In defense of the Greek System

“K-A-P-P-A G-A-M-M-A I SAY, KAPPA KAPPA IS FOR ME, OH HOW I LOVE THOSE KKGs.”

As I shout one of my sorority’s catchy chants while walking the potential new members out the door, I look around and notice how palpable the joy in our house is. It’s the first day of formal recruitment and the whole house is gleaming.

Our energy will diminish as the long days and sleepless nights of recruitment continue. But even in our most sluggish state, even when its 3am and we’ve been at the house for over 15 hours, even when it feels like my life has been hijacked by the rush process, its still easy to see the passion we share for Kappa Kappa Gamma.

It seems as if the Greek system has been under scrutiny ever since the infamous movie Animal House from 1978. However, even more recently, due to sorority and fraternity chapters around the country making news like this, this, or this, it as if they can’t stay out of the news these days.

While its true that college kids have undeveloped frontal lobes and sometimes we make stupid decisions, these cases have all gone too far and I do not defend any of the horrible incidents that have made major news in the past few years surrounding Greek life.

However, for me, being in a sorority has been the best and most rewarding part of my time thus far at Vanderbilt. It’s so much more than the T-shirts, laptop stickers, and date parties. It’s about forming an unconditionally loving bond of sisters that supports each other through good and bad. Yes, it may be cliché, but it’s true. If it weren’t for joining Kappa, I never would have met my big, Alana, who also doubles as my best friend. Or several other of my closest friends, who I didn’t know existed until bid day.

Being in a sorority provides girls with a spider-web-like support system of women across all grades and from diverse backgrounds. It really is a luxury to belong to one. I always got mad at my parents for only providing me with one big sister, Callie– so when I joined a sorority I was thrilled to have acquired 49 more!

And bear in mind that it is certainly not an easy identity to take on. Being a “sorority girl” often comes with unwarranted negative stereotypes. This rings particularly true for Kappa Kappa Gamma at Vanderbilt (just ask Yik Yak). However, as my fellow sister, Ariana Fowler ’17, puts it: “I wouldn’t have joined a house that was shallow, superficial, or rude. I found something so hidden and special and genuine about the house. It’s my home, it’s my sisters, and it’s authentic support that I’m not sure I would have found anywhere else.”

My sister Callie greeting me as I got off the bus on bid day

So despite the backlash that the Greek life receives these days, it’s important that we do not use isolated incidents to denounce a system that’s been a part of college culture for centuries. Being a part of a sorority or fraternity can be an extremely enriching experience, at least for me it is.

As someone who has wanted to join a sorority ever since watching Legally Blonde back in 2001, I am so thrilled that my sorority experience has taught me so much about my sisters and myself. Oh and how could I forget– I’ve also learned how to craft like a boss.