Greek mythbusting
By: Ali Hinman, Columnist
Greek Life proverb: From the outside looking in, you can’t understand it. From the inside looking out, you can’t explain it.
Greek Life is unlike any other organization you can join. Everyone knows what it’s like to be in a club or on a team, but only those who are in a Greek chapter know what it is really like. Here are a couple myths that I can bust from personal experience.
I paid for my friends:
If I paid for my friends, I didn’t pay enough. What I did pay for was my stockpile of T-shirts that could clothe a small village. I swear, I had to buy under-the-bed boxes to be able to fit all of the new shirts I got.
I only hang out with girls in my chapter:
Towson Greek Life is very inclusive, which I accredit to not having housing. I’ve had the opportunity to live with girls outside of Greek Life and other chapters, which has allowed to me to make friends with even more people on campus. It’s obnoxious how many people I know. I have to leave class early to make sure I have time to stop and talk to everyone that I know.
We’re all stupid:
Greek Life not only has a higher GPA than the rest of campus, but we also have a higher graduation rate. You have to have a certain GPA to get into a fraternity/sorority, and you must maintain it if you want to be able to participate in the social events that are planned.
I’m obsessed with Lilly Pulitzer, Vineyard Vines, etc.:
I am not the preppy type. If you catch me in jeans, congratulate me. If I did my hair, compliment me. Seriously, it’s hard to find me not in an old pair of yoga pants on with one of my usual T-shirts and a baseball hat covering that nightmare of a hairdo on my head. Sperry’s, however, are heaven-sent.
I always party:
My favorite part about being Greek is you always have someone who wants to go out, but also to stay in. Some of my favorite nights of college are ones I spent with my sisters on the couch, wearing sweatpants and crying over rom-coms into a pint of ice cream.
All Frat brothers rape:
Some of my best friends, and even my brother, are in a fraternity. While I will admit there are some bad apples, fraternity men are respectful and would never even think of committing such a heinous crime. Public urination, probably. Sexual assault, never.
I was hazed:
Towson is extremely tough on hazing, and so is Nationals. It is absolutely unacceptable and too many people get hurt in the process. I would never want to call someone who abused me my sister and be buddy-buddy with them once I was initiated. It’s not cool and nonexistent.
I’m obsessed with my Big/Little:
Now that one is true.