<p>I went to a college with no sororities (wouldn’t have joined one if there were any) and have to admit I harbor some negative stereotypes about them that I’m sure I’ve implicitly conveyed to D. But D has a very different personality from mine, and it occurs to me that perhaps I should be encouraging her to explore AU’s sorority offerings. I’ve seen the list on the AU site and looked at their respective national websites, which make them all sound wonderful of course, but also pretty much the same. I’d love to hear some insider info on AU’s sororities, their various personalities and styles, how they are perceived by non-members, experiences from actual members, etc.</p>
<p>Greek life is pretty big on campus but it is nothing like greek life at other schools. Sororities have no houses, as it is illegal in DC to have a house with more than 4 women living alone in it. There are different types of girls in each sorority and as for which one your daughter will fit into best, she really needs to decide that because I am a part of greek life here at AU and where I thought I would fit and where I am are totally different. It all depends on the girls you want to be with bc all sororities have positive and negative sterotypes. </p>
<p>Most sororities on campus don’t haze and those that do, its VERY minimal and most people wouldn’t even consider it hazing (quizzing, baking things, wearing pledge pins, nicknames). Greek life at AU isn’t very intense and there isn’t a huge party scene associated with it. But its a great way to meet people. I joined a sorority and I couldn’t be happier. It was a really great choice and your daughter should really consider at least rushing.</p>
<p>Thanks, tortoe, for the help.The fact that it’s kind of Greek Life Lite at AU sounds good to me. I guess that DC law is aimed at houses of prostitution, but it seems that college affiliated groups should earn an exception. D is looking into the sororities, but is finding it hard to sort through them and figure out her “type”. How did you figure out where you would best fit in? Does rush tell the tale? (You can tell I have zero knowledge about this stuff–I don’t even know what rush is…) Can you offer a quick description of any of them (without dumping on any, of course)? D is into community service and performing arts, an independent spirit, not a preppie. It seems two of the sororities are Jewish–she qualifies, but is not observant. Thanks.</p>
<p>There is no such DC law. That’s one of the most common college urban legends still circulated today, and not limited to AU.</p>
<p>See: [snopes.com:</a> Brothel Laws Ban Sorority](<a href=“http://www.snopes.com/college/halls/brothel.asp]snopes.com:”>Do Brothel Laws Outlaw College Sororities? | Snopes.com)</p>
<p>If sororities don’t have houses, that’s not the reason why.</p>
<p>Ha! So I suppose there’s just no space for frat and sorority houses–at least I can’t imagine where’s they’d fit on campus.</p>
<p>I don’t know how accurate the snopes info is…we were also told that at BU and havea connection in city government who confirmed it. So maybe, maybe not.
Be that as it may, sororities are a good way to meet people, do service work, socialize…my best college friends, whom I still see annually or more and talk with often, are from my sorority. D is also going to rush…thanks for the info, tortoe. I wondered about the hazing aspect. I think during rush you can see what activities the different sororities do, meet the members, and ask questions. I also told her to keep an eye out for what she observes of the groups on campus this semester and take it all in. I agree that it is a really good way to meet people- if you chose the right one. When a friend was at AU they did have a <em>house</em> using the term loosely…off campus and all or most of the guys lived there. But not fraternity sanctioned or anything. I do like that students cannot rush till January. Some of D’s friends have already joined a sorority - like in early Sept. and how do know much about college let alone a social group when you’ve been on campus 2 weeks? So MommaJ, we shall see!</p>
<p>re: BU – [Brothel</a> myths complicate off-campus housing - Features](<a href=“http://media.www.bcheights.com/media/storage/paper144/news/2003/09/09/Features/Brothel.Myths.Complicate.OffCampus.Housing-459754-page2.shtml]Brothel”>http://media.www.bcheights.com/media/storage/paper144/news/2003/09/09/Features/Brothel.Myths.Complicate.OffCampus.Housing-459754-page2.shtml)</p>
<p>*Yet the tale persists, even among university officials. According to BU’s admissions website, there are no sorority houses on campus “because of a strange but enforced Massachusetts state law [which] prohibits sorority houses from even existing.” This is a false claim, since the actual over-occupation law has no bearing on fraternity or sorority houses. In fact, sorority houses exist at many Massachusetts universities, including Tufts and the University of Massachusetts.</p>
<p>So what, then, is the real reason behind the absence of sorority houses on many college campuses? Some say that since most universities were all-male upon their inception, fraternities swept up all the good land, leaving slim pickings for their Greek sisters of the 21st century. Others claim that institutional sexism is rampant in the Greek system, and fraternities are given more funding. Still others say it is simply a matter of demand - sororities are less popular than frats, so there is little need for housing. Whatever the real answer, the “brothel law” explanation continues across the country - forever intertwining sorority houses and bawdy houses in university folklore.*</p>
<p>Which sororities are considered top tier at Auburn?</p>
<p>lbbeaman, I think you have the wrong AU. This is the board for American University in Washington, DC.</p>
<p>“why no houses?” Some greek systems just never got that big and powerful. It takes a certain kid of campus and a certain vibe…and the “owned” houses took a certain kind of alumnae base that would fundraise for that much money. My D is applying at AU, and is a little concerned about school spirit, but not too much. It’s a different vibe. It’s a “potomac” fever kind of thing. Exhilarating in its own way…but not in the fraternity/sorority kind of way. All good. To each their own.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, is the person who said its illegal to have more than four women living alone in a house serious? What on Earth would be the basis for that. Becoming a little turned off D,C</p>
<p>Mitch-- your daughter has indeed keyed in on the different vibe at AU. The students are passionate about AU, just not in a Big 10 or SEC kind of way. Students do sometimes go to sporting events–to support their friends from their floor and in their classes who are on the teams. But it’s much more low key. But the students do love their school.</p>