For many the choice is simple, but for some, deciding whether or not to go Greek is difficult and confusing. Exploring the entire Greek community before making a decision is the best option. Each Fraternity offers something a little different, but as a whole, the Greek community brings a world of new opportunity and enhances the college experience in endless ways.

A study sponsored by the National Interfraternity Conference (NIC) and the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), and performed by the Center for Advanced Social Research at the University of Missouri-Columbia found these results in relation to Greek life involvement:

• Students involved in Greek Life are more likely to stay in college.
• Students involved in Greek Life perform at a higher level in the classroom.
• Students involved in Greek Life have a stronger commitment to their university.
• Students involved in Greek Life are more involved in their community, including civic groups, religious organizations, and volunteer activities.

Source: Sigma Phi Epsilon, Kansas Eta Chapter

Greek life also enhances the college experience in many ways. Following are just a few of the values and opportunities that involvement in the Greek community brings:

Scholarship is the basis for the entire Greek system. Fraternity and Sorority ideals stress the importance of high scholastic achievement, as learning is the primary reason students even attend college. All Greek organizations require that a minimum GPA be met both to join and to remain active as a member. Many groups organize study or tutoring groups, require specific study hours, and distribute scholastic awards.

Friendship and Brotherhood Along with Fraternity membership comes a special relationship that is not just mutual friendship, but a bond of brotherhood as well. Not only are men within a Fraternity brothers, but all affiliated men are brothers within the Greek community.

Diversity Greek life introduces its members to a very diverse group of people. Though all brothers share in a mutual bond of brotherhood and friendship, they also experience diversity within the group. In one Fraternity, members come together from across many nations, ethnic groups, backgrounds, and experiences.

Community Service Greek involvement provides numerous opportunities for participation in volunteering and community service. Service is one of the primary goals of the Greek community. Greek organizations contribute a great deal of time and money to local and national service learning projects and philanthropies each year, as these figures easily top over 100,000 hours and $3.5 million yearly.

Leadership is the greatest attribute that Greek affiliation brings. As an active member, you will be presented with numerous opportunities for leadership and gain valuable skills for use later in life: confidence, independence, communication skills, reliability, and the ability to function as an individual for the advancement of the entire group.

Social Opportunities and Networking Contrary to popular belief, social interaction is not the sole reason for the Greek system's existence and prosperity. It is however, a vital part of the Greek experience. Greeks participate in formal and informal dances, mixers, meetings, banquets, service projects, Greek Week and/or Greek Olympics, and much more. These interactions promote meeting new and diverse people, making new friends, celebrating achievements, and very importantly, networking. The Greek community brings to each of its members an opportunity to interact and form solid and lasting relationships that will benefit them for years to come.

Honor and Tradition It is a great honor to join the ranks of so many others that have also participated in the Greek experience. By choosing to enter into the Greek community, you are choosing not only to follow in the footsteps of many successful and prosperous Greeks before you, but to continue and add to the elite tradition that is Greek life.

Did You Know?

That more than 7 million men and women in the United States and Canada are Greek?

That while Fraternity men make up only 2% of the world population...

• approximately 85% of the top executives in Fortune 500 companies are Fraternity men?
• 71% of men listed in Who's Who in America Are Fraternity men?
• 76% of the current United States Senators and Congressmen are Fraternity men?
• 40 of the 47 Supreme Court Justices since 1910 have been Fraternity men?
• 100 of the 158 cabinet members since 1900 have been Fraternity men?
• all but 3 United States Presidents since 1825 have been Fraternity men?

Source: Northeastern University IFC

For more information about Greek life on the Ohio Wesleyan Campus, including recruitment sign-up forms and requirements, visit the OWU Fraternity & Sorority Life website or the OWU Greek Life Facebook page.