Across more than 800 college campuses, there are nearly 750,000 students involved in Greek life. Beyond the letters and traditions, the question remains: does joining a fraternity or sorority shape a college student’s experience for the better, or does it come with hidden downsides?
Some research suggests Greek affiliation can have a positive effect on students. Similar studies show students within Greek life often have higher retention rates and are more likely to graduate college when compared to non-Greeks. A study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln showed 90.1% of the Greek community retained members, while the campus average for retention was 82.2%.
Many Greek life organizations also have GPA requirements, learning and leadership opportunities, which can lead to success later in life. According to George Washington University’s website, “Though only 3 percent of Americans were once involved with Greek life, 76 percent of the United States Congress were once involved. All but two U.S. Presidents and Vice-Presidents since 1825 have been fraternity members.”
This suggests a strong link between being involved in Greek life and professional achievement.
Ann Manginelli is an associate professor at Tech and has been a faculty advisor for Delta Phi Epsilon (one of the five Panhellenic chapters on Tech’s campus) for nine years. Regarding some of the positive aspects of Greek life, Manginelli said, “Greek life gives opportunities to develop important leadership skills that are crucial to academic, career, and overall life success.”
However, Greek life also has a negative reputation for participating in high-risk activities, specifically with drugs and alcohol. According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, between non-Greeks and Greeks, Greeks’ drinking habits (and binge drinking habits) are much worse than non-Greeks. Greek members have a general consumption of 5.53 days (out of 30), while non-Greeks have a general consumption of 4.63 days (out of 30).
Another issue Greek life faces is mental health concerns. While some members receive a strong sense of belonging and community, others feel like they have to conform to fit in, which can be bad for their mental health.
Missouri College published a brief, focusing on its fraternity and sorority students. One of the main topics in this was mental health. The brief showed 54% of Greek students reported anxiety, 25% reported panic attacks, and 24% reported major depression. This shows mental health struggles exist for many Greeks.
Most organizations have policies to prevent this, but sometimes they are not as effective as they are made to be. These mental health concerns are also largely what causes some of the high-risk activities stated above.
Ali Cochran is the President of the Tennessee Tech Zeta Alpha chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon. She is a senior and is currently finishing up her last year in the chapter. She pointed out some of the negative factors she has seen while in Greek life: “Honestly, most of the time I feel very overwhelmed. There is just a lot going on, and sometimes it takes a toll on me mentally. Although it’s hard, I am very grateful to have the support of my sisters to get through it.”
Greek life remains deeply rooted in many college campuses across the country, offering opportunities for all. However, there are still downsides making some question whether all of this is even worth it. The question truly isn’t whether Greek organizations are good or bad; it’s how they can evolve to keep the good and eliminate the bad. As colleges continue to push for change, Greek life must do the same to help shape their future communities.
