Not Your Typical Greeks

By Demi Sullivan

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — When you think of “Greeks” on a college campus you may automatically assume fraternities and sororities. Not in this case; Greeks at Colorado State University are commonly overlooked and misrepresented.

The “Real Greeks” as many call themselves, disagree with how “Greek Life” is overpowering their representation.

“When incoming freshman think ‘Greeks,’ they think of the biggest party they have ever seen, but what about the ‘real Greeks’ how does that make us look,” said Julia Timby President of Orthodox Christian Fellowship.

Orthodox Christian Fellowship is a religious group on campus; which is meant for Orthodox students to come together and discuss their views. Even though this group is not only for Greeks, their member consists of many Greek students. This group represents the largest number of Greek participants in any one group at CSU.

The group consists of college kids and one priest; they share cultural and religious beliefs on a monthly basis. When you compare how many non-Greeks at CSU identify with Orthodox Christian Fellowship verses a fraternity or seniority it is insurmountable. The Orthodox group gets approximately five new members a year, and “Greek Life” gets approximately 2,500. Which shows us just how much “Greek Life” overshadows “Real Greeks.”

“I think it’s a compliment, It’s like ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ There are two types of people in the world; the Greeks, and everyone who wishes they were Greek,’ said George Polycarpou one of the groups members.

None of the members have anything against fraternities or sororities; most of them said they had not really thought about it as a conflict.

“It is none of our business to judge as Christians what sororities and fraternities choose to do, our job is to prove that there are Greeks with the right things on their mind and provide open arms to those kids,” Hill said.

Many of the members take great pride in the Greek culture, even thought they are not all Greek.

“Being Greek (even when it’s fake) is like living in a movie, they are so passionate and dramatic about everything they do, it is like living in ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ literally,” said Hill

There are many theories as to why the first fraternities and sororities picked the Greek alphabet, opposed to an equally useful and traditional alphabet like Latin. Especially considering the root meaning of the word fraternity comes from the Latin word for brother.

Polycarpou shared his view on the use of the Greek alphabet,

“What is the big deal? It’s just that the Greeks have the coolest alphabet and that’s why sororities and fraternities copied it, It should be a compliment”

Most of the members had different opinions of whether or not sororities and fraternities are good or bad. Most agreed that it is unacceptable to judge, and torment new members. However, many found it very credible that they do so much community service and make a home away from home for out of state students.

“It would be awesome if there was a Greek sorority for Greeks,” said Timby. However, she quickly contradicted herself when pointed out that she is not really Greek, she just pretends to be; so “Christian sororities are the perfect balance.”

For the members who are Greek the only reason sororities and fraternities are a problem is because of the reputation they create.

“Being Greek is more then what I was born as, it’s an entire culture. I live, eat, and, worship through my Greek culture. It is more then just a title, it’s full of passion and pride for me; I want everyone to know I am Greek and just what I stand for,” said Rampis.

Rampis explains that the real pride and passion seems to be covered up by the drinking and money that make up “Greek Life” at Universities. Thus making the “real Greeks” feel undermined and poorly represented.

“It is really challenging to encourage their actions when they tend to take over our spotlight. If there were a way we could team up and get more members to support ‘real Greeks’ through sororities and fraternities we wouldn’t feel so over looked by incoming students,” said Timby.

Timby, the group president shared that it is often times frustrating that “Greek Life” has created an out sized group, because it is nearly impossible to overpower.

“They are so well known that you become the needle in the haystack that no one can find, even if they want to,” said Timby

Hill elaborated furthermore explaining,

“It’s not that sororities and fraternities are bad, it’s just that they don’t stand for the same thing ‘real Greeks’ stand for, somehow collapse us in to the minority.”