A major part of the college experience is Greek life. The idea of joining a family where you can meet life-long friends – brothers and sisters – is something that many people dream and hope for. The countless events, memories and laughter is what makes the hardships of college worth it. 

However, Greek organizations have not always had a positive reputation. While some find the experience fulfilling, others see the concept as picky, cliquey and a waste of time. 

As someone who is associated with Greek life, it saddens me to see so many girls who refrain from joining due to lack of self-esteem or fear of judgement. What doesn’t help this case is when girls feel marginalized by the fraternal organizations on campus.

Being a girl in modern-day society is hard enough. It is a never-ending cycle of wanting to look a certain way, feel a certain way and be perceived a certain way. 

It is especially hard when a major part of college life is relationships and hook-up culture. Hook-up Culture refers to having sexual relations with someone without the emotional aspect. Of all college students, 60-80% have hooked up with at least one person during their college experience. With this culture being so normalized, not engaging it can lead to judgement and self-esteem issues. 

Unfortunately, only around 15% of students enjoy hook-up culture, most of them being males in fraternities. 

As a girl in a sorority, I am one who will always speak my truth and say that no one should ever feel pressured to have to do something they do not want to do. Whether that be sexual relations, drinking, etc. no one should feel less of themselves because they do not want to do something that does not align with their beliefs. 

A lot of guys do have the gross mindset of wanting to hook up with girls just for the fun of it. Whether it be for bragging rights or not, hook-up culture seems to be just a game to some guys, which can leave girls feeling unworthy of themselves. 

Specifically, Thursday nights are one of the most active nights for NIU students as many attend the fraternities to hang out and make memories with their friends. It should be a place for all students to enjoy themselves and take their mind off of school. However, there have been recent accusations that some fraternities are denying entry to girls due to their looks or weight. 

“As I was walking toward the frats, I heard a bunch of girls yelling at one of the guys at the door,” said Grace Flinchum, a first-year pre-nursing major. “She started telling me not to go in because the guys there were yelling at her and her friends and were fat-shaming them.”

I find this to be beyond disgusting and unacceptable. The idea that fraternities would even consider kicking out specific people due to their appearance is disgusting and further shows the toxicity that can come with hook-up culture. It’s objectifying, making it clear these accused individuals only want to talk to girls with the intent of hooking up with them.

How can girls be expected to feel good about themselves if they can’t even enjoy themselves on a night out without feeling judgement? Not to mention, these occurrences put an even worse look on Greek organizations in general. 

Some individuals already see sororities and fraternities as a “popularity club.” When fraternities make it clear their intentions lie only with “attractive” women, it further insinuates that Greek organizations are only nice to those who fit a certain “criteria.” This is far from the truth, and does not represent Greek organizations as a whole. 

No girl, or anyone for that matter, should ever feel less of themselves or denied entry to a place because of how they look. Being in Greek Life doesn’t require a certain “criteria” or “look.” It should only require someone that is a decent human with good morals. 

No one should ever feel entitled enough to speak on a girl’s image in the manner that these fraternity members allegedly were. The fraternities that were accused of this are in dire need of a wake-up call. 

Thinking you have the right to speak to anyone’s appearance, deeming them less valuable or less deserving of a good night out because you won’t sleep with them, automatically ruins your image, and the image of fraternities and sororities as a whole.