Students looking to find variety in housing options and experience a strong community atmosphere could opt to participate in the greek system.
Those curious about the community can attend informational events around campus.
"It starts with the (Go) Greek Barbecue," said Jackie Rioux, Sigma Kappa president and marketing junior. "People can come and talk with the different organizations. You can sign up for the different organizations in person or on the Internet."
According to Rioux, fall recruitment is more formal than spring recruitment. During the fall recruitment at Sigma Kappa a couple days are dedicated to community and charity events. Each house creates a video of events and life at the house so those interested can get a feel for what life is like at each sorority.
If some seniors leave early or there aren't enough members in the house, the house can decide if they want to hold a spring recruitment which is a less formal process than fall recruitment, Rioux said.
The recruitment process for a fraternity is somewhat different than the process for a sorority.
To join a fraternity, males must go through Recruitment Week, which is designed to allow students to go to a fraternity and let the members decided whether or not they will receive a bid to join.
"We decide as a house who we're going to give bids out to and they can either accept or reject it," said Scott Lopofsky, Theta Chi member and criminal justice senior.
"If they want to accept their bid, they go through the new member program which is about eight weeks long. When the eight weeks is over, then they become an active member."
Many fraternities and sororities require members to live in the chapter house for a designated amount of time. Women are required to live in the house for two years, Rioux said.
"It's supposed to be two years that we live in the house, but there are always exceptions like studying abroad and those who don't join until their sophomore or junior year," Lopofsky said. "Ideally you would live in the house for two years."
There are many benefits to living in greek housing that sometimes outweigh other housing options, members say. For example, food is often provided by a chef that works most or all of the week.
"We have a chef that works Monday through Friday," Rioux said. "Other days we either get pizza, go to a restaurant, or eat leftovers."
Members who live in the chapter house pay what's similar to a dorm room-and-board fee that covers everything. Fees are different for every organization.
Some of those living in the house have found many social benefits they wouldn't have found otherwise.
"It's definitely a tighter brotherhood when you live in the house," Lopofsky said. "You get to know people on an individual basis. There's always something to do. There's always people around.
"It gives you a dorm environment but living off campus."
Others said they find the greek housing environment to be a comfortable and inviting place to live.
"It's nice to have that many people you're comfortable with to help with classes," Rioux said. "It creates a positive energy. You always have someone that's there for you."
Yet, as in any living situation, there are some disadvantages.
"Since it's a frat house, there is going to be a lot of noise," Lopofsky said. "Cleanliness is always going to be an issue. Living anywhere, I think, you're going to get the same issues."
Despite some drawbacks, many students would still recommend greek housing as an option.
"I would recommend it just based on the costs," said Dave Wallace, a Theta Chi member and no preference sophomore. "It's one of the lowest-cost living options in the area just based on the utilities."
