2008 Woodie Awards
Waiting to rush allows new students to explore options
Jackie Gonzalez
Issue date: 8/17/08 Section: Opinions
Welcome to the infamous Truman Week experience. You're likely experiencing one of the last (if not the final) of these legendary weeks. You likely have a few things on your mind: anxieties about future coursework, searches for every social endeavor imaginable, and of course, the possibility (or eager enthusiasm) of going Greek.
Granted, you won't hear about sorority or fraternity life during the first week or so. There's a list of elaborate rules to prevent unfair advantages and establish an equal playing field for organizations. Yet year after year I have seen people and groups that have found loopholes. Truman Week is seemingly the biggest week for recruitment, as recruitment numbers are a source of pride and boasting. Although members are prohibited from talking about their specific affiliations, they're more than willing to talk about their experiences if asked, and they still can wear their organization's "letters", or group name. So familiarize yourself with the Greek alphabet and be prepared for a wave of foreign symbols coming your way.
Hopefully, your ideas of Greek life extend beyond a popular television show (that I happen to love) or any movie cliché. I'm not Greek, but I'm pretty sure it's safe to say most of our organizations aren't based on materialism and sleaze. And although I don't know the inner workings of Greek social organizations at Truman, I think I have come to value most of the facets of Greek life through other organizations. You can too!
If there is one piece of advice I can give you as you start your journey as a Bulldog, it is this: Don't commit yourself immediately. Don't rush during your first semester. It might seem tempting, but my decision to explore my campus options for a full semester before fully committing myself to any organization was one of the best decisions I've made at Truman. By looking at your options, you can develop your own opinions about campus life and figure out exactly how you want to spend your time here.
I'm not exaggerating when I say that many social fraternities and sororities on campus are ridiculously intense. They demand much time, money and respect before truly becoming a worthwhile experience. Devoting so much time to one particular group your first semester might prevent you from developing relationships with other non-affiliates, not to mention force you to put academics on the back burner from the start. A commitment to a Greek social organization is almost always a permanent one, so waiting even a semester still would give you three full years of Greek immersion.
Be true to your own interests and the best and most beneficial of opportunities will come to you. Your first semester already will be filled with so many new ideas and perspectives, and there's always next semester.
Granted, you won't hear about sorority or fraternity life during the first week or so. There's a list of elaborate rules to prevent unfair advantages and establish an equal playing field for organizations. Yet year after year I have seen people and groups that have found loopholes. Truman Week is seemingly the biggest week for recruitment, as recruitment numbers are a source of pride and boasting. Although members are prohibited from talking about their specific affiliations, they're more than willing to talk about their experiences if asked, and they still can wear their organization's "letters", or group name. So familiarize yourself with the Greek alphabet and be prepared for a wave of foreign symbols coming your way.
Hopefully, your ideas of Greek life extend beyond a popular television show (that I happen to love) or any movie cliché. I'm not Greek, but I'm pretty sure it's safe to say most of our organizations aren't based on materialism and sleaze. And although I don't know the inner workings of Greek social organizations at Truman, I think I have come to value most of the facets of Greek life through other organizations. You can too!
If there is one piece of advice I can give you as you start your journey as a Bulldog, it is this: Don't commit yourself immediately. Don't rush during your first semester. It might seem tempting, but my decision to explore my campus options for a full semester before fully committing myself to any organization was one of the best decisions I've made at Truman. By looking at your options, you can develop your own opinions about campus life and figure out exactly how you want to spend your time here.
I'm not exaggerating when I say that many social fraternities and sororities on campus are ridiculously intense. They demand much time, money and respect before truly becoming a worthwhile experience. Devoting so much time to one particular group your first semester might prevent you from developing relationships with other non-affiliates, not to mention force you to put academics on the back burner from the start. A commitment to a Greek social organization is almost always a permanent one, so waiting even a semester still would give you three full years of Greek immersion.
Be true to your own interests and the best and most beneficial of opportunities will come to you. Your first semester already will be filled with so many new ideas and perspectives, and there's always next semester.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Jeremy Loscheider
posted 8/18/08 @ 8:50 AM CST
I agree that students should wait to rush. College can be a difficult transition your first semester - and fraternal organizations can be demanding on time and energy. (Continued…)
Lucy
posted 8/18/08 @ 9:24 AM CST
I do applaud this surprisingly well-balanced approach to Truman's Greek life (many--but not all--Index articles have been a bit...unfair to the Greek system), I do think it should be pointed out that recruitment numbers are more about meeting requirements set by each fraternity's/sorority's Nationals than about "pride and boasting. (Continued…)
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