Perceptions and Realities of DU Greek Life

DU Greek life poster encourages students to “Leave their Legacy” during the 2012 recruitment season.

A play on words for those in the Greek Community.

A survey was taken by a number of Greek and non-Greek students at DU to figure out what they thought about Greek Life.

The pillars on which Greeks at DU build their community and which each house must reflect are Fellowship, Leadership, Scholarship, and Service. These pillars were unknown among most students.

78 percent of students who took the survey agree that :A bond forms between Greek members into a strong, perpetual friendship.

Greeks and non-Greeks get together to work on a

group project for a marketing class.

A non-Greek student, Haley Stephenson in an interview said that, “People in Greek life have a better idea of their goals and are more focused. It helps them do volunteer work and be more active in the community.”

Two non-Greek male students have a different idea of Greeks.

Their thought is that: although they go to class, getting their

degree is not always their main priority. The social aspect of

college is what’s most important to them.

Greek Houses host college friendly philanthropies that support national

organizations.

Tri-Delta ladies are a good example of Greeks doing great thing for their philanthropy. Delta Delta Delta as a national sorority is the corporate sponsor of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and have a goal of raising 15 million dollars in 5 years.

According to the survey taken by a number of DU students, only 5 students believed that the only thing DU Greeks do is party. But on other campuses 33 percent of students said that is the case.

88 percent of Greek and non-Greek DU students who took the qualitative survey, said that they have friends in Greek life.

“Greek life allowed me to once again fight for something I believe in alongside people who shared that belief. It gifted me with the opportunity to stand for something in college other than my major and social behaviors,” said Johno Oberly, a senior fraternity member.

“I was really home sick for the first three weeks of school and then I rushed and joined Tri- Delta. It was one of the best choices I have made since being at DU,” said Anna Beth Gruber, originally from Dallas.

Regardless of Greek affiliation or a lack thereof, students at DU feel that although Greeks and non-Greeks may disagree about who they represent and how it’s being represented, the majority of them continue to have a blended group of friends and individual thoughts about Greek Life.