Popular stereotypes toward Greeks include that it is just paying for friends, as well as that being in a fraternity or sorority is a 24 hour-a-day job of binge drinking and late night partying.
"First off, the whole thing about, 'yes, you pay money, and go through the pledge process, but, you might not get in and we keep your money', that's messed up in my opinion" said Lucius Jordan, sophomore and athletic training major.
"Second of all, it's like paying for friends...And on top of that there is a 3 month period where you treat me like crap, haze me and embarrass me in public, and then we're supposed to be friends after that, because it's called brotherhood and getting to know each other?"
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Blake Nguyen, president of the fraternity Phi Kappa Tau at ECU, doesn't think so.
While stressing the importance of making life long friendships with your brothers, or sisters if in a sorority, Blake also looks to the future well after college.
"After college, it's networking," said Nguyen.
"You meet people, you meet alumni, and in just your 4 or 5 years here you'll be able to go far and in the future you can call bonds here and call bonds there and use that networking."
Nguyen offered some statistics that were very close to what the Interfraternity Council cites.
According to the Interfraternity Council Statistics Board at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a technical college, all but two U.S. presidents since 1825 have been Greek and 85% of the Fortune 500 executives belong to a Fraternity.
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Greeks are active with philanthropy, or community service.
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Last semester, the fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon sold brain tumor awareness bracelets around campus. Money for the bracelets was then donated to the Brain Tumor Foundation. One of Sigma Phi Epsilon's members, Tom Bolick, is currently fighting the ailment.
The East Carolinian - Greek Life: negatively stereotyped?
