Why do so many Southern college students join fraternities and sororities? (uniform, best)

[le roi]

Originally Posted by aktanner

Never thought of greek life as a Southern thing. Yet, you often do see frat boys and sorority girls dressed up at football games on Saturday. By the way, what is the deal with frat boys dressing in a suit and tie but wearing flip flops?

Let's say you want to adhere to your institution's tradition of wearing a necktie to football games. (I don't know anyone who wears a suit)

Let's also say it is 93 degrees in the shade, and you want to remain as comfortable as possible while adhering to said tradition.

Let's also say that you wear flip-flops the other 6 days of the week, so why not Saturday?

[MSvirgo]

Greek life is very big in the South. Especially on black college campuses. We have about 9,000 students at Jackson State University and we have 9 fraternities and sororities. It is a very big deal. Around here, kids know what fraternity or sorority they want to join while they are in elementary school.

[Mamama Mia]

Originally Posted by MSvirgo

Greek life is very big in the South. Especially on black college campuses. We have about 9,000 students at Jackson State University and we have 9 fraternities and sororities. It is a very big deal. Around here, kids know what fraternity or sorority they want to join while they are in elementary school.

Talk about taking things a little bit too far. I would think that intelligent college students would want to select their fraternity by getting to know it's members through the rush process.

[uptown_urbanist]

^ While I agree with that in premise, it doesn't really work with today's Greek system. In the South, anyway, it seems like many people do it for reasons relating to tradition, family or otherwise; I'm guessing many of these students probably know their ideal fraternity or sorority based on family ties or other similar reasons. Also, this wouldn't be an issue for really young kids knowing about the system before going through rush, but I've read that traditionally black sororities and fraternities have some very big differences than the traditionally white system, including a stronger focus on active community engagement (maybe some of the kids want to join certain sororites or fraternities because they see the members volunteering in their schools or neighborhoods?) and more openness in general beyond the rush period.

Still, I agree that I wouldn't want to join a sorority or fraternity chapter without meeting the specific members of that chapter. Of course I don't live in the South, don't have Greek family members, and rarely even encounter any conversation about the Greek system one way or the other, let alone the pros and cons of different options or what impact that would have had (none) on my future career or life.

[MSvirgo]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

^ While I agree with that in premise, it doesn't really work with today's Greek system. In the South, anyway, it seems like many people do it for reasons relating to tradition, family or otherwise; I'm guessing many of these students probably know their ideal fraternity or sorority based on family ties or other similar reasons. Also, this wouldn't be an issue for really young kids knowing about the system before going through rush, but I've read that traditionally black sororities and fraternities have some very big differences than the traditionally white system, including a stronger focus on active community engagement (maybe some of the kids want to join certain sororites or fraternities because they see the members volunteering in their schools or neighborhoods?) and more openness in general beyond the rush period.

Still, I agree that I wouldn't want to join a sorority or fraternity chapter without meeting the specific members of that chapter. Of course I don't live in the South, don't have Greek family members, and rarely even encounter any conversation about the Greek system one way or the other, let alone the pros and cons of different options or what impact that would have had (none) on my future career or life.

You are right about how the black fraternities and sororities are very active in the community. That is the reason why so many children know who they want to pledge when they become college students. We already know about the chapters because somebody in our family or one of our friends are affiliated with them. There are only 9 black fraternities and sororities, and they are just about on every black college campus in the South. They are even on some of the predominately white campuses too, like Ole Miss and Mississippi State. We love how each fraternity and sorority is represented. We love the step shows and how they represent each other at the football games and through other activities on campus. They are very active in health fairs, Habitat for Humanity and other programs like that. Greeks are looked upon highly down here. Being "Greek" also runs in the family. It's a way of life down here. Matter of fact, our car tags here in Mississippi can be personalized with your college's name and mascot and your fraternity and sorority. To be honest, I thought Greek life was the same all over.

[le roi]

Where I went to school, we actually had two different rush periods - "Rush" for the traditionally white fraternities, "Intake" for the traditionally black fraternities. I always thought this was sort of weird.

[pennquaker09]

Originally Posted by Mamama Mia

Talk about taking things a little bit too far. I would think that intelligent college students would want to select their fraternity by getting to know it's members through the rush process.

Black frats and sororities are completely different from their traditionally white counterparts. Like, my mom is an Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) and if she would have had a daughter, if she rush/pledged, she would have to join AKA.

[Mamama Mia]

Originally Posted by pennquaker09

Black frats and sororities are completely different from their traditionally white counterparts. Like, my mom is an Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) and if she would have had a daughter, if she rush/pledged, she would have to join AKA.

There are legacies in all (woman's) fraternities, but seriously, wouldn't your hypothetical sister have preferred to have had a say in her possible affiliation? Each chapter has a distinct feel and dynamic with each incoming class.

The other thing I don't understand about traditionally black sororities and fraternities is the strong need to be identified with that group at, say, age 45. I understand the networking potential for job possibilities, but some of the other "traditions" are truly foreign to me.

[hookem89]

I didn't care for the greek system before I came to Georgia Tech, but once here I realized that if I don't join a fraternity then I will be stuck in my dorm room with people playing videogames all day. I quickly pledged and do not regret it at all. At GT, the fraternities are the only social outlets we have since we do not have access to a "collegy downtown bar scene" like UGA.

[VolDude]

Originally Posted by hookem89

I didn't care for the greek system before I came to Georgia Tech, but once here I realized that if I don't join a fraternity then I will be stuck in my dorm room with people playing videogames all day. I quickly pledged and do not regret it at all. At GT, the fraternities are the only social outlets we have since we do not have access to a "collegy downtown bar scene" like UGA.

This was sort of the point I was going to make, but I wasn't going to touch Atlanta as an example.

I believe they're big in the South because many of the major college campuses down here are in the country. Students feel like they have to join, or be bored. For example, the percentage of students enrolled in Greeks organizations was much lower at my college vs other ones of similar size in our conference, I believe because our city was one of the largest in the league. There are simply other choices in bigger cities.