When students go to college they debate whether or not to join a fraternity or sorority. If students decide to join, they typically go through a week-long rush process. This is where students are given a chance to become familiar with the different fraternities and sororities on campus. After rushing, the next step in the Greek life process is called pledging. Pledging is where students get to know members of the organization they are joining along with learning the organization’s values and traditions. The entire process of initiation as a whole takes one to three months according to Essence.
A survey of 20 seniors at NHS concluded that 70% of the seniors are not planning to join a fraternity or sorority. Students who do join Greek organizations join for a variety of reasons such as making friends, learning leadership skills or wanting to be successful according to USA Today. Senior Jennifer Rubio is going to attend Wichita State University in the fall and is planning to rush during her freshman year of college.
“[I want to join because] my sister was in one and I went to lots of events they hosted and she seemed to have a lot of fun. I like being involved in things and I think it is a good way to meet new people,” Rubio said.
In the past few years, there seems to have been a decline in the number of people who join a sorority or fraternity due to negative stereotypes surrounding hazing, partying and drinking that can occur within some Greek organizations according to USA Today. Hazing is partaking in humiliating and emotional tasks to join a program or training and is usually set up as an initiation.

“Hazing has been a problem for years and it is usually swept under the rug or overlooked. It is kind of like an extreme form of bullying,” Rubio said. “People who do it are not necessarily held accountable always because they are students but college kids have died due to hazing and I think some people take it way too far and it then becomes dangerous.”
Although hazing can occur when someone joins a sorority or fraternity there are many positive reasons to join. One of the ongoing traditions in Greek life is for new members to have a sponsor or mentor typically nicknamed a big. A big is a member of the sorority or fraternity who has already been a member for some time, and knows the traditions and values to help the newcomer learn their way.
“[I am planning on joining] Tri Delta because I am more familiar with it and my sister was in it so I would go to a lot of their events and it was always super fun,” Rubio said. “I am excited to meet my [sorority] family or my big and make new friends.”
Senior Clayton Smith will be attending Kansas State University in the fall and is planning to join Alpha Gamma Rho his freshman year of college. Smith is joining since it is a tradition in his family. He will be a third generation Alpha Gamma Rho.
“I am most excited about all the study time I am going to get within the fraternity and all of the homies I am going to meet,” Smith said.