Rachel Leach
WRD 110
Hudgens, Jennifer
10/13/15
Photo Essay
Over 5,000 students embody the Greek Life at the University of Kentucky (UK).
UK has embraced over forty-seven sorority and fraternity chapters. Fourteen of the sororities are included in the National Panhellenic Council (NPC). The
NPC is an organization comprised of 26 international sororities. Like
the NPC, UK takes Greek Life very seriously. With every group and organization,
there comes the association of stereotypes and bias’ towards the subject.
Members of sororities face the challenge of overcoming these
stereotypes and showing their peers how much sorority women benefit the
community.
When pledging a
sorority, women are not solely joining a club, but a lifelong sisterhood that
will promote some of the strongest bonds imaginable. During the Rush process,
young women are looking for a place where they feel most comfortable, accepted, and
where they will prosper most. A sorority is meant to be a home away from home-
especially for the women who are just getting a glimpse of adulthood and are without
the constant support of their families. To a large number of sorority women,
finding that perfect sisterhood is a top priority. There is much to be said and
understood about these strong bonds, and the following passage provides insight
into how important it is to establish a strong sense of sisterhood.
“Sororities
hold a powerful allure. When young women arrive on campus, the promise of friends, a fun social calendar, and a
home base can be comforting. Sororities can make a large campus feel smaller,
giving students a sense of belonging. Many chapters teach leadership, plus
organizational and professional skills, and encourage community service”
(Robbins and Florsheim, 1).
Forming a strong sisterhood is one of
the many positive stereotypes associated with joining a sorority. The
relationships created throughout the sorority are ones that women view as
lifelong friendships. The photo below is used to show how, even on the first
day meeting each other, bonds are formed and memories are created that sorority
women will never forget.
 |
(New Members of the Delta Zeta Sorority on
Bid Day 2015- learning how to "throw what you
know" with their new found sisters) |
One of the most prominent parts of Greek
Life is the ability to support a variety of philanthropies throughout the
community. For example, Delta Zeta promotes awareness for the hearing and
speech impaired through service hours and various donations to organizations,
such as The Painted Turtle Camp. Every sorority adopts a philanthropy, in which
they give their time and effort, to better the community. Kappa Delta recently
hosted a cheerleading competition- “Bring It On”- to raise money and awareness
for their philanthropies- Prevent Child Abuse America and Girl Scouts of the
USA.
A common stereotype related to
sororities is that they are too consumed in partying. Many of the sorority
events such as Bring It On (Kappa Delta), Mr. UK (Delta Zeta), and Anchor
Splash (Delta Gamma) are all very large events that may seem like big parties-
especially when it comes to social media posts. In reality, these “parties” are
connected to the sorority’s philanthropy and help to raise money and awareness
for their cause. Like the average college student, sorority women still partake
in non-Greek events, while keeping in mind that their actions represent the
sorority as a whole.
The photo below depicts the young
women and men putting their time to good use by raising money and awareness for
their Philanthropy. The individual’s efforts are put together to make for a
very fun event with lots of cheers, woo-hoos, and smiles, while keeping focus
on the greater cause.
 |
(Kappa Delta Sorority and Beta Fraternity performing their cheer during the Bring It On
competition at the Singletary Center on the University of Kentucky's campus- 2015) |
Academic integrity is one of the main values
that sorority women strive for. Not only are academics vital to the overall
success of a student, but they are also essential in maintaining membership in
the sorority. At the University of Kentucky, each sorority has academic
standards that every woman must uphold in order to maintain membership. In
comparison, a large majority of sororities also require study hours to create a
balance between social activities and education. A study called, “Does Going Greek Impair Undergraduate
Academic Performance?” analyzes the connection between GPA and whether or not a
student was Greek or non-Greek.
“…Members of Greek-lettered
organizations averaged a 1–2 percent lower cumulative GPA by their senior year
than their non- Greek counterparts. However, they were in a better position to
graduate on time because relatively more had GPAs above the minimum 2.00
requirement and relatively more had declared majors compared with their
non-Greek counterparts” (Grubb, 1102).
 |
(The Roman Lamp- Delta Zeta's official badge declaring the DZ letters.
This photo was taken at 202 E. Church Street Oxford, OH 45056 on 10/11/15
while new members of Delta Zeta went to the headquarters for a retreat.) |
This study shows that, in relation
to academic requirements set by the sorority, Greek students’ GPAs likely were
at or above the standard set fourth by their academic chair. When there are
motivations set forth for success, it is more likely for a student to aim high
in order to keep their position as a Greek member. The Roman Lamp will be used- in my documentary- to express that Delta Zetas shine brightly (like a lamp) by representing the academic, social, and philanthropic values of the sorority every day.
Throughout
college, it should be every student’s goal to aim for success. When there are
motivations set forth, this goal might seem easier to attain. Sororities
encourage women to be the best versions of themselves possible. This can be
observed through the community involvement activities that the women partake
in, the education requirements set forth by the sororities, and the strong
interrelations formed amongst the women. Overall, stereotypes are generally
associated with sororities, but they need to be looked past for the greater benefit
of the community.
988 words
Works
Cited
Grubb, Farley. "Does
Going Greek Impair Undergraduate Academic Performance?" American Journal Of Economics &
Sociology 65.5 (2006): 1085-1110. America: History & Life. Web.
11 Oct. 2015.
