Fraternity and sorority members have gained the reputation of being party people who go to college to get drunk and have sex. This reputation has been fueled by TV shows and movies like “Greek” and “Animal House.” However, the Greek system at NSU contradicts some of the myths that are perpetuated on screen.
While Greek organizations on screen go to wild parties, Greek organizations on campus participate in charity work.
Ilana Moskowitz, sophomore legal studies major and member of Sigma Delta Tau, said, “Working with philanthropy empowers the community and the sisterhood as a whole.”
Another difference between Greek life at NSU and other universities is that NSU and its Greek organizations have no tolerance for hazing. Instead, recruiters focus on building positive relationships.
“How can hazing make you a sister?” said Leeann Campany, sophomore legal studies major and member of Sigma Delta Tau. “You can’t degrade your sister, and then go back and say, ‘Oh, we’re fine. We’re sisters.’”
That sense of sisterhood or brotherhood is essential to NSU’s Greeks.
“I lost my parents in high school, and family has always been important to me. So, I wanted to be part of the Greek system to have a family,” said Campany.
Nicolas Dolan, senior business administration major and member of Alpha Kappa Psi, agreed. He said the moment he joined his fraternity, he felt as if he belonged.
“There’s an instant sense of brotherhood,” he said.
To be part of the Greek system, students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA, but some organizations have higher requirements.
Kayla Caldwell, sophomore marine biology major and member of Sigma Delta Tau, said, “School comes first, even before the sorority. It’s why you go to college.”
At NSU, there are fraternities and sororities that promote ethnic identity. Lambda Theta Phi, Inc. is a Latin fraternity and Lambda Theta Alpha, Inc. is a Latin sorority.
Devaughn King, first-year college student affairs graduate student and member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., a historically black fraternity, said, “Personally I feel that the mix is good because it exposes me to different aspects of Greek life that I would not have felt at a historically black college or university.”
Members of the Greek system feel like part of a bigger family.
Moskowitz said, “We’re all brothers and sisters. We have different letters, but we’re all Greek, and our letters unite us.”
