<p>How prevalent is the Greek system at Whitman? How many frats/sororities and what are they like?</p>
<p>I am finding out about the Greek stuff now as my son is interested in joining a fraternity. I do not like the idea of the Greek system in general and did not join the very limited Greek system at my college though my suitemates did. However, the fraternities at Whitman seem very attractive to my son.</p>
<p>At Whitman, I understand that about 40% or so of the students are members, but that the system is not exclusive. Parties are open to all after the first hour, which is before anyone would generally show up anyway. In other words, there is not stratification between Greek and independent students.</p>
<p>Does anyone know the cost of joining / living at a fraternity vs. living in the dorms with a food plan? My son seems to believe that the cost of fraternity living is less, which would be a big plus if true.</p>
<p>From what my D tells me the Greek system at Whitman (30 - 35% of students) doesn’t have a dominant presence. Frats are there for those who want that housing and social option in college but they’re pretty inclusive when it comes to socializing. The sororities use a dorm on campus for their housing I believe. D goes to greek parties, feels welcome, and doesn’t feel pressured to join. Whitman is pretty well known as a very friendly campus.</p>
<p>They are essentially housing/social clubs and do not live up to the notorious “Greek system” in any way I can see. Some kids like to have the frat experience. Many/most do not and it certainly does not divide the campus in any significant way. The sororities have halls in a dorm which also has non-Greek halls. From my perspective, they are essentially a “club” with housing and eating options if you happen to like what they offer. (My kids didn’t go that route but it certainly didn’t divide them from friends who did.)</p>
<p>DS joined a frat at Whitman. He is not currently living in the house, and the frat cost for those not in the house was a bit of a shock. He plans to live there in the future, though, and it does look like it is less than the dorms once he does that. He has a lot of friends who aren’t in the frat and there doesn’t seem to be any line between greeks and non-greeks. It looks to me just as mmaah described.</p>
<p>There are 4 fraternities and 3 sororities. They are in the process of adding a fourth sorority because the three are a little overloaded. I wasn’t a big fan of the Greek system, given my own experience at a larger university (long time ago) and what I have seen and heard about Greek life at UC Berkeley, which is just a few minutes away from us. D was active in a sorority at Whitman all 4 years, and LOVED it. It didn’t define her experience, or keep her from connecting with people outside the Greek system, but it was a very important and positive part of her life there. That was her choice. I have to admit I feel much more positive about it now. The sororities do not have houses, they share a dorm and only live in it sophomore year. Dues were relatively small, averaging under $500 a year I think. Frats do have houses with meals, and it seems like a lot of frat members live in the house for more than a year (but I’m not sure about that). Some in the Greek community are the opposite of the Greek stereotype, and some match it exactly. Some of the students not in the Greek community look down on it, while many are just fine with it. Overall, the Greek system at Whitman definitely seems different than at a big school – more inclusive, less traditional, less crazy. But it’s still recognizable as a Greek system. If you haven’t already, check out the Whitman website info: [Greek</a> Life](<a href=“http://www.whitman.edu/content/greeklife/home]Greek”>http://www.whitman.edu/content/greeklife/home)</p>