This week, we are all Greek
What it really means to be Greek
From “Animal House” to “Old School,” or even the more recent “Neighbors,” Hollywood has created a distorted reputation for Greek life and college life in general.
Binge drinking, drug use and blowing off classes are the central part of what it means to pursue higher education, according to many movies and television shows. While this might make for good entertainment, it fails to reflect reality.
These deceiving portrayals result in a lack of understanding of the greater college community, which includes hardworking students caught in a constant balancing act of stress, work and school.
No group suffers more from these damaging college-life stereotypes than the Greek community. As Greek Life and Central Michigan University celebrates its two-week recruitment period this week, we call on the entire CMU community to learn about the good these groups do and not their associated stereotypes.
Throughout this period, there will be reminders of the Greek community scattered across campus in the form of fliers, sidewalk chalk displays and chapter letters stitched to shirts and purses. For the Greeks, it is a time to self-promote and to educate potential new members on what it means to go Greek.
Many members of the Greek community joined rank with their respective fraternities and sororities because they wanted to be part of something bigger than themselves. Going Greek means laying the foundation for one’s college career. As a result, the community molds the identities of its members.
Through philanthropy, community engagement, understanding and exhibiting a set of long-held core values, an individual becomes a part of family he or she never imagined they could have. This – the heart and soul of what it means to go Greek – is too often overlooked.
By nature, there has always been discord between Greeks and non-Greeks. Greeks and non-Greeks might have their differences, but as human beings, most all of us are united by the daily struggle to follow our passion and become better people.
The staff of Central Michigan Life understands this struggle to better people’s lives most of all, as many of us got into the industry to make a lasting impact on our readers, to raise awareness and to change perspectives.
Our community as a whole – no matter if we wear Greek letters, athletic uniforms, suits and ties or a CM Life polo – must stop letting stereotypes distort our understanding of one another.
And on a final note, we call upon the community to accept all Greeks as one unit, not just the social fraternities and sororities that garner so much attention. Members of multi-cultural, business, professional and academic fraternities and sororities are as important and hold as much currency on this campus and beyond as they do.
This week, you are all Greek.
By accepting and embracing our differences, we are able to see the diversity that makes this community – and this world – so beautiful.
