By Katie Potzick

To pledge or not to pledge?

That’s the question David Scholla faced as he thought about whether or not to join a fraternity during his freshman year at the University of Louisville in the fall of 2005.

He pledged, was accepted and hasn’t regretted his decision.

“Greek Life at U of L has made me a more well-rounded person,” said Scholla, a junior communication major and member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

“It has helped me strive to achieve my personal best in all areas in college life: scholarship, leadership, teamwork, and service,” he said. “I would not be the person I am today without my experiences as a Greek at U of L.”

Many incoming freshmen will also be faced with the question of whether or not to pledge to one of U of L’s 13 fraternities or nine sororities. There are several alluring aspects of Greek life and, for anyone who’s watched “Animal House,” being part of a Greek society looks like the epitome of college social life.

Scholla suggested incoming freshman keep an open mind and think about the positives of joining a fraternity or sorority.

“There is no better way to set yourself up for a successful life after college than by joining a fraternity or sorority,” said Scholla.

However, before jumping into Rush head first, it’s good to know the facts about how to join and what to expect from U of L’s Greek Life.

Rush horror stories are often sensationalized and U of L has a fairly strict policy against the practice.

“U of L enforces a stringent Anti-Hazing Policy which has, hopefully, led each individual Greek organization to promote their own Anti-Hazing regulations within their rules and bylaws,” said Scholla.

Hazing is also not tolerated at U of L’s Rush events.

Greek Recruitment is a time for potential sorority and fraternity members to meet different chapters and see if they will be a good fit. The sorority recruitment takes place a week before school starts and fraternity recruitment takes place the first week of class. Before a girl can participate in recruitment she must fill out an application and pay an application fee.

While the number of chapters is less than other schools such as the University of Kentucky, the smaller Greek network can provide members with a more intimate experience.

Lauren Hansen, a junior accounting/computer information systems major and Phi Beta Phi member said, “It is a great way to meet new people. Joining Greek Life gives you a support system and lifelong friendship… you have service opportunities and can participate in intramural sports, hold leadership positions, and are able to become very active in campus events.”

Greeks face a lot of stereotypes, but at U of L, academics is one of the most important aspects of Greek Life. The minimum GPA to join a chapter is 2.5 and to stay active members have to keep that GPA. Some chapters also have mandatory study and library hours.

There are also rules about alcohol consumption and groups such as Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol (GAMMA) that promote responsible drinking.

Greek societies can also offer students many benefits and leadership opportunities on campus. Greek chapters are self run, self-governed societies and provide their members with several officer positions.

One of the biggest concerns about going Greek is the cost. Though membership dues average between $225-$350 per semester, there are big payoffs for the money invested. These benefits include fellowship, fun, and different social events such as parties and formals. There are also the annual bonding/competition events of Greek week and Fryberger.

“Joining a fraternity is a fantastic decision. It was for me, but I think it will be for just about anyone,” said U of L alum and Sigma Chi enthusiast James Wilbanks. “You can’t put a price tag on the friendships you make and the experiences you get to have. It was and continues to be a very important part of my life as a college student..”

During the year the Greeks also sponsor different fundraising and charity events such as the Chi Omega Chili cook off, the Kappa Delta Shamrock and 5K run, the Triangle Thanksgiving dinner, among others. The events help Greek members fulfill their goal to reach out to the community and create positive change.

“There is so much good done by fraternity members, it is really exciting,” said Wilbanks. “I’m proud to be a part of it.”