SFA Greeks raise the bar
Published: Monday, February 25, 2013
Updated: Monday, February 25, 2013 13:02
 "Photo: Jennifer Rogers/Pine Log Photo")
Jennifer Rogers/Pine Log Photo
Fraternities and sororities are stereotypical of the college experience.
Fraternities and sororities are stereotypical of the college experience. Far beyond the stereotypes though, in reality, they exist as places for both young men and women to get involved on campus, to build bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood, and allow the members to give their lives a little more meaning through service activities and working toward nationally held philanthropies. SFA can boast of a well-versed handful of Greek life organizations, and this past year alone has much to show for it.
The SFA Greek Life is composed of four main councils: Interfraternity (IFC), Panhellenic (SFAPA), Multicultural Greek (MGC), and National Pan-Hellenic (NPHC). IFC and SFAPA are those which host a formal recruitment process via mutual selection, whereas MGC and NPHC recruit new members on an individual chapter basis via grabbing attention by posting flyers and hosting interest meetings at which questions may be asked.
In addition to the fact that each local, national, and international organization which comprises these four councils all support a zero-tolerance policy on hazing, they all also require each active member to maintain a 2.5 GPA. These qualifications go to show that these organizations take pride in their academics, as well as respect their members and each other. Over 75 percent of undergraduate full-time students are involved in Greek life. Of the 1,120 active members total from the 2012 school year, the overall GPA for the year was a 2.72.
SFA Greek Life had just recently started creating an annual report that lists all records of the chapters within the four main councils, and Jonathan Elder, coordinator of student organizations and greek life mentions that SFA “likes to brag about Greek life” for their work, and especially their service. From the year 2012, the total number of service hours recorded was an incredible 58,632 from all the organizations, with the sorority Alpha Chi Omega having contributed the most (16,288 service hours in the single year).
Of the national philanthropies, each Greek Life organization’s aim was to raise what they could. Though not all amounts have not yet been listed, a total of $68,454 was raised strictly for these philanthropies. Delta Delta Delta sorority raised the most—$22,506 for their national philanthropy St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Elder has just finished working in his sixth year with Greek Life, which he first became interested in during his undergraduate year when he realized he could make this a lifelong effort. He continues doing the work he loves simply because it is “neat for me to be able to facilitate the same college experience for other college students that I had.”
The mission statement of the organizations involved with Greek life is this: “Sorority and Fraternity Life promotes an atmosphere where chapters and individual members achieve academic success, exemplify leadership, give back to the campus and global communities, create bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood, and support a healthy and culturally diverse environment.”
Maybe Greek Life isn’t for everyone, but it certainly does deserve some highly thought of appreciation for the dedication and service of its members.
is a member of the 
