Greeks provide impressive service for community

House Editorial

Many people attribute fraternities and sororities with one thing — the party.

After all, those Greek letters are synonymous with "Let's go out and have a smashing good time," right?

Not so fast.

While fraternities and sororities do tend to house many or most of the largest parties off campus, members don't spend all their days and nights deciding which kegs to buy or what theme their next shindig will have.

In 2002 alone, Greek life compiled 3,406 community service hours, according to the JMU service summary report. Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority came out with the most at 806 hours, with Delta Delta Delta sorority close behind with a total of 800 hours.

Fraternities and sororities are more than just about social life — they are about academic contribution, educational programming and community involvement. Too often, those with letters are stereotyped as partygoers and class-skippers.

This week, Zeta Tau Alpha sorority hosts its third annual Breast Cancer Awareness Week, with the members filling up their schedules to serve on committees and getting involved in on- and off-campus events. Many members have been promoting the week since planning began last December.

ZTA is hoping to raise $18,000 this year for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, as opposed to the $10,000 goal of the past two years, and already has totaled about $2,000 before the week's beginning, according to senior Katie Coleman, ZTA BCA Week co-chair.

Kappa Delta Rho fraternity recently sponsored its third annual Car Bash to raise money for the United Way. For a $2 donation, students could destroy a $2,500 car donated by Aamco Priceless Rent-a-Car.

Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity, currently is collecting teddy bears for the Share-A-Bear Foundation, a charity organization that gives stuffed toys to children with HIV and AIDS. Its goal is to collect 200 bears by the end of this week.

Earlier this month, Delta Delta Delta held its first annual Triple Play softball tournament to benefit St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Delta Chi fraternity raised over $500 for Amytorphic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation, which helps what commonly is known as Lou Gehrig's disease, by sponsoring a moon bounce and donation drive Oct. 6 and 7.

In late September, Phi Sigma Pi, a national honor fraternity, hosted its second annual 3-mile run/walk and raised over $4,600 to benefit Multiple Sclerosis research and the Megan Stidham Scholarship Fund — nearly doubling last year's total.

Is it now becoming apparent that fraternities and sororities do some good on this campus? Often those in Greek life are under-appreciated and do not receive enough credit for their service to JMU and the community.

Serving as chairs on several committees takes time and responsibility — the former of which not many students claim not to have and the latter of which many students tend to shun.

Students need to look past the stereotypes of fraternities and sororities and realize that Greek life has a purpose larger than just paying dues and creating lifelong friends. Being Greek means being part of a family that strives to "provide valuable opportunities for interaction with the community … [and] help establish a basis for philanthropic behavior in the future," as stated by Student Organization Services.

Pay a little more attention next time to the people who are sitting out on the commons day and night, bashing cars for a good cause and collecting donations to jump on a moon bounce. Chances are, they are sporting Greek letters that symbolize their dedication, not only to brotherhood or sisterhood, but to JMU and the community as well.