by: Emma Glover
Greek Life is a positive community at SIU that I highly encourage everyone to be a part of! I did not become a part of Greek Life until spring semester of my junior year, and I wish I had sooner. Keep reading to hear about my experience!
Sisterhood
One of my favorite parts about being in a sorority as a female in college is the sisterhood! Greek Life is filled with amazing women and men, so finding your people is definitely a plus. One of the first experiences that I had with the girls in my sorority was at a social event. During this event, we played many games, and it was a perfect opportunity for me to be myself and get to know them all! You also get to dress up and attend semi-formal and formal, so it is like another night of Homecoming/Prom!
Chair Positions
Each sorority has executive/leadership team positions as well as chair positions. During my time in Delta Phi Epsilon, I served as Social Chair, Panhellenic Delegate, and Director of Finance. These positions kept me busy and were truly so much fun for me. I planned socials with other Greek Life, attended College Panhellenic Association (CPA) meetings, and made sure that dues/payment plans were being taken care of.
Work Week/Formal Recruitment
Another one of my favorite parts of Greek Life is work week and setting up for formal recruitment! Work week is a designated week for a sorority to prepare everything that is needed for formal recruitment in a fun way with dress up themes for each day. Formal recruitment is a very busy week, but it is one of my favorites. It is such an amazing time to get close with young women each day and learn more about them and their interest in Greek Life. At the end of formal recruitment is what is called “Bid Day” where girls receive a bid and they can choose to accept and run home to their new sorority. This is so exciting to meet your new sisters! It is an exciting ending to a busy week.
Involvement/Activities
Being a part of Greek Life is a great opportunity to be involved on campus and have fun! In 1936, Phi Kappa Tau started the tradition of Greek Sing. This is where each sorority/fraternity has the opportunity to create a performance that will be judged for awards. Last year, my sorority got the People’s Choice Award which was very exciting! Another event that I was grateful to be a part of was creating a Homecoming float with Alpha Sigma Phi and winning Best Small Float as well as the Spirit Award.
My time in Greek Life has given me friendships, leadership experience, and memories I’ll carry long after graduation. As recruitment approaches, I encourage anyone interested to get involved and see what Greek Life can offer. You might be surprised by how much you gain from the experience!
