Reed College - Greek Life

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

The Greek life at Reed is not what you would expect. If you consider fraternities, sororities, and their gatherings as the equivalent to Greek life, then Reed might come as something of a shock. No fraternities or sororities exist here. In light of the shortage of the traditional college social scene at Reed, when you mention “Greek life,” most assume you’re referring to our popular classics department and our required first-year class on Greece and Rome: Humanities 110. Do not fear; if you desire raucous bacchanals and other wild parties, then the Reed community will be more than happy to occasionally oblige. That being said, the Greek life is untraditional, unique, and highly-enlightening, and you might even be able to get drunk in the process.

Most Reedies associate Homer, the Odyssey, Plato, and many other famous Greek writers, thinkers, and political players as key pieces of Greek life at Reed. From the beginning of a Reed student’s first year, the professors press classic Greek and Roman literature and thought into our minds. On the anvil of the classics, a Reed student is forged; through our readings and writings of Greece and Rome, our professors impart the key elements of a higher education: skill in comprehension, critical writing, and discussion. Every Reed student must take the first-year humanities course on Greece and Rome; it is as much a rite-of-passage as is any event that a traditional fraternity and sorority might use to gauge the mettle of prospective members. Oddly enough, the Greek life at Reed does dominate the social scene in the same way that a fraternity or sorority would.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Unless by Greek life you mean... Unless by Greek life you mean reading the Iliad, Sophocles, and Plato, then there is no Greek life. There are no sororities or fraternities on campus. 12345 Greek Life Report

Anonymous says:

Well, half my dorm speaks ancient... Well, half my dorm speaks ancient Greek, but they’re not so much of a problem. It’s really those Latin-speaking types who are more likely to overrun your conversations. 12345 Greek Life Report

Anonymous says:

Greek life does not exist at Reed.... Greek life does not exist at Reed. Enough said. 12345 Greek Life Report

Anonymous says:

Thank God there’s no Greek houses... Thank God there’s no Greek houses on campus. That was one of the things that attracted me to Reed. 12345 Greek Life Report

Anonymous says:

There isn’t Greek life. People at... There isn’t Greek life. People at Reed do drink beer, though. 12345 Greek Life Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Although no traditional Greek system exists at Reed, the school does have its share of cathartic, bacchanal-style parties. For example, the end of the year festival, Renn Fayre, is a three-day-long experience combining fun, fireworks, craziness, and anything you could imagine. There are numerous parties throughout the year, such as the Classics Dorm’s wine and cheese symposium and Toga Formal, which make an attempt at portraying actual Greek life through food, merriment, and drink.

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