It’s all Greek to me

Utah State University campus, like many other universities across America, has so many ancient Greek letters around, it looks like the physics students decided to graffiti their homework all over.

In truth, they are of course the call signs for the various fraternities available here on campus.

Greek leaders say many people gather their opinions about Greek life from movies like “Animal House” and “Revenge of the Nerds” full of heavy drinking, partying and hazing. This is an image that today’s Greeks have to deal with.

“Some people complain about the parties getting out of hand,” Robert Gonzales, a junior majoring in speech, said.

“But really, that’s just a few people from a few organizations throwing off the perception.”

“Those things are a thing of the past,” said Paul Creech, a junior dual-majoring in philosophy and political science and the president of the Pi Kappa house.

According to Creech, back in the “glory days,” the university had many Greek societies on campus. However, due to some controversy with drugs and alcohol during the ’80s, many of them lost their charters.

Greek organizations are very active on campus at USU.

The school is currently home to six different fraternities: Sigma Nu, Sigma Chi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Psi Sigma Phi, Delta Sigma Phi and Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Creech also said three new fraternities are planning on coming to USU in the next three years.

This week all of the fraternities and sororities are “rushing,” meaning getting the word out about their organization, in an attempt to help people understand what they’re about and what they do.

When fraternities talk to potential members, they all stress a lot of the same principles – especially leadership.

“There are so many leadership positions,” Eric Anderson, a junior in political science and the internal vice president for the Pi Kappa Alpha house, said. “We have positions for everything from public relations to scholarship.”

Several fraternities also make a point to stress diversity in their members.

“We feel that a group with different talents and temperaments is stronger than one where everybody is the same,” Creech said.

The newest fraternity on campus, Psi Sigma Phi, the multicultural fraternity, is built around diversity.

“We try to promote diversity: black, white and everything in between,” said Robert Gonzales, the vice president of the house.

“Everyone has a culture and we just want to celebrate that.”

Fraternities offer their members more than just a chance to be in charge of something.

“Frats are one place you go to get everything all at once. You can get leadership, make friends and do service,” Rusty Rigby, a senior in math education, said. “In a fraternity, there’s more that bonds you than work.”

One thing beyond work that bonds members is the values that the fraternities preach.

“We try to focus on community service, philanthropy and being involved on campus,” Jeff Lake, a senior in secondary education and the president Pi Kappa Alpha, said.

To encourage this on-campus involvement, some of the fraternities have rules requiring members to join and be active in other clubs or organizations.

Four of the six fraternities on campus have a house of their own for members to live. While not all members live in the house, many choose to because of the location. Some houses even provide meals several times a week for those living there.

With so many different houses living so close together, it’s natural for rivalries to exist.

“There is a rivalry,” Mike Vilvin, a senior in aviation technology and a member of Sigma Chi, said. “It’s not like at other campuses – we don’t vandalize other houses.”

“When it comes down to it, we’re all one Greek system, so if one house disappeared it would hurt the rest.”

Dues are required from members, but they say that’s not what the organization is about.

“For an organization to run, it needs money,” Rigby said. “You’re not paying for friends, you’re paying for an experience.”

Glenn Clarke, a junior in finance and the social chair of Psi Sigma Phi, encouraged people wanting to join a fraternity to do so for the right reason.

“A lot of people want to join for the parties, but I would say they should join because they want to make a difference in someone’s life,” Clarke said.