GREEK LIFE AT BROWN UNIVERSITY
Greek Week 2006
Kappa Alpha Theta
Since the founding of the first fraternity at Brown in 1836, fraternities, sororities, and coeds of this university have been dedicated to promoting friendship and personal development, academic excellence and leadership skills, community interaction and individual responsibility. Reacting to the various needs of campus life, Greek houses offer a supportive environment for an individual to experience growth and success.
The Greek system at Brown encourages students to develop as individuals. Greek letter societies naturally attract many active students -- members of student government, athletic teams, peer counselors, and other extracurricular clubs and organizations. However, those who tend to shy away from such positions are just as likely to emerge as leaders in the Greek environment. Leadership starts in the house itself, where self-governance is more than just an abstract idea. Houses elect officers to organize events, plan activities, and manage finances.
Living in a Fraternity, Sorority, or Coed
Most members of fraternities, sororities, and coeds live together in designated living areas by the university. The university guarantees such housing with membership to a Greek house. This option allows for groups to live together and experience a familial atmosphere. Most houses have access to a private lounge, study area, and kitchen where they can hold events throughout the year. Advantages to living in a Greek house are vast -- many groups of friends can live together, broadening the number of connections within the Brown community.
Living and working together produce lifelong friendships, and something else that is just as important -- mutual respect. In most houses, this sense of intimacy does not come all at once, but develops over time. Best friends, close friends, or just friends -- members of fraternities, sororities, and coeds get to know each other unusually well.
Academic Commitment and Commitment to Others
Brown students honor academic excellence, which the Greek environment nourishes and promotes. Fraternities, sororities, and coeds encourage -- and expect -- you to keep up your grades. Members hold study groups for exams and projects, tutor one another in various areas, as well as benefit from the wide range of academic experience that each individual contributes to the group.
Community service is central to the mission of a Greek letter society. Individual and teams of houses work on behalf of projects in Providence such as The Tomorrow Fund, Habitat for Humanity, CASA, Providence Science Outreach, the Boys and Girls Club, Fox Point School, and RI Hospital, just to name a few. As a group, Greeks organize and provide volunteers for events such as RI Blood Drives, food bank collections, and the Walk for Literacy, as well as Brown Community Outreach Day. Fundraising and other activities are not accomplished casually -- it takes a tight knit group of people who work well together and are committed to getting things done!
It should not go unnoticed that the members of the Greek system enjoy having a great time. On weeknights, houses frequently sponsor study breaks in their lounges for all interested students and faculty. On the weekends, most houses have their own events -- barbecues, tailgates, semiformals, formals, and all-campus events. In addition to an individual house's social calendar, the Greek community as a whole plans such events as Greek Week, Homecoming, Spring Weekend concerts, campus-wide events, and speakers. After you've gone to a few of these events, you'll realize just how many different types of people you've met. Your friends are introducing you to their friends, and before you know it, you're building a network!
Formal Recruitment is a three week period in the Spring set aside for Greek letter societies and prospective members to learn more about one another. It is a time where brothers and sisters hold open houses for first year and sophomore men and women to get acquainted in a more personal setting. Plan to visit recritment events, even if you're not sure you want to join. You'll meet lots of people -- members of Brown's fraternities, sororities, and coeds, plus classmates who are also considering Greek life. Each house has its own style, and as soon as you become familiar with the system, you'll be able to distinguish which one is the right fit for you. Recruitment will help you learn your way around, and introduce you to many new friends in the process!
As for most things in life, first-hand experience is the best way to find out -- talk with people! Although the way to join a fraternity, sorority, or coed officially starts with Formal Recritment, Greek houses hold many different types of events throughout the first and second semesters to get new interested students acquainted with Greek life. Feel free to approach a brother or sister with questions -- they will be happy to tell you about their experience!
