Ali Antonucci

We’ve all heard the myth that sororities are made up of a bunch of catty airheads who like to get wasted every night and wake up next to what’s-his-name every morning. Everyone has seen movies with the questionably slutty sorority girls prancing around in nothing but underwear and heels- and this simply doesn’t happen in real life (sorry, boys).

Being in a sorority isn’t about climbing social ladders or binge drinking. It’s about finding a group of girls that you’re proud to call your sisters, giving back to your community, and getting involved on campus. First semester, I decided to hold off on rushing in order to get adjusted to college life in general. While I loved being independent, I wasn’t meeting as many people as I’d hoped, and I didn’t feel completely connected to my campus.

I was looking for community. The sororities at my school participated in events like Greek week and Derby Days. I wanted to expand my social circle and academic horizons.

Another misconception about sororities is that if you want to join, you have to go through a torturous pledging process in order to prove your commitment and dedication to your chapter. Before my freshman year, I did a crazy amount of research on Greek life and the hazing process, and I was horrified at some of the stories I read.

From girls being forced to try cocaine, to pledges walking around campus with their fat circled in sharpie—I was freaked about what my chapter might put me through.

Pledge week at my school consisted of coming back to my room every day to a basket full of goodies from my big sister. Your chapter isn’t going to terrorize you- and if they do, you can immediately report it to your school. Most campuses have a zero tolerance policy for hazing, and for good reason.

The last misconception that I’ll touch on is that each sorority is affiliated with a fraternity, and that all girls in said sorority must sleep with guys from said fraternity. Let me start off by saying that being in a sorority does not mean that you have to be easy! Who you sleep with is your choice and your business.

With that out of the way, I will say that this myth is almost half true. Most sororities do throw mixers and crush parties with other fraternities, but the chapters you mix with vary with every social event. These parties are meant to be a fun, easy way to meet new people, and are in no way forcing you to hook up with anyone you don’t want to.

All in all, I would say that going Greek was a great decision for me. Being in a sorority isn’t about boosting your rep, sleeping around, or paying for friends. It’s about getting involved, giving back, and making lifelong friends that you can call your sisters. If you are wishy-washy about the whole thing, I would suggest that you at least participate in recruitment and decide then whether or not being in a sorority is the right choice for you. Remember to be yourself and have fun with it- it isn’t meant to be scary or intimidating, it’s meant to help you find people who will make the next three years of your life the best they can possibly be.