Coming to a college is a big change and requires a demanding adjustment.
Every aspect of their life changes once they get to campus. Finding new friends
can be terrifying and overwhelming. There are endless student organizations in
which to get involved, but approximately 1 in 5 students at ONU is Greek. Why?
Membership in a fraternity or sorority provides your son/daughter with an
immediate family on campus. The community that is built through a chapter is
one of support, friendship, shared values and understanding. S/he will probably
find their best friend in the chapter, the members of their wedding party, and
your grandchildren’s godparents. The bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood that a
chapter creates are immensely strong and are a type of friendship that most
members find hard to even explain.
Besides creating this home away from home environment, fraternity and
sorority chapters also offer their members expansive leadership opportunities
through holding officer positions in the chapter. As an officer, members are
able to gain valuable professional and life skills like delegation, time
management, conflict resolution, and event planning. Members also work in a
team environment, thus enhancing their ability to work together with others; a
skill that is extremely valuable in the work place. In addition to the skills
building that a chapter can offer, your student will also be exposed to many
other activities and interests that they might not seek out on their own.
Chapters often sponsor discussion series with professors, host national
speakers, and participate in a variety of campus and community events. The
Standards of Excellence program holds Greek students to a higher standard than
those not involved with Greek life, as it asks each chapter to complete
requirements such as high scholarship achievements, community service hours,
and campus participation.
Networking is another benefit of fraternity and sorority membership. Each of
the chapters at ONU is a national organization, which means they exist across
the country and abroad with thousands and thousands of members. Alumni support
for our chapters is very strong and will provide your student with the
opportunity to build intergenerational friendships. Once your student
graduates, they will once again to be able to call upon the support of their
brothers and sisters from other chapters as they enter the alumni/ae stage of
membership and as they begin and expand their career path.
Parents FAQs
When is recruitment and how does it work?
How does the New Member process work?
What is the financial commitment?
What is the time commitment?
What about the negative things I hear about Greek Life?
My daughter needs to develop skills outside of the classroom. Is there
opportunity for this?
Who do I contact if I want to talk to someone?