Many people have their own opinions about the Greek System as a whole or about joining a fraternity or sorority, and I am not here to try and change any opinions. I am here more to urge students, faculty, staff and administration to support the Greeks in their endeavors. The Greeks do so much for this campus and the community, and they continually need support from the school to function as organizations.

"The negative media presentation of Greek life is what people believe," said Elizabeth Sehi, a member of Alpha Rho Omega on of the sororities on campus. Students think because you have Greek letters that you must have partied this weekend. In reality, I went to volunteer at adopt-ahighway and I held a team building risk event for my sisters. I'm not sitting in my room drinking. I'm out helping others. Being part of Greek life is an opportunity for me to help others and to help myself grow as a person. I hope that people can become more open minded and truly see what a difference Greeks are making.

I have heard some people say that the school should just get rid of the Greek System, that they serve no role on campus, are a bad influence, and that Greeks party and drink all the time. The Greeks at Lycoming College are everything opposite of the popular stereotype. Greeks typically have a higher G.P.A. than the all male or female average. Greeks are usually involved in a variety of other clubs, sports and organizations outside of their fraternity or sorority. Many Greeks hold leadership roles on campus. Greeks at Lycoming could not be anything further from the heavy boozing, drug-crazy, sexdriven losers that movies portray them as and popular culture believes them to be.

John Casciano, a senior and brother of Kappa Delta Rho said "If the old stereotypes could be erased and people would focus on the good that fraternities and sororities do, then more faculty and staff would realize that we do a lot, and in turn support us more, instead of just hearing the "bad things" that Greeks do."

Imagine a Lycoming without the Greek system. Say good-bye to all of the dance parties and bands that the Greeks sponsor. Think of all the families and children that the Greeks help out, all the community service hours that would be lost, and all of the money that would never be raised for charitable organizations. All of the Greek houses make valuable contributions to the community and campus through various social and community services events. There really is not enough room to write about all of the good the Greeks at Lycoming do. If you want to know, ask them.

But the Greeks need support from everyone on campus in order to continue all of their good work. How can you help, you may ask? Well first off, come out to the rush events that the Greeks hold. Even if you are not the slightly bit interested in going Greek, get to know who the Greeks are. The rush events are usually fun and it's something to do. Another way that the school could help is to participate in any of the fund -raisers the Greeks hold. Fund raising is one of the hardest things to do on a college campus. People are poor, or would rather spend their money on other amenities, like booze. I am not saying that you should donate all of the money you have to a Greek House, but if you have a couple of extra bucks, try to help out.

When I was a freshman, I did not want to go Greek. In fact, I viewed Greeks with the same stereotype that most people do. And that's because I never really heard about any of the good things Greeks do, only the bad. But then I learned just how wrong that stereotype is of Greeks at Lycoming. Sure, some fraternities and sororities at other schools may exemplify the stereotype, but most of them don't, and certainly none of the houses at Lycoming do. So like anything else, give the Greeks a chance, get to know them before you judge them, and don't let the good deeds of many outweigh the stupid actions of a few.