Greek Life

As Newtown High School seniors get ready for their post-secondary educational plans, there are many decisions they must make prior to move-in. Some of these decisions include which meal plan to dine with for the semester, whether or not to study abroad, and which housing arrangement is best. However, one of the biggest decisions for many incoming freshmen is whether or not to Go Greek.

            Fraternity and sorority life is what makes or breaks a college experience for many college students. For some, joining Greek life provides an immediate sense of community, leadership opportunities, and a packed calendar of social events. Others may hesitate, weighing concerns about time commitment, cost, or the culture associated with certain organizations. 

            The first fraternity was created at the College of William and Mary in 1776. Today, there are over 26,975 sororities and fraternities in the US alone. 

            One of the most appealing aspects of Greek life is the built-in support system it offers. For freshmen adjusting to a new environment, having an immediate group of peers to lean on may be a deciding factor for a prospective student. 

NHS senior Ava Warner was admitted and will be attending the University of South Carolina and plans to rush in the fall 2025.

            “I’m so excited to go to a school that gives me the opportunity to join a sorority because I’ve seen firsthand how meaningful it can be to my college experience. My older sister loved rushing and the opportunities her sorority brought her,” Warner said. “She is still close with girls she met during rush, even four years after graduating.” 

            The appeal of meeting new people and making connections is very important to some students. 

“I’m looking forward to finding that same kind of lasting sisterhood and being part of a supportive, empowering community as I start my next chapter,” Warner said. 

There are many aspects of Greek life that are not often shown on social media. For example, in Louisiana, a student recently died while being hazed, a part of their initiation ritual of Omega Psi Phi of Southern University. This student was punched repeatedly with boxing gloves in a secluded woods just off of campus, before he collapsed and died due to chest injury. Currently three of his ‘soon to be fraternity brothers’ are being charged with manslaughter. 

“It’s nice to have immediate friends through Greek life, but it is better to just join clubs or intramurals in order to meet new people. It also doesn't seem right for the freshmen to have to be at the beck and call of upperclassmen just to get into a certain frat,” NHS senior Gianna Galassi said.

Many schools have enforced a no hazing rule onto all of their on-campus Greek houses, in hopes of keeping these groups and communities of students safe. 

“While the initiation process seems really scary as a freshman pledge, I know it will be worth it once I’m a part of a big brotherhood,” NHS senior Ryan Brown said. Brown will be attending Bryant University in the fall. 

It may seem like an excuse to live with your friends in a big house, however most fraternities and sorority houses are connected to different organizations and help immensely with fundraising.

“Going Greek has made me a better person, friends, volunteer, etc. Through our 5 different philanthropies, I have become an active volunteer within the Harrisonburg community and have helped raise over $100,000 for the Alzheimer's Association,” James Madison University student, member of Sigma Kappa, and NHS 2023 graduate Nella Walsh said.

Sororities and Fraternities have proven to be a primitive source for many students’ social lives as they navigate college life. For some larger southern schools it is almost a given that all students join Greek life on campus. 

Other than fundraising and community service obligations, by joining Greek life, many students come out of it with lifelong friends.

“I decided to go through rush to put myself out there and meet more people. I immediately fell in love with the process and the girls at Sigma Kappa. It gave me the sense of comfortability and security that I had been looking for since my parents left at move in,” Walsh said.