WHY GO GREEK?

Leadership and Involvement

Greek life is a special living and learning environment. Fraternity and sorority chapters are self governing bodies in which the members may assume a variety of leadership roles ranging from chairing committees to holding major offices. This hands-on experience helps members develop leadership, organization, and communication skills. Chapters and members interact and make connections with other student organizations and departments on campus. Greeks learn the importance of dedication, working with others, responsibility, and self-reliance. Whether you're a natural leader, want to cultivate your skills, or just want to be involved, Greek life will help you develop your unique, individual potential.

Did You Know That:

85% of the Fortune 500 Executives,

80% of U.S. Presidents since 1900, and

100% of Apollo 11 Astronauts...

All joined a fraternity!!!

Community Service

One of the most gratifying aspects of Greek life is the sense of satisfaction and pride that comes with involvement in community service. Greeks throughout the nation recognize local and national organizations in need of aid by donating time and money through their special philanthropies and service projects. We strive to strengthen their relationship with the community by increasing individual member involvement in worthwhile community and campus events. Each chapter sponsors at least one philanthropy during the academic year. We take special pride in offering our services in an effort to enhance the Old Dominion community as well as the city of Norfolk. In addition, members also participate in community-wide programs such as SuperDance and blood drives. The projects are a wonderful opportunity to have a good time with your sisters while making a difference.

Activities

Offering a break from the demands of the classroom is one of the benefits of the Greek community. Throughout the year a fraternity/sorority will participate in many social events such as Parent's Weekend, after-game parties, and Greek Week. These events offer you a good time and a great opportunity to meet and interact with members of the opposite sex. Fraternity/sorority social activities allow members to bring dates or are often held where you can meet many new faces. These social activities are not required, but for those of us who enjoy a good party, there is no comparison anywhere to the variety, scope, and just plain fun of fraternity/sorority social events.

Scholarship

The first and foremost priority of ODU is academic excellence, and helping members achieve this is a primary objective of the Greek community. Accordingly, each fraternity/sorority places strong emphasis on academic performance. Fraternity/sorority members help their newest members develop study skills through study groups and individual help. The incentives and support offered by the fraternity/sorority help all members achieve and maintain high academic standards. Within each fraternity/sorority there are members involved in a wide variety of colleges and departments. This is quite an advantage in two ways: first, you will be able to seek help from others who may be taking or have already taken the same classes; second, there will be upperclassmen who can advise you on which classes and instructors are the best within each field of study. Nationally speaking, just over 50% of students in colleges and universities go on to graduate. However, U.S. Department of Education data shows that members of fraternities and sororities graduate at a rate in excess of 70%! Fraternities help you meet the challenge of balancing academics while gaining the most from your collegiate experience. The combination of friendships and brotherhood/sisterhood, intermingling with solid goals of academic excellence help you to become a well-rounded, intelligent member of the university community, and of the work force after you graduate.

Did you know...

* Studies indicate that fraternity and sorority members are more likely to remain in college and receive a degree than non-affiliated students.

* More than 7 million men and women in the U.S. and Canada are Greek.

* 80% of chief executives of the 500 largest corporations are Greek members.

* Greeks comprise more than three-fourths of Congress.

* 85% of Supreme court Justices since 1910 have been Greek.

* Since 1900, two-thirds of members of Presidential Cabinets have been Greek.

* Of the fifteen presidents who had a chance to join a fraternity, twelve took advantage of the opportunity.

* The majority of men listed in "Who's Who in America" are fraternity men.

Fraternities and sororities provide a viable option for leadership development and extracurricular involvement.

Did you know...

ATHLETES Wilt Chamberlain, John Elway, Lou Gehrig, Orel Hershiser, Jack Nicklaus, Gayle Sayers, Payne Stewart, Curtis Strange, Matt Suhey

ENTERTAINERS Kirstie Alley, Candice Bergen, Jimmy Buffet, Dixie Carter, Bill Cosby, Kevin Costner, James Dean, Bob Dylan, Harrison Ford, Kathie Lee Gifford, Amy Grant, David Letterman, Paul Newman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Brad Pitt, Elvis Presley, Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds, John Wayne

POLITICIANS George Bush, Jesse Jackson, Nancy Kassebaum, Martin Luther King, Jr., Maurine Neuberger, Ronald Reagan, Harry S. Truman

OTHERS Barbara Bush, Robert Frost, Lee Iacocca, Linda Byrd Johnson, Joan Lunden, Debora Norville, Georgia O'Keefe, George Patton, Jane Pauley, Marilyn Quayle

...are all Greeks!