Sorority VP knows the score better than Mr. Know-It-All

By Rebekah Bradway

April 9, 2007 | "Ha. Vice president of a sorority? That's like being the second smartest person in a school of idiots."

The Mr. Know-It-All of the journalism department always seems to try to call me out and embarrass me, and sometimes, he succeeds. But not on this one.

With months of already defending the idea to my parents, close friends and even myself when I first joined the Chi Omega sorority, understanding the value of my decision is something I do unconsciously now.

While the reasons behind my happiness with my chapter and the Greek system as a whole seem to be endless and some indescribable, there are definitely several benefits I can easily list for those who judge Greeks to think about.

Service: We actually do it -- it's not just a front. This week alone, members of my house have volunteered to help with concessions at a basketball game, Stuff a Bus, Sub for Santa and an elementary school class. Service isn't something we tell all our friends about or report back to let the parents know about. Service is honestly just something we do, no matter what season it is.

High academic standards: Sorority girls? Smart? It sounds weird, I know. But each girl in the chapter does have to make grades and complete study hours each week in the library. Without a high GPA all together, we lose possible awards from our national organization, and as individuals, low enough GPAs can cost a girl her membership. So if a girl, no matter how friendly or close to the rest of us, can be asked to move out of the house and drop her pin for poor grades, academics are obviously important.

Leadership: It's one of those things not mentioned as much verbally in the Greek system but is of extreme importance and relevance. Within my own house, members have the opportunity to take charge and organize events by being directors of committees -- such as campus activities, career and personal development, scholarship, etc. -- as well as being on the Chi Omega executive board, with the obvious positions of president, vice president and secretary as well as less heard-of positions, like recruitment chair and new member educator.

And not only are in-house positions available in every sorority and fraternity on campus, but there is also an All-Greek Council in which members of any house can hold positions that are meant to keep the whole community informed and working together.

With all the positions available, leadership opportunities from joining a Greek organization are many and are on so many different levels, allowing all members to take advantage in one position or another. Learning to organize and delegate tasks is something I've grown in immensely, and I know it will serve me well in any job, whether it be my career or motherhood.

Friendship, of course: To graduate college and find a good career, it seems all of the above are necessary or extremely helpful in doing so. But to actually make it through college and complete all these standards well, friends are absolutely necessary. Now everyone knows students in college don't need to be in the Greek system in order to have friends, but working together on projects, living together and valuing the same standards can only make the bonds of friendship stronger.

With one common goal, strengthening Chi Omega, so many different types of women are brought together on a deeper level. Each member has strengths and weaknesses, but together, we learn from each other and help build each other up. All together, we are balanced.

So while so many people think we Greeks only join the system for the social aspects, being in a sorority or fraternity actually allows us with more opportunities in all parts of college life, from activities on campus to service in the valley.

No, I'm not the stereotypical drunk, slut or just someone who had no friends before I joined Chi Omega. I am, however, a volunteer, a scholar, a leader and a sister. I have more value and interest in so many more aspects than I ever thought possible when I first came to Utah State.

I am happy.

And as for the Mr. Know-It-All? He's still asking me to hang out on weekends -- with no success.

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