The fall leaves were falling, the sun was shining, and away the birds flew. I couldn’t help but look. Here I was at Eastern Kentucky University. It surprised me to see all of the students walking to class, looking energetic and ready to learn. I watched them, standing there in my favorite flowery sundress. Luckily the cold hadn’t hit yet and there was still a warm fall breeze. The most noticeable thing about the students on campus were their clothes. It seemed like everywhere I looked, there was a splash of maroon. The one thing that grabbed my eye was the blonde headed woman wearing a maroon dress, with the biggest letter E across the top. Who knew there would be so much school spirit? I must’ve picked one of the best days to be on campus. After I parked my car, I started following the sidewalks. One sidewalk connected to another side walk, which lead me to the Ravine. Everything seemed to be going on! Live music, crowds, food, games, face painting, a tye-dye booth, and even an exercise class. Shortly after I got past all of the entertainment, I wondered down another sidewalk. That sidewalk led me to the Greek life. Today was Bid Day which meant all of the people who rushed for Greek, got to meet their new life with either their brothers or sisters! “Welcoming our …show more content…
newest members to Kappa Delta, please welcome Hannah...” is a phrase I will never forget. 50 girl’s dreams’ just came true and excitement soared through the crowd. I thought to myself, maybe one day I’ll be one of those 50 girls in Kappa Delta… Just maybe. One place I found very intriguing was the Noel Studio, which is located in the library. If you don’t already know about the Noel Studio, I’ll gladly explain. The studio offers academic help, whether it be with proofreading an essay, tutoring you, or just helping you get your thoughts flowing! All you have to do is set up an appointment. Whenever I walked through the doors, I felt comfortable. Almost like I do whenever I walk into my home. The front desk worker named Shelby welcomed me with a warm greeting. From there, I met up with the tour guide and her name was Alex. The rooms were filled with bright, neon furniture and walls covered with elegant, breathtaking art. The thing that interested me the most would definitely have to be the smart board. Alex showed me the board and began writing. Whenever she was finished writing, with one click of a button, the printer turned on and began printing everything she had just wrote on the smart board. If I chose for Eastern Kentucky University to be my place of study, then the Noel Studio will be my go to for everything. If you didn’t think that Noel Studio offered a lot of help to the students, there is another building you can go to for all of your other needs.
The Whitlock building offers services such as admissions, financial aid assistance, career and regular counseling, and many more! The building was beautiful, tall, and covered with nothing but windows. However, the inside was plain but it still felt welcoming. I went and visited the admissions office to figure out what I needed to do to get accepted into Eastern Kentucky University. After I left admissions, I went over to the front desk worker, and she politely greeted me and led me in the right direction which towards Telford Hall, to meet my sister
Devyn. As I took on the journey from Whitlock to Telford, I fell in love with the campus scenery all over again. Within a matter of hours, the breeze was still warm and the leaves continued to fall, covering the sidewalk with beautiful yellow and orange colors. Even though some trees were completely bare of leaves, some of them were still covered and draped the sidewalk. It felt like I was walking under a canopy. 15 minutes, 2 hills, and 3 parking lots later, I had finally reached Telford. I had never seen anything like it. The residence hall itself was 13 stories tall and filled with a variety of cultures. In order for me to walk in, my sister had to come outside to get me. You are only allowed to enter Telford with a key fob, which unlocks the door, only long enough for you to get it. From there, we continued to the front desk, where we both had to sign in using our Eastern Kentucky University ID’s. Where I’m a guest, she is required to check me in and check me out, kind of like a library book. Luckily there are elevators, which prevent us from having to walk up 24 flights of stairs, since Devyn lives on the 12th floor. Once we stopped at what seemed like every floor, we finally reached the 12th floor and I was so excited. I had never been in a dorm until now. Everything was so new to me and I loved it and couldn’t wait to finally see what caused her to be so excited. As soon as I opened the door, it felt like home. Even though space is tight, it was so cozy. Her bed had the cutest blue, pink, and purple paisley comforter that seemed to be calling my name for a nap. Above her bed was a collage of pictures which held significance in her life and she even had lights around them to make it stand out. I was actually in quite a few and it made me feel loved. The coolest thing was her mini fridge full of food and my favorite drinks! When you walk past the fridge, you see 3 windows which have the best view of campus, especially when the sun was setting and you could see an array of colors. Visiting her dorm made me realize how excited I am to take on this same journey next year. Sometimes I feel like all I need to do to feel peace is to visit Eastern Kentucky University’s campus. It is home, it is welcoming, and it is beautiful. If you asked me to change one thing about their campus, I wouldn’t have an answer.
On the evening of Monday, October 28th, 2002, this great woman visited the faculty, staff, students and guests at Rutgers University. To enter the little gymnasium on College Avenue, where the event would be held and would eventually house nearly 2,000 people, everyone needed a ticket, a ticket that I did not have because they had sold out so quickly. Nevertheless, I was determined to be there. So I adorned myself in the appropriate attire, left my apartment, and at 6:45 found myself on College Avenue in a line that spanned from the doors of the gym all the way to Au Bon Pain. No one seemed to care that it was 30° outside that night. Up and down the line you could hear snippets of conversations resonating excitement and anticipation of the night’s event. For some who had seen Dr. Angelou in the past it would be an added treat, but for me it would be a first. I was going through ideas of things to say to the doorperson so they would let me in without a ticket.
The Greek Life at Baylor University is a community of twelve fraternities and eight sororities. However, the communities within Baylor University are not treated equally. The University of Baylor favors the sororities over the fraternities at Baylor. There are multiple different things that Baylor allows the sororities to attain that the fraternities are prevented from pursuing or accomplishing. This bias between the Greek Life of Baylor and the university itself is one major reason for strain between the relationships of the groups. The sororities at Baylor are supplied a meeting place, allowed to have mixers before rushing on Baylor campus, and are allowed to return to Baylor early after breaks for events. The university must resolve these problems in order to become a more unbiased university and community.
“School can be a tremendously disorienting place… You’ll also be thrown in with all kind of kids from all kind of backgrounds, and that can be unsettling… You’ll see a handful of students far excel you in courses that sound exotic and that are only in the curriculum of the elite: French, physics, trigonometry. And all this is happening while you’re trying to shape an identity; your body is changing, and your emotions are running wild.” (Rose 28)
I decided to analyze and examine the social structure of the Greek System at Syracuse University, mainly out of curiosity. When I was in high school I remembered hearing from various of my former classmates, who were then freshmen at college, that one of the best activities students experience was attending the “frat” parties students threw. In high school, I thought that college parties were the same as the ones found in movies like “American Pie” so hearing people speak so fondly of college parties confirmed my beliefs of what the social aspect of college was. Now that I’m a freshman at Syracuse University, and have experienced the social atmosphere firsthand, I’ve noticed how different the social scene on campus really is in comparison to the movies and how it is greatly enhanced by the Greek community. Examining the Greek system is significant to me because Greek life is a dominant tradition in many universities, both academically and socially, and I am interested in understanding why it is so prominent here on campus.
After the open invite events are over, it goes to invite only and that’s where the cuts are made. Every fraternity tries to choose the best people that fit the values that fraternity. Rush week is a grueling week for any fraternity because, so many kids rush and fraternities can’t accept everyone. “Because Boise State Greek life is increasing rapidly, this fall was the hardest rush week for any fraternity because of the record amount of kids that came out,” (Carter Lewis). The fraternity discourse community is
Greek organizations are debatably the most undervalued and misconceived aspect of college campuses. Most people don’t see the benefits that fraternities and sororities bring to college campuses and their communities. Some see these organizations as large beneficial clubs and others see them as potential problems. Many of the allegations put forth by individuals that discredit the benefits and good deeds done by Greek organizations are weak justifications for their removal from college campuses. Greek organizations provide campus communities with academically responsible students, philanthropic activities and increase community involvement.
Kimbrough, Walter M. Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs, and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Sororities. Cranbury: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2003. Print.
Michael Reyes ENC 1102 18 October 2016 Is Greek Life Enriching or Distressing College Success Summer term 2016 was the very first time I was considered a college student who attended Florida International University or any university for that matter. I was nervous, intimidated by the drastic changes that were about to occur in my life. As a first semester freshman, I did not know what the college life held for me and did not want to. I was closed off from my surroundings and felt comfortable going from home to school and back home. It was convenient not having to be involved in all of these extracurricular activities and clubs.
I slouch back in my blue canvas-folding chair. My legs are crossed neatly in front of me, making a sturdy table for my notebook. I positioned myself between two tan RVs they both are decorated in their own special ways. My back was facing the Stone building, which is right on the edge of campus. The RV on my right has a garnet flag hanging on the back window with FSU sewn on in gold letters. The RV to my left chose a white a flag with the Seminole emblem, it was hanging from the over hang. People honk as they pass. Strands of my hair blow softly across my face in the cool breeze, and getting into my eyes occasionally. There are so many questions race through my mind as stare at the crowd in front of me. Every Saturday as I walk by the thousands of parked cars I wonder why they are here. What compels these men and women who have real jobs and live in exciting cities to come back here and tailgate? So I sit amongst them, and try to understand them. They talk and eat all around me. We have some camaraderie, but we are different. Maybe because I can't imagine myself in their shoes ten years from now.
Greek Life, or the presence of fraternities and sororities, exists in many colleges and universities. According to Michael Grandillo in an Encyclopedia article, “there are more than 5,500 chapters on 800 campuses throughout the United States and Canada.” Although Greek Life is so common, participation in such organizations can be a controversial topic, particularly when critics suggest that hazing can be detrimental to students' health and college careers. For those who do not know much about Greek Life, or the process that one goes through to become affiliated with this system, there is first a week called “rush week,” where fraternities and sororities host parties in attempt to cajole students into joining their organizations. If members of a fraternity or sorority like a particular student, they will vote to give that student a “bid,” which gives that student the opportunity to pledge their organization. If the student accepts the bid, his pledge process will begin, which generally lasts between six to ten weeks. Assuming the student sticks it through, he will be admitted into organization and will be rewarded with the benefits of membership for the remainder of his life. Despite the fact that some Greek organizations engage in intense hazing practices that may result in reduced grades for pledges, it is beneficial for students to participate in Greek Life because organizations force students to create strong bonds among one another while learning important lessons, they prepare students for their future careers, and they provide students with great networking opportunities.
“The Daily We,” applies to this experience as a tool to understand the past weekend as complete fun. Throughout, the beautiful sunny day of August 28, upperclassmen helped new students put away their belongings. As time went on before even entering my room, I met many new faces and met many new friends. All day the upperclassmen sold t-shirts, lemonade and drinks and other memorabilia in front of the three freshman dorms. Rudy’s Fly Buy, a student store was right in front of Marycrest selling memorabilia. The day was very much complete. By midday I was very much packed into the room. After meeting my roommate, a friend who I met over summer classes, I knew right away this was going to be great year. All day, the experience was fun and exciting.
My journey began on a calm Sunday evening when I began searching for two art sculptures to observe. I walked out of the Convocation Center where I had just finished watching the Kennesaw State versus Troy volleyball game. I walked straight across the street to find The Thinking Rock sculpture sitting directly in front of me. I walked around and observed the entire piece, finding a wasp nest resting under one of the rock's ridges. I read the plaque that explained the rock is meant for you to stop and think about who you are, why you are here, and where you are going in life. I continued walking through the Campus Green where I observed colorful flowers, swaying trees, buildings I had never seen before, and students swinging in their hammocks. I stumbled upon the KSU Owl, which had three flags flying high directly behind the sculpture. I noticed the intricate details on the owl, from its sharp claws, to its beaming eyes.
Key, Scott. “Con of School Dress for Success.” FPU News. Fresn.edu, 11 November 2007. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. https://news.fresno.edu.
It was a gloomy Tuesday despite the fact that it was late August. I had missed the first day of school because I always hated the idea of introductions and forced social situations during those times. I hated my particular school ever since I started as a freshman the
The sunless sky covered the woods over the treetops which created a canopy over my head. The crimson and auburn foliage was a magnificent sight, as this was the season known as Fall. There was a gentle breeze, creating the single sound of rustling leaves. The leaves appeared as though they were dying to fall out of the tree and join their companions on the forest floor. Together with pine needles and other flora the leaves formed a thick springy carpet for me to walk upon.