Sororities and fraternities offer close-knit community for GW students.
Last month, hundreds of GW freshmen and sophomores women ran through a plethora of balloons, brightly colored signs and endless cheering to meet their new sisters.
After five days of recruitment, more than 400 students were invited to join one of GW’s 10 sororities – the largest pledge class in GW history.
Greek life has been on the rise for the past decade at GW. In 2003, about 13 percent of the GW undergraduate student population was in a Panhellenic sorority or an Interfraternity Council chapter. This fall, that number has grown to about 25 percent.
“The biggest benefit to joining a fraternity or sorority is finding a support system to help you be successful as a student at GW,” says Dean Harwood, former director of Greek life at GW. “You’re able to find a community of a manageable size.”
There are 16 fraternities and 10 sororities at GW. Each sorority has an average of 115 members, and each fraternity has an average of 65 members. All 10 sororities and most fraternities have some type of housing on campus.
GW freshman Hannah Kate Bardo, of Hanover, Mass., didn’t plan on joining a sorority when she first came to GW. But after meeting Colonial Cabinet members during Colonial Inauguration this summer who were a part of Greek life, she started to reconsider.
“I was really impressed by all the cabinet members, and I could see myself being like them,” says Ms. Bardo, a freshman in the Elliott School of International Affairs and a new member of Sigma Kappa. “Everyone has their stereotypes about Greek life and coming from a family that wasn’t involved in Greek life, I definitely had those stereotypes. But I realized that Greek life was different here.”
The notion that Greek life is different at GW is something that is echoed by many Greek members.
“I think when people join Greek life at other colleges, it becomes the one outlet where they’re involved on campus. But at GW, Greek life breeds other leadership opportunities in all kinds of organizations,” says Leah Grubb, the president of Sigma Kappa.
In addition to being president of GW’s Panhellenic Association, Renee Nichols is a student justice for the Office of Student Judicial Services, treasurer for Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society, and last year served as the director of standards and ethics for her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi.
“All the student organizations on campus are filled with Greeks, and it’s not a coincidence,” says Ms. Nichols, a senior studying economics in the Columbian College of Arts And Sciences.
For Bill Hulse, president of GW’s Interfraternity Council, Greek life has served as his “home away from home” for the past two years.
“No one lets any of their brothers slip through the cracks,” says Mr. Hulse, a junior studying political science and economics in Columbian College and a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. “We look out for each other.”
This fall, 285 GW male students joined a fraternity, which is seven fewer than last year. While sorority recruitment only takes place in September, fraternity rush is held both in the fall and spring.
Ms. Grubb, a GW junior in the School of Business, says she was able to find her niche at GW by joining a sorority.
“Being Greek has not only helped me make lifelong friends, but it’s made me excel in leadership and scholarship on campus,” she says.
Joining a sorority has also introduced Ms. Bardo to “fantastic people.”
“This group of girls is so awesome and to be able to call them my sisters is something I’m really proud of,” she says.
In addition to providing leadership opportunities and social activities, the Greek community donates nearly $200,000 a year to charities that benefit burn victims, Alzheimer’s research and the National Parkinson’s Foundation.
“We really do a lot, not only for the GW community but for community groups across the country,” says Mr. Hulse.
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