The new year is often a time of new beginnings and major changes. A change that many Seton Hall students look forward to this semester is their involvement with Greek Life on campus.
There are a multitude of fraternities and sororities for students to choose from, and each offers a unique and rewarding experience.
Students have several requirements that they must fulfill in order to be considered as a member of a fraternity or sorority, according to the Spring 2015 Fraternity/ Sorority Interest Form. The form can be found at setonhall.formstack.com/forms/greekinterest and all prospective members of Greek organizations on campus are requested to fill it out.
As indicated on the interest form, Seton Hall practices “deferred recruitment,” which means that freshmen are not allowed to join a fraternity or sorority during their first semester at the University, though they can during their second.
According to Rebecca Davison, Assistant Director of Leadership Development in the Department of Student Life, students who wish to be involved with a Greek Organization must have “at least 12 college credits, at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA and (be) in good conduct standing.”
Students must go through different steps depending on which fraternity or sorority he or she wants to join. There are four different councils for Greek Organizations, including the Panhellenic council for Social Sororities (CPC), the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), the Interfraternity Council for Social Fraternities (IFC), and several non-council organizations.
The recruitment criteria for all these councils are available on the above-mentioned interest form. There are plenty of Greek Life events planned for the coming weeks, said Craig Witmer, President of the IFC.
He recommends contacting Gershon Clark (gershon.clark@student.shu.edu) or Taylor Pepper (taylor.pepper@student.shu.edu) if (you) are interested in IFC or CPC recruitment.
While there are many benefits for students who join a Greek Organization, Witmer believes that what members of these organizations can do for their communities is the most important part of belonging to a sorority or fraternity.
“What I think students should consider is the ability joining Greek life provides to really impact an organization through your own service,” Clark said. “The opportunity to positively impact not only the organization you join, but the community around you as well is something that I found most appealing and is one of the principle reasons why I joined Greek life.”
Noora Badwan can be reached at noora.badwan@student.shu.edu.
