Greek life is ‘nothing but negative’ on UK’s campus
November 9, 2008 by Opinions
Every columnist deserves respect whether or not you agree with his or her views.
I am a freshman who rushed and accepted a bid in the fall. I met hundreds of people and tons of friends. When I told the fraternity I was going to hold off my acceptance because I might not be at UK next semester, each and every one of them stopped talking to me. My roommate, who is in the fraternity, doesn’t even talk to me. Just the other day, I reached out to him and his exact words were, “It’s too late for us to try to be friends” — my own roommate — and now it’s too late to change rooms.
Greek life has been nothing but negative here at UK. I’m sure you guys do great things with charity work, but you are very exclusive and very immature. If it’s not all about the money, why can’t I just show up to the parties and pay a $5 cover instead of not being invited at all anymore? If it’s not all about the money, why did I lose all my friends? If you guys liked me enough to give me a bid, why did you stop liking me when you found out you weren’t going to be getting my $1,000 check?
I am from Michigan, and in the north, Greek life is very small. Here at UK, however, Greek life is huge and only perpetuates the stereotype of cliques and the high school mentality I tried so hard to distance myself from … when I graduated!
I traveled 350 miles south from my hometown for a fresh start. I was so excited — a new school, thousands of new potential friends, and now I feel like I am back in high school with all the Greeks. It’s pathetic.
UK is a wonderful school, a beautiful campus in a beautiful Commonwealth with the rudest people. Now, I am going to a community college back in Detroit because, as hard as I try, I can’t make any friends because the Greeks don’t accept me. And mind you, these aren’t the actions of “a few individuals,” this is an entire fraternity. I am very against Greeks after what happened to me and will never forgive any of them for making my time here at UK the worst it possibly could have been.
Kyle Hermann
business freshman
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You do realize that the campus is not 100% Greek, right? If you’re not accepted by the Greeks, find another group to join. I never associated with Greek life but I made it through college very happy and with many friends. But since we’re just the “rudest people,” then I’ll happily say, “Don’t let the door hit ya!”
I’m sorry you had a terrible experience, but have you considered making non-Greek friends? There are many of us non-Greek people out here. As a graduate student I can tell you that, like high school, college life gets better the longer you’re here. I made some of my closest friends just a few years ago. Good luck!
You know, I can see why he is so disappointed/ frustrated. It’s not that every single Greek at UK is a bad person -I don’t think that’s what he’s saying- it’s that he realized that his new ‘friends’ only associated with him because of being in the ‘in’ group- just like in high school. Except it’s not a high school thing, it’s a human thing and there are always people who want to be in exclusive groups that are exclusive just to be exclusive. Now I know many Greeks might take offense to this and tell me how many great charities they support, but why not just support charity for it’s own sake? There are lots of great organizations for college people that do charity work and promote brother/sisterhood and don’t care about being ‘in’ or ‘out’.
Sororities and fraternities can be great for some people, but I wish UK (and many public universities) would focus more on academics, not just research, but academics. I don’t know how most people here find the time to be involved in Greek life, plus sports, plus work, plus clubs, etc. and pursue their academic passions. As a senior graduating in December I’m just glad I found one or two things to be involved in outside of class while keeping up my grades.
Being a freshman from Michigan as well, I understand where you are coming from. I briefly considered rushing just for the sole fact that I didn’t know a single person coming to this University and knew if I were to join a sorority or meet a few girls who were also participating in recruitment, I would at least have some friends. Then I realized that I didn’t need to rely on a certain group or organization to make friends… I needed to rely on myself. I have made a ton of friends from classes and just by approaching people. I’m sorry you are having such a bad experience here, but maybe you should try and stick it out the whole year and try to make friends outside of those involved in Greek life, and if that doesn’t happen, then transfer. Just because a few people turned out to be rude doesn’t mean that reflects all of this campus. Oh, and if you hadn’t heard, it was snowing on the mitten yesterday…who really misses that?
Is it possible that you thought you were too good to join certain fraternities that might have been full of much less rude, more down to earth people?
I came to UK from NY I did not know a single person on campus. The Greek community was very accepting of me. Through the Greek life I have met several friends that are Greek and several that are not. I have since left UK for financial reasons over a year ago and I am still feel part of UK because of the Greeks. Maybe you pushed your roommate away because of who you are not because of Greeks. UK is a huge school, and if your not able make friends then you should look in the mirror to see if the problem is truly Greek life or is the problem you.
Ok Kyle, I can relate but there is a much better way to go about the situation. I was in a sorority my freshmen year and felt the cliquey, high school-ish vibe you reference in your column. It made me want to transfer and give up as well. But because I felt alienated, I was forced to make other friends from the dorms, my classes, friends of acquaintances…anybody. While it can be difficult, it is not impossible. I dropped my sorority and strongly dislike the majority of the girls that are still in it. But, a lot of my good friends are in sororities and fraternities. It’s easy to stereotype because you had a bad experience, but don’t take it out on the entire Greek system and the university. Rise above and branch out.
If there is one thing that this campus is never short of, it’s those students who view Greeks at UK in a negative light for ridiculous reasons. In response to an article written by Kyle Hermann on November 9th regarding his Greek experience: did you ever stop and think that it was not the Greeks who were the problem, but maybe it was you? Perhaps there is a reason that an entire fraternity decided to disassociate themselves with you. Greeks, like any club or organization, associate themselves with people who mostly represent the values that they stand for: honor, chivalry, respect, and a sense of community. Mr. Hermann, if you are having such a bad experience socially at UK perhaps that’s an indication of your values and personality. A campus with 30,000 students and you’re ready to give up and go home all because of one snub by a fraternity? There are thousands of opportunities on this campus. It is a wonderful place to thrive, both socially and intellectually. Anyone who bases the University of Kentucky on one bad experience with one organization should lighten up, take it in stride, and try again. That’s not just college. That’s life.
It seems to me that this opinion was just a bit biased, seeing as how Mr. Hermann had an (admitted) bad experience. I too had a very bad experience with Greeks. Instead of stereotype and holding prejudice against ALL Greeks - I rushed elsewhere - and I am now an active.
Please note, to all potential rushees: Everyone is NOT out to get you AND not every place is a good fit for you.
Let me also note that this campus not exclusively Greek, it’s not even half. Let’s not even talk about the social dynamics of Greek versus non-Greek, (as we do have a non-Greek student body president, after all) let me instead remark upon these erroneous, false, and mean-spirited claims.
Firstly, the Greek community is not all about drinking and parties. If you think that, then you are, quite obviously, not in a Greek organization. We dedicate our time, efforts, and monies to a bigger cause. I can speak for my personal Greek organization - If you just want to pay $5 and party, you are not the man we are looking for and most other organizations aren’t either.
Secondly, there are 20 social fraternities on this campus. If you aren’t a good fit at one, then, I dunno, try ANOTHER. It took me a time or two to find my calling. Gross accusations and stereotypes of ANY group is outdated and unfair - this is no more than a case of sour grapes - if you act like an ass to so many people, then expect that in return.
And let us not be fooled - so many of us know the real story, Mr. Hermann. As naive as you think we Kentuckians, everyone who reads this Dear Abby will know that the majority facts in this story are deleted, omitted, or missing. Maybe a Michigan community college is the right place for you, because obviously Kentucky is not.
I’m so sorry you had such a negative experience. I agree that your treatment was shoddy at best. I only hope that you might consider going through rush a second time, and this time getting a bid from a better quality group of young men. With a more civil brotherhood (indeed, most are), you should be able to enhance your UK experience in ways you’ve yet to imagine.
I guess every farm has its jackasses, and you were unfortunate enough to find Kentucky’s.
Mr. Reul and Kevin M. obviously did not read the article at all. He said that he had been accepted to the fraternity, but was holding off on his acceptance because he was unsure if he was going to stay at the university. Quit trying to insult him by saying that he should go to the Michigan community college and that he was the reason, when it was obvious that you have no idea of the situation. If he would rather be closer to his home, then more power to him. He did not “give up” because of the incident. His roommate and the fraternity members were the ones excluding him without understanding. The facts are missing because the people excluding him were too immature to explain their problems. There is no reason that an entire group of people quit talking to him for not understanding his situation. Hermann has a right to feel insulted by having this particular fraternity deciding to quit talking to him because of immaturity. I wish him the best and never to lose hope.
Mr. Allard should recognize that he doesn’t know the situation. I am in said fraternity and I know the situation thoroughly. Before spouting off in support of, what I can only assume is a friend or personal interest of yours, please get your facts straight. His story is wholly inaccurate and really detrimental to all good college Greek men at this university. That being said, I will take you gesture as one of ignorance and not hold contempt; it is not I that has ‘no idea’ of the situation.
Shut yo mouth. If you be so edumacated on this shiz, then enlightenizzle the many of us readers who ain’t. Fo shizzle.
That was my roommate that said my second comment. I seem to have misunderstood the situation and let my emotion get the best of me. Forgive me for not giving you enough credit. If you are willing to state what he possibly did without any insulting, then I will give you more credit than I gave you. Good job on taking advantage of my weak argument. No hard feelings.