College students going through Rush expect to join a national fraternity or sorority, but aren’t always aware of the option of a local organization. Though not found on many campuses, they are just as rewarding and in my opinion even more fun. As a member of a local sorority, I can attest to the incredible sisterhood that can only be found within my organization.
We Make Our Own Rules
As a unique entity, we have the ability to amend our constitution each academic year and essentially make our own rules. It’s empowering and suits our own sorority style of going against the grain. We’ve been dubbed the weird girls on campus, but we happen to take that as a compliment. Because we don’t have to have to hold ourselves to a higher, national standard, we can do whatever the hell we want.
We Choose Our Philanthropy Annually
Most national sororities have their pre-established charities that they have fundraisers for, but my sorority instead chooses a new charity each year based on what the sisterhood wants to focus our efforts on. In addition to that, we participate in a lot of community service opportunities across the board because we feel that’s the best way to connect with the locals of our city. It’s extremely rewarding and definitely helps create relationships with people we might have otherwise sadly had no interaction with.
We Control Our Budget
Though my sorority does function under our university’s PanHel Board for college related reasons, what we choose to do with our budget is entirely up to us. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on t-shirts and convention trips, we dedicate our funds to outrageous parties and formals – which honestly often include lots of alcohol. We still abide by the classic rule of not wearing our letters while we’re drinking in public, but when the doors are closed we sure know how to have a good time.
Chapter Meetings Are Fun
We actually have a lot of fun during our chapter meetings. We’ll occasionally have formal meetings for our elections where we have to wear proper attire, but most weeks we are free to show up in our sweatpants. Things are much more relaxed in a lot of ways when compared to national organizations and we rarely spend more than 45 minutes talking. Afterwards, we either hit up a fast food restaurant or hold our own dance party in the chapter room. It just depends on the night.
Closer Relationships With Everyone
Another great part of being in a local organization is the small size that allows you to get to know every single person. I love knowing all of my sisters so well and being able to trace my sorority family’s lineage several generations back. Though it’s considerably smaller than national sororities, our community is very tight-knit and spans over all age groups and across the country. Our network of alumnae is just as crazy as all of us current students and we couldn’t be happier to be associated with them.
More often than not, local Greek organizations are looked down upon because they aren’t seen as legit as the national ones. But it’s important to remember that they serve a similar purpose. Despite my local sorority’s quirkiness, we’re just a bunch of independent women who like being a part of something bigger than ourselves. We choose to surround ourselves with like-minded people who want to make a difference and be there for one another because that’s what sisters are for. Local fraternities and sororities deserve just as much respect because of their liveliness and passion that matches, if not surpasses, that of their national counterparts.
