Emme Meyers | The Crow’s Nest
By Emme Meyers
Greek life: You’ve seen the movies, read the news and heard about the parties.
However, beyond the surface of these media representations of Greek life lies empowerment, leadership, growth and community. USF St. Petersburg seems to be proud of fostering these values in our community. So why don’t we have Greek life here?
USF St. Petersburg prides itself on being its own campus, separate from USF Tampa and USF Sarasota-Manatee — not because we want to alienate ourselves from our other institutions, but because there is a sense of community that has developed on campus that we believe sets this institution apart from the others. As a USF St. Petersburg student, I couldn’t agree more.
However, the stigma that Greek life would ruin our campus community because of its negative connotations is something I simply cannot wrap my head around. If USF St. Petersburg brought Greek life on campus for the right reasons, it could be beneficial for the students as well as the community.
I went through Panhellenic recruitment in early September. I was starting my second year at USF St. Petersburg, and I felt that I needed to grow as a person, so I signed up for the most “unlike me” thing I could think of. I ended up running home to some of the most wonderful women I had ever met, and to a strong, connected community that has welcomed me with open arms.
Greek life is an undergraduate experience that every college student should get the opportunity to experience. Since joining Panhellenic sorority life, I have received many benefits.
The Greek community is a networking support system like no other. Many believe that Greek life is the epitome of social exclusion, but it’s the opposite. Sisters inside my sorority and strangers outside of it have come to me and offered friendship, adventure, love and support simply because they recognize that I am a part of their community.
We all support each other’s philanthropy events, “give back” nights and individual chapters’ goals and ambitions. This support extends between both sororities and fraternities. I am connected to people who I haven’t even met, and yet I know that we all share a similar college journey.
I have learned more about myself as a person through my values. Each sorority is based upon individual values held by the chapter, and that is how recruitment is led. The values of my sorority, Sigma Delta Tau, are leadership, philanthropy/service, sisterhood and scholarship. I realized I had aligned with these values closely, and through my affiliation with SDT, I have the opportunity to work with others who share them in growing together.
Philanthropy is the driving force behind greek life. Every fraternity and sorority has one and hosts events throughout the school year to raise donations for their cause. Sigma Delta Tau’s philanthropy is Prevent Child Abuse America. Last year at our philanthropy event, we raised $63,425 through the help of our sororities and fraternities who participated and raised money with us.
Greek life also promotes scholarship and helps students stay on track in school. It also promotes school spirit and involvement on campus. Many Greek life members participate in organizations outside of the Greek community as well.
Scholarship, networking, inclusivity, diversity, personal growth and development, service and leadership. These values are held dear to the Greek life community at USF Tampa and align with the values that USF St. Petersburg also holds.
Would hosting Greek life on campus ruin the community that has been developed, or would it strengthen it by giving students another way to grow together?
