Why I don’t hate the Greek system

Home Opinion Why I don’t hate the Greek system

which, until recently, I was unaware, I do not hate the Greek system.

I did go through a stage of anti-Greekness at one point, but as of late, such sentiments have become drastically reduced. I am not opposed to the Greek system. In fact, I believe the Greek system does much good, and, when operating at its best, can be beneficial for many people.

The Greek system should be, as it says of itself, an extracurricular that can enhance your college experience.  But far too often it is promoted as something you should do if you are “cool.” It is not for everyone. A founding member of Delta Tau Delta told me one should ask, “Will this make me a better person?” For some people, the answer is “no.”  It has even been advertised to freshman men at the beginning of the year orientation as “the only way to become a man on campus.” Many people get sucked into a house, and are never seen again by anyone outside their fraternity or sorority. The Greek house can so easily become one’s identity. We all know those people we cannot mentally separate from their house. For something that is supposed to enhance your college experience, it often transcends that and becomes one’s entire experience.

But I then realized that independents too often do the exact same thing for practically all of the above items. How many people do we categorize as “Bob, he’s an HCFer,” or “Jenny, she’s in Swing Club”? Many Independents are just as separated from campus to the Greeks as the Greeks can be to them.

So Greeks: realize that yes, many people do disappear into the Greek System. And Independents: realize that many, many of you do the same with your own cliques, whether you’re a hipster or an HCFer. Greeks: just because I might try to get someone to stay independent doesn’t mean I hate the Greeks, in the same way you convincing them to join doesn’t mean you hate independents. Greeks: the system is exclusive and can hurt many people’s feelings. Independents: continually harassing Greeks who join and mocking them with stereotypes has the same effect. I didn’t rush, not out of some deep-seated dislike for the system but because I simply did not see what it could offer me that I did not already have with the brotherhood in my dorm. Another reason is that I view many of these problems listed as more likely to occur with the Greek system than Independents, but it can and does happen to both.

So friends, don’t waste these wonderful years we have here living in your own clique. Get out and meet other people outside your group because at the end of the day, we are all united by a community greater than our club, group, or Greek house. We’re all children of God and students of Hillsdale.  The only way we can ever hope to close the Greek-Independent rift is if people stop making fun of the other side and actually try to truly know them. Trust me, they’re probably pretty nice. Hillsdale, be known by who you are, not what you do.