What Greek Houses Do
Each house organizes various social events for the campus, including parties, cocktails, food events, study breaks, and concerts. Each house also participates in community service in the Providence area. These houses provide an extremely close community on campus and bonds that extend beyond ones years at Brown. Greek alumni frequently visit their houses after graduation for Spring Weekend, Commencement, and other special events and traditions. Greek houses on this campus also have great facilities and social rooms, including kitchens, lounges, and libraries.
How do I join?
To join a fraternity, sorority, or co-ed, all you really have to do is get to know the people in a house. In the spring semester, a five week process called Rush begins as soon as winter break finishes. During this period, all the houses throw events and open houses so that you can get to know the brothers and sisters better, although don't feel limited to just coming to the events. Once Rush ends, you may be invited to join a house or several, and then it'll be up to you to make the decision.
(learn more about rush and reasons for going Greek)
(view this year's Rush schedule)
Some Statistics
Greek Life at Brown composes about 10% of the student population. There are 10 houses on campus - 6 Fraternities, 2 sororities, and 2 co-eds. The number of members varies but is generally between 20-60 members per house. Each house has a different personality and different people, and it's very unlikely that all the houses will be right for you. The best way to find out is to meet the people in the houses and see if you're compatible.
What Does it Mean to Be Greek?
Greek individuals comprise only 2% of the population of the United States. However, this 2% is a very powerful group of individuals.
- Over 85% of the student leaders on some 730 campuses are involved in the Greek community.
- All but eight U.S. Presidents have been fraternity men since 1825 when the first social fraternity was founded. Today, 76% of all U.S. Congressmen and Senators are Greek.
- Of the nations 50 largest corporations, 43 are led by fraternity men and sorority women.
- Greeks raise over $7 million for charity every year.
- 850,000 hours are annually volunteered by Greeks across the country.
- Approximately 85% of the top executives of Fortune 500 companies belong to a fraternity or sorority.
Lifelong Membership: Membership is a solemn commitment. Joining a fraternity or sorority is a lifelong dedication to the ideals and principals of Greek life. Greek men and women are successful in life because the values learned during the undergraduate years of affiliation continue to be put into action long after graduation.