Sororities, fraternities based on values, director says

By Alexis Austin

austina@thejohnsonian.com 

Graphic by Mika Parajon• parajonm@thejohnsonian.comSelling lemonade.  Shouting out calls across campus. Wearing t-shirts to represent their organization.

These are some of the many things you will see various Greek organizations do across campus. However, there is more than what meets the eye.

Greek organizations serve a number of purposes, especially at Winthrop, program director of fraternity and sorority affairs Lindsey Dombert said.

“The purpose of Greek organizations is for students to unite themselves over values. It offers the opportunity for a variety of experiences over one organization,” she said.

Currently about 550 students are active in Greek life Dombert said. 

Sophomore business administration major Tim Mention said he thinks the Greek organizations will grow in numbers. Mention is not in a fraternity but said he has considered joining.

“I think Greek Life here on campus is different, compared to many HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities) I have visited,” he said. “I really think that as time passes Greek life at Winthrop will pick up and start to become bigger in numbers.”

Although this number has remained consistent on Winthrop’s campus, there has been an increase across the nation, Dombert said.

“Winthrop’s numbers have remained around the same,” she said. “The organizations are growing in the number of programs they put on and service hours they complete each year.”

Allair Gehm, a junior childhood education major, has mixed feelings about being a part of Winthrop’s Greek life. Gehm is not in a sorority and said she doesn’t want to be in one.   

 “I like the idea of it but I don't like that you have to pay to be in it and that you get fined if something is not exactly up to their standards or par,” Gehm said. 

There are 16 Greek  organizations on Winthrop’s campus. Each organization belongs to a specific council. Depending on the council the organization belongs to, there are different procedures and rules they must abide by in order to accept someone as a member. 

“Greek organizations have an internal system for sanctions and can fine chapters for violating those sanctions,” Dombert said. “The fines are within organization themselves and members will know what these are before becoming a member.” 

Winthrop does not fine organizations unless they have done something in violation of school policy.

“A Greek organization would be fined just like any other organization on campus,”Dombert said. 

Students are expected to have a specific grade point average, number of service hours and must pay dues. The cost of dues depends on the organization and can include national and chapter dues. 

“The prices for joining vary depending on the organization,” Dombert said. “Some organizations may have a one-time due of $1,000 while others may have dues of $200 per semester. Some organizations also have payment plans as an option.”

To be active in any Greek organization, Winthrop    requires students to take at least 12 credit hours.

Gehm and Mention have been asked by various organizations if they were interested in being a part of Greek life. Gehm also said the organizations seem very competitive.

“I think that it is very competitive around campus with signs and chalk everywhere,” she said.

Mention said that despite all the requirements, he hopes to be a part of Greek life some day.

“The reason I want to be part of a fraternity is to basically give back to the community and have the group of people I can call my brothers, who I know will always have my back regardless of the situation,  and the idea of networking,” he said.

Dombert said that Greek life’s impact on Winthrop has been huge.

“They give back to the community and it encourages students to keep their grades up to stay active in their organizations,” she said.