<p>Could anyone tell me about the greek life on campus? Does it dominate the social scene? Does it add/take away from the Colgate community?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Officially, there are six fraternities and three sororities. There are two or three underground organizations that are not recognized/in limbo. At Colgate, you do not pledge until sophomore year which gives students a chance to discover what greek life at Colgate is like and if they want to rush a house(s).</p>
<p>Does it dominate the social scene? I wouldn’t say it dominates it as there are other events on campus, but I would say that greek life is the dominant force on the social scene. The reasons for this are multifaceted but from my observance a large part of this is because the more social/active students are the ones most likely to be drawn to Greek Life. Also, things put on by student groups tend to be tamer and more like discussions/programming/dances than social events or true parties. </p>
<p>Whether or not it adds to the Colgate community is a topic with strong opinions on both sides. My answer to it is yes it does add to the community because it creates community. Greek life allowed me to develop leadership skills, have an active social life, and make more lasting friendships than I would have without it. Knowing I can go to any major city in the USA, and some beyond it, and have a good friend to stay with is certainly comforting (and a great excuse to travel). I went to school not wanting to be part of greek life at Colgate, but am very happy I gave it a chance and know I would have enjoyed my Colgate experience less had I not joined.</p>
<p>I was in a sorority at Colgate. One of the more tame ones. Talk to a few students there and you’ll figure out which one I was in.</p>
<p>I served on the sorority council and I learned a LOT about what Greek life meant for Colgate. Greek life is really atypical at Colgate in comparison to similar institutions. Colgate is about a community as a whole. Greek students are very active in MANY student organizations. Very Greek students make Greek life their whole world. Colgate students are extremely well-rounded- involved in at least 2-4 ECs. I do advocate for students to rush, not just to get in, but to have an opportunity to meet a range of people in a social (and sober) setting and practice their networking skills.</p>
<p>The administration and Greek students work very hard to create a positive relationship. In order to placate the administration, Greek students do have to bring their iinterpersonal skills and leadership, and essentially set an example for the rest of the campus. That’s why you will see so many Greeks who are leaders in their own student organizations.</p>
<p>It is still possible to have a terrific Colgate experience without pursuing Greek life but this is just to give you an idea of the good in Greek life. My best friends were actually out of the Greek system and they did just fine. They were no way envious of the kind of social life Greeks have. They had their own concerns and interests that they wanted to pursue.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if I would agree with above regarding alumni connections. I have had terrible time so far. Maybe it’s the location that I’ve decided on. Maybe I just have very different interests, or just lost interest in my sorority. Or maybe it’s just that my sorority’s national reputation is similar to the perceived traditional sorority girl stereotype, that kind of girls I would not make friends with in the first place. (I didn’t find this out until a year after I pledged…).</p>
<p>You will find terrific alumni connections as a Colgate Raider however.</p>
<p>This really helps, thanks!</p>
<p>The last statistics I saw for fraternity and sorority membership at Colgate was “around’” 30% (maybe 35%?). Keep in mind, that this includes some groups living in separate houses and others that are not. There is a kind of old-fashioned frat/sorority culture at Colgate, but it’s hardly dominant, and many members of these organizations are completely open-minded, modern, progressive, whatever term you want to use. It’s not true that if you’re in a frat or sorority that you’re automatically a jock, conservative, or “rah rah”. A few fraternities and sororities actually pride themselves on being very progressive. It’s easy to stereotype. The great majority of Colgate students don’t join, however, and all students mix very comfortably. There is no dividing wall of status between groups. Fraternity and sorority housing is mixed in with college “interest houses” based on academic or cultural interests. As with so much at Colgate, you go in the direction that you find most appealing.</p>