There’s something magical about Greek life — about the secret folds that gather each member in and provide a unique college experience.

This magic is more than date parties, recruitment and Spring Break. The real magic of being in a Greek letter organization is the rituals, the dark rooms and the secrets that make being in a sorority and a fraternity worthwhile.

Without ritual, Greek life is a 300-plus group of friends who meet for dinner one night a week, like a dinner club on steroids. Ritual is the tie that binds us with the men and women who first formed our organizations.

But in the hustle of college life, the late night study sessions and even later night adventures, it can be easy to forget how important ritual is to create a cohesive organization. Especially with 47 fraternities and sororities, with diverse members and organizations, ritual is one common factor that pulls these 47 families together.  

No, ritual isn’t all Greek community members do. Charity events give back to the community, scholarship requirements have Greek members studying at above the average GPA, according to UK’s Fraternity & Sorority Affairs, and leadership opportunities prepare members for future success. But ritual is the unifier that keeps us unique. Ritual keeps us Greek.

One of the simplest ways to celebrate is through International Badge Day, an event celebrated the first Monday in March. It also kicks off National Ritual Week, which Phi Mu hosts.

For students who transfer, or graduates who move across the country, joining an alumni chapter or finding like-minded brothers and sisters helps to create a community. Anyone can move across the nation and make friends, but understanding ritual adds a new dimension to a friendship. Whether it’s a handshake, a symbol or a phrase, understanding your ritual and the values it represents allows for members to remain close to their organization while they are still members and after they graduate.

Even if a chapter misses International Badge Day, it should, “Just pick a day in March to wear badges that will work for your campus to honor National Women’s History Month and celebrate the history of sororities,” according to the Panhellenic Council’s website.

Something as simple as wearing your badge, or even dressing appropriately for ritual events, shows respect for a chapter’s history, its former members and its current members.

That is what respecting ritual is really about. Ritual is celebrating the unique history and tradition that makes the Greek community such a powerhouse for good. Without ritual, Greek life is nothing more than a group of friends who wear the same T-shirt.

Ritual is the link between our past, present and future. Respecting ritual is the truest form of fraternal ideals. Secrets are meant to be kept, honored and celebrated. Greek members would do well to remember this when ritual events arise.

Lexington Souers is the features editor of the Kentucky Kernel.

Email [email protected]