Hi!
For people with experience at Emory, what are your impressions of Greek Life? I have heard mixed reviews. Is it really that big? The last thing I want is for college to be cliquey like High School, and I have heard that is a symptom of sororities. However, I have gone to summer camp all my life and I love the idea of having a tight group of friends to spend my time with.
I am also a bit rattled by the fact that Greek Life is said to be seen as a place for only the annoying, shallow people at Emory, but it is such a rich campus with brilliant kids, how can that be true?
Is there hazing for girls? Truly I am getting very worked up about this aspect!!
I don’t know if I’d join or not!!
Please help! Thanks!
Hey there, I’m currently a freshman(guy) at Emory and I have a couple of friends that rushed this semester and I myself am deciding to this upcoming spring semester.
In every college there are going to be annoying, shallow people even at a great place like Emory but that’s only a really few minority. For the most part most people in campus don’t really mind Greek life and I guess people are sort of indifferent to it. Greek life is about 30% of the total school population so even if you aren’t in one you don’t really have to worry as there will be 70% that aren’t involved with greek life. Even if you aren’t in a frat/sorority you can get yourself into a lot of the events/party without worrying too much.
As for hazing I’m not exactly sure but for sororities but I haven’t heard anything horrible from the pledging process. If you are on the fence always go to the mixers (info session type thing) get to know the sorority and then if you feel like its a good fit feel free to join. But if you are worried wait a semester see which sororities you think you’ll like (you’ll hear more about it on campus and get a better feel for it) then you can rush then!
Hope this helps and eases your problems!
Often Greeklife will not necessarily reflect the university itself as those organizations typically have their own culture (most are national charters) and draw those interested in that culture (so if Greeklife was 50% at Emory, then yes, it would be more representative of Emory as a whole). Usually the characteristics of those in the orgs. is reflective of that broader culture. People pretty much get in where they fit in. As for hazing…come on, we know it exists (one can jump up and down and deny all they want), but I’m gonna guess it isn’t too horrible at Emory. Nothing like what you hear coming out of large state schools or truly Greek dominated schools.
One advantage about Greeklife at Emory is that it appears much more ethnically diverse than at other schools so at least that part of the University IS actually representative in Greeklife. Can I claim that this makes them feel much different than less diverse chapters? no…I have no idea and again, the cultural norms of each org. may basically select for minorities that “fit” (this basically raises the question of whether or not ethnicity should be the measuring stick of diversity) them so to speak,
With that said, 70% is more than enough to find a niche (or several) outside of that sphere if you don’t care for it. There isn’t necessarily a schism on campus (like you see with 40/60 ot 50/50 schools) or anything, though I get this feeling that Emory administration is rethinking the role of Greeklife on campus. I personally wish it would remain present, but just lesser so (maybe 15-20%?). Gasp! How dare I suggest such a thing. It provides a good social outlet in some senses, but it can have its drawbacks at school like Emory, but there are even (naturally) a few more “radical” than what I am who fundamentally disagree with what it stands for altogether (several interesting articles in the Wheel arguing the issue out-especially with regard to the nature of recruitment efforts and how they are conducted- I tend to air on the side of “let it be until it poses very serious harm in terms of safety or campus culture” which it really hasn’t…and when kind of bad incidents do happen, the administration is very strict so it could be somewhat of a deterrent).
thanks for the great insight! 
but I thought hazing was banned for emory? http://policies.emory.edu/8.11
@AriaSalvatore : Yes, because every rule or law is heavily enforced by the one who created it.That is like Marijuana being banned in the United States…you literally make it illegal, but different locales deal with it in different ways. Most universities are going to look the other way with hazing until someone who experiences it tells an administrator and indeed wants action taken. Emory is very strict when that happens and has recently kicked off/ended its direct affiliation with many Greek orgs. because of students coming forward. Like under-aged drinking, the goal is just being smart enough not to get caught (which, in the case of hazing, likely only happens if someone feels violated enough or singled out for harsher hazing or something. There has also been literature suggesting that students either a) don’t know if they are being hazed or b) the former is just denial…). The orgs. who get kicked out got caught.
thanks @bernie12!