College of Charleston - Greek Life

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

With fewer than 30 percent of undergraduates involved in Greek Life, the frat and sorority scene at Charleston is pretty much contained within a certain group. Greeks don’t run the campus. There’s no pressure to join a sorority or fraternity, and no pressure if you join one and then quit. There’s a trend that Charleston students who don’t go Greek in their first year will have a cynical, somewhat bitter attitude towards Greeks. Some students think that pledging is selling away your soul, buying friends, and submitting to conformity. They’re sickened by Greek traditions and categorize members of a group by stereotyping them. There are, of course, students who think otherwise and see the good in joining an organization. Even from a non-Greek perspective, Greek life is a good way to make friendships that last beyond college.

It seems the further south you go, the more prevalent Greek life is on campus, so the traditions of and loyalties to Greek organizations here at Charleston exist everywhere else. At Charleston, pledging and rushing are easy opportunities to make friends on campus, but they are certainly not the only ways. The College of Charleston celebrates variety and the diversity of its students’ interests and sponsors many organizations where students can come together. Overall, the Greek organizations at Charleston are nothing spectacular. Eventually they become a natural part of the landscape, just like a sports team or any other student organization on campus.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

The frat guys are actually pretty... The frat guys are actually pretty cool. They’re relaxed, pot-smoking hippies just like the rest of us. And entire frats are like that, actually. 12345 Greek Life Report

Anonymous says:

I think Greek life is pretty... I think Greek life is pretty relaxed here. They don’t try to own the school, they don’t force everyone to put up with them, and the ‘initiation’ that girls have to go through to get into a sorority is like a fun little game, or so I’ve heard. 12345 Greek Life Report

Anonymous says:

Sometimes I feel like fraternities... Sometimes I feel like fraternities and sororities rule this school. But there are enough individuals to make up for the sheep. I’ve met so many interesting people here. The Greek thing is just something you get used to after a while. 12345 Greek Life Report

Anonymous says:

We are in the South, and we do... We are in the South, and we do have little girly girls who enjoy having to dress up for things and enjoy their girliness. The rest of us don’t rely so much on tradition. 12345 Greek Life Report

Anonymous says:

I never even considered joining a... I never even considered joining a sorority. It never crossed my mind a single time. And so far, I’ve met so many unpleasant girls who just happen to be Greek. I wonder why. 12345 Greek Life Report

Facts

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