Going Greek
When Shane Ellis arrived at Slippery Rock University as a freshman, he didn't just know his course of study, he also knew he wanted to be a part of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
His older brother, Brendan, was in the fraternity as an underclassman at the University of Richmond in Virginia. And Shane was able to initiate his own twin brother, Matthew, when he later enrolled at SRU and pledged the fraternity.
It's a family thing.
Shane, of Honesdale, Wayne County, is now a senior and president of the chapter, one of 17 Greek organizations on the SRU campus.
While the majority of students at SRU do not join a fraternity or sorority, Ellis says he would never have missed the opportunity.
The Greek organizations at SRU have about 400 members, according to Justin Dandoy, a graduate student in the Center for Involvement and Leadership. That is roughly 5 percent of the student enrollment.
While many of the members choose to live together in dorms or apartments, Dandoy said, the campus does not have housing specifically reserved for SRU's Greek chapters.
The typical "frat house" is also absent from Grove City College, according to Larry Hardesty, vice president for student life. But sorority and fraternity members can live together on specific floors of the dormitories.
The use of the Greek alphabet to identify an organization stretches back to the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., where Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776.By the early 19th century, "Greek" fraternities were spreading throughout the country. Women's groups soon followed. Phi Beta Kappa still exists today as a national academic honor society, rather than a social fraternity.Dandoy said while many organizations adopt Greek letters for a name, it's the traditional social fraternities and sororities that are commonly identified as "being Greek."Academic honor societies and professional organizations that use Greek letters, Dandoy said, "are really focused on whatever their specific purpose is. They don't have that all-encompassing experience. They are focused on advancing a particular subject matter."Most traditional Greek chapters at SRU are affiliated with a national organization, Dandoy said. There are seven traditional male fraternities under the Interfraternity Council, or IFC. Six female chapters are governed by the National Panhellenic Conference, a governing organization for women's sororities.There are four traditionally African-American Greek chapters under the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Dandoy said, and one independent multicultural, mixed-gender Greek organization.The 18 Greek organizations at Grove City College are independent chapters and not affiliated with a national organization, Hardesty said. At GCC, he added, the fraternities and sororities sponsor many events that are open to the college community."While they have the sisterhood and brotherhood," he said, "they are still a part of the campus. They see themselves as part of the Grove City College community first, and then as part of the (Greek) group."The reasons for students to join a fraternity or sorority are diverse."As far as why somebody would want to be in one of these organizations," Dandoy said, "It's a one-stop shop as far as student organizations. You get all types of experience. You get leadership experience. And there is the social aspect to it."There are other aspects as well. Each organization is expected to do community service and philanthropy work."Dandoy also noted that Greek organizations are expected to maintain academic standards.It was that instant connection that drew Tonimichelle Copertino of Milford, Conn., to the SRU chapter of Alpha Xi Delta."I was an out-of-state student," she said. "I didn't know many people. My roommate never showed up. I'm a very outgoing person and I like to be around people. Everyone talks around campus, and that's how I learned about the Greeks."Copertino wasn't without reservation."I wasn't sure because of all the stereotypes, but I met the sisters and I just loved them," she said.Now, as a senior, she serves as her chapter's president and talks to freshmen who are in the same circumstance she was four years ago."It might sound silly, and it's hard to explain, but we tell the girls, 'Find where you fit.'"It might just be that you connect with the girls of that chapter. You might have a lot of the same interests. I was really just drawn, and that's what it's about — where you find your fit."
Fraternities and sororities have been associated in movies with alcohol abuse and promiscuous behavior. The practice of hazing, or initiating new members in a humiliating, and sometimes dangerous, ritual, has long been associated with Greek organizations.After public anti-hazing initiatives, the practice is now a crime in more than 44 states, including Pennsylvania, according to the website www.stophazing.org."I don't pretend those images and stereotypes don't exist," Dandoy said. "And I don't pretend that sometimes those organizations don't feed those stereotypes. But those are the things that get noticed. A lot of the good things these organizations do don't get noticed. They don't get publicized."Today, the weight of a negative public image still presses on Greek organizations, and is felt from the national councils to the local chapters and members. Through a focus on philanthropic work, academic achievement and personal responsibility, members are working to turn public perception around.Ellis said the recruiting theme for Pi Kappa Alpha revolves around the acronym "SLAG.""It means 'scholars, leaders, athletes and gentlemen,'" Ellis said, stressing a well-rounded philosophy for the fraternity.At SRU, each local Greek organization is also associated with a national charity or cause. At GCC, chapters become involved in local, regional and national events."Greek life is pretty intertwined with the community," Hardesty said. "Many of our leaders are aware that image is out there and they need to not make decisions that perpetuate it. 'Animal House' set fraternities and sororities back pretty well.""We definitely have to overcome the stereotypes as a whole," Copertino agrees. "It's an everyday battle. ... Whenever we are wearing our letters and walk around campus, we have to realize that we are held to a higher standard because all eyes are on us. Once you're Greek, you are held to a higher standard."
<B>SRU SORORITIES</B>Alpha Kappa AlphaAlpha Omicron PiAlpha Sigma TauAlpha Xi DeltaDelta ZetaPhi Sigma SigmaZeta Phi Beta<BR></BR><B>SRU FRATERNITIES</B>Alpha Sigma PhiKappa Delta RhoKappa SigmaOmega Psi PhiPhi Beta SigmaPi Kappa AlphaPi Kappa PhiSigma Sigma SigmaSigma Tau GammaTheta Xi<BR></BR><B>GCC SORORITIES</B>Alpha Beta TauGamma ChiGamma Sigma PhiPhi Sigma ChiSigma Delta PhiSigma Theta ChiTheta Alpha PiZeta Zeta Zeta<BR></BR><B>GCC FRATERNITIES</B>AdelphikosBeta SigmaDelta Iota KappaEpsilon PiKappa Alpha PhiNu Lambda PhiOmicron XiPan SophicPhi Tau AlphaSigma Alpha Sigma
