<p>I want to hear from current and former SMU students and other members of the SMU community about Greek life. I got in EA and I'm still waiting to hear back from other schools, but as of now SMU in the top two, so there is a good chance I'll end up at SMU.
Before, I wasn't too keen on Greek life, but now I'm kind of considering it. So if people could offer some insight on sororities and fraternities at SMU, that would be great, thanks!</p>
<p>I’m a girl, btw, if that changes your answers in any way.</p>
<p>The best part about Greek life at SMU is that we have deferred recruitment, which means you have an entire semester to consider whether or not joining a Greek organization is something you are interested in doing. You have plenty of time to get to know students who are involved in organizations across campus, including Greek life. You’ll be able to make your decision once you have a little more information and experience under your belt! Some people decide they want to pursue Greek life, and some people decide they have enough going on without it! It’s a completely personal decision.</p>
<p>Going Greek has been a wonderful experience for me at SMU and I love my sorority. However, I also have lots of wonderful SMU memories that don’t revolve around my Greek status. Whatever you decide, make it your own experience and you can’t go wrong!</p>
<p>Hi! I’m currently in a sorority at SMU and absolutely love it. There are so many facets to greek life, such as meeting friends and being part of fun events on campus. Additionally, there are other great parts of greek life that people don’t normally realize is a part of being in a sorority or fraternity–all the great times spent volunteering for your respective philanthropy and the sheer friendship and comfort that comes with having a house to go to should you have a bad day or just need a shoulder to lean on. </p>
<p>It sounds like you are level-headed about going through recruitment, that’s great! Keep an open mind about it first semester and just be yourself and you should have a great experience. Each sorority and fraternity brings something different to the table. Greek life has been a fantastic supplement to my college experience, but that being said, it’s not the only way to get involved at SMU. There are so many outlets for involvement at SMU should you decide not to go through recruitment. I would just recommend when you get here first semester to explore your different options, keep an open mind, and then decide! You have a whole semester to figure it out.</p>
<p>Thanks guys! I’m planning on joining the Daily Campus, so that will take up a good chunk of time in addition to classes and socializing and everything else.
I will, however, point out that there have been a few events recently that don’t put Greek life in the best light-the guy who sexually assaulted another male student in the fall, a frat recently suspended, etc. How often does that stuff happen?</p>
<p>These cases are definitely not the norm at SMU and it’s so frustrating when the poor choices of a few reflect harshly on many. Greek life at SMU doesn’t condone that kind of behavior and both the school and the fraternities reacted quickly to re-inforce that those kinds of behaviors will not be tolerated. Please don’t let a few bad apples sour your view about SMU and Greek life in general! </p>
<p>(FYI: The first case you mentioned has already been dismissed by the ADA for lack of evidence.)</p>
<p>Fraternities are being kicked off of many campuses, some college would like to abolish them all together to avoid hazing and liability. Do not judge one school against the other, be thankful that some colleges do kick frats off for bad behavior! Just google it!</p>
<p>With that said, there will always be some sort of " right of passage" to enter a frat, they are not going to hand out roses and sing you a song at initiation, it’s just a fact! Hopefully they get more into mind games then alcohol chugging!</p>
<p>As far as sexual assault, that remains questionable, until we know the facts. Did the accuser drop his complaint? Was he just mad he was not accepted? Need the facts on that one. Sorry, UNC is dealing with this right now. It is everywhere and needs to be addressed.</p>
<p>The victim in the case referenced above said he was “shell shocked” by the decision to drop the case. There was a recorded phone conversation between the defendant and the victim indicating that the victim did not willingly consent. Each individual is free to speculate as to what led to the dismissal of charges.
[Sexual</a> assault charge against former SMU student dropped | Dallasnews.com - News for Dallas, Texas - The Dallas Morning News](<a href=“http://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/headlines/20130318-sexual-assault-charge-against-former-smu-student-dropped.ece]Sexual”>http://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/headlines/20130318-sexual-assault-charge-against-former-smu-student-dropped.ece)</p>
<p>wow, that is really sad!</p>
<p>The hardest thing about Greek Life is that there are a lot of kids who go through recruitment and don’t get in a frat or sorority. While most of those kids go on to join other organizations, I think most of them wish they had gotten a bid and feel they missed out.</p>
<p>I honestly don’t believe that a lot of kids don’t get into a fraternity or sorority. Most of the time in these situations someone is convinced that they will only accept a bid from one or two organizations and they choose to drop out of the process on their own if they don’t receive one of those bids. This is really a shame as there are many wonderful organizations!!</p>
<p>Just to address Rice1961s comment about students who don’t get bids - I was a Rho Gamma last recruitment (which means I disaffiliated for the fall semester and acted as a guide for prospective new members during the recruitment process). Out of the hundreds of girls who went through recruitment, only about six were released from the process (aka did not recieve a bid from a house). All of the rest of the girls who did not complete the process dropped out while they still had houses that had extended invitations for them to return. So, it’s not really true to say that a lot of students don’t get in. More so, there are students who go in with closed minds about the process and they end up withdrawing from the process rather than continue on with the invitations they have recieved.</p>
<p>If you’re considering going greek, approach the entire process with an open mind and a positive attitude. It makes the process much more enjoyable and less stressful, and you’re more likely to end up in a house that appreciates you and welcomes you because you are more yourself.</p>
<p>Things of that nature happen all the time at big state schools. The incident at SMU was highly publicized because it makes for better stories to report the activities of a exaggeratedly elite, scandalous institution like SMU than those of a school like UT Austin.</p>
<p>Anyway, Greek life at SMU is great.</p>
<p>Excellent point, Wodehouse. </p>
<p>And I agree, Greek life is a great thing and has many positive sides. College is all about making your own experience, which may or may not include the decision to join a fraternity or sorority. Whatever you choose, make it your own and you’ll have a wonderful time.</p>
<p>Can anyone give me some info on the rush process at SMU for fraternities? I’m more familiar with the process for sororities. Do guys need the same rec letters that girls do? Do they have the same series of parties - where they progressively wean the number of houses down with each round? I’ve always been under the impression that the whole process for guys is less formal than girls, but don’t know if that’s really true.</p>
<p>Overall, the process is less formal than it is for girls. Rec letters help, but aren’t required for guys. They will progressively eliminate houses during formal rounds, and will attend social events throughout first semester to get to know each house. All in all, it is is certainly more laid back and less stressful than the sororitiy recruitment process.</p>
<p>I think it’s great they do deferred rush!!</p>
Could you help me ?
Can someone explain the process of rush dates during the Fall? Does everyone get invited to rush dates and if you don’t get invited does that mean you will have an unsuccessful rush?