle. If you still can't point them out, then just take a walk through the Quad on Friday mornings when all the fraternities and sororities display their letters and socialize.About 13% of females and 10% of males at St. Mary's University are Greek members, according to the University's online statistics. But what exactly is the big deal with Greek life on this particular campus? Most college students in general are hesitant to join fraternities and sororities because of the stereotypical idea that they are closely associated with hazing, alcohol, and partying. This, however, is not the case at our small liberal arts institution.
According to the College Panhellenic Council, which is the governing body of the four social Greek Letter organizations on campus, hazing is strictly prohibited and in order to be eligible for recruitment a student must have 12 hours of University classroom work and at least a 2.0 GPA. However, most organizations require a higher GPA to be able to pledge and the student must maintain that GPA throughout his membership.
Another characteristic that is highly stressed by these Greek Letter organizations is community service. The mission of Greek life is for its members to become active leaders in their community, and Greeks account for most community service hours in relation to the rest of the students on campus.
As for the social aspect of it all, it is clearly visible to all students just how dedicated these Greek members are to their letters. Claudia Charbel,senior english communication arts major says, "Being part of a Greek sorority has truly made me a better person. People think that it's all partying but in reality, you learn so much about yourself, your community, and your peers. I would recommend anyone to go Greek!"