After Colgate was founded in 1819, it existed only 37 years as a small, private, all-male institution before the first fraternity was chartered in 1856. This first fraternity was predated by other social organizations.
For an institution so heavily rooted in tradition – from the love of the number 13 to Spring Party Weekend to chipwiches at the end of every campus tour – Greek Life at Colgate has gone through a great deal since its beginnings in 1856 and it only continues to evolve.
The word "involved" is one of my favorites to describe Colgate students to friends and family. Everyone at this school seems to be involved in dozens of organizations, a multitude of special events and a plethora of leadership activities.
Each year at Colgate, we have everyone's favorite two-week-long period in the middle of September: recruitment for the Greek organizations.
President of Phi Delta Theta
"I became friends with one of the guys I met over my April Visit Days when he was a sophomore. At the time, I didn't know that he was a Phi Delt. It just sort of worked for me; it felt really good meshing with all the brothers and they were all really accepting of me," senior Brian Bender explained, when asked about his first encounter with Phi Delta Theta [Phi Delt].
President of Delta Delta Delta
When asked about what she likes about her sorority, senior Caitlin Holbrook, current president of Delta Delta Delta, didn't hesitate for a second before responding, "the girls in the sorority."
President of Phi Kappa Tau
Senior Billy Mauzy didn't initially consider joining Greek Life. Now, though, listening to Mauzy, current president of Phi Kappa Tau, it is hard to imagine a better spokesperson for the chapter or for Greek Life at Colgate.
President of Delta Upsilon
While being the president of any Greek organization undoubtedly takes up a significant amount of time, for senior Chris Moy, this is not even the tip of the iceberg.
President of Theta Chi
Junior Peter Kropp, current president of Theta Chi fraternity, shares the same view of his fellow Theta Chi members as most fraternity participants: they are not just friends; they are brothers.
President of Kappa Kappa Gamma
Growing up, junior Addison Miller always heard about Greek Life from her parents personal experiences in college. So it's no surprise that Miller is currently the President of Kappa Kappa Gamma (Kappa).
President of Beta Theta Pi
Going Greek was a no-brainer for Beta Theta Pi (Beta) President senior Gavin Cadwallader. Cadwallader, who is a history major and Spanish minor, is one of many in his family to be a part of Greek Life.
As a new employee and a new member of the Colgate community, I am still learning about the institution and about Greek Life at Colgate.
For some fans, sports are so much more than just a hobby or a pastime. Sports can control a person's life, for better or for worse, and alter the way in which they look at the world and those non-fans who surround them.
The largest problems with Greek Life stem from the administration's simultaneous refusal to accept the nature of Greek life and their demand to improve it. These organizations exist as academic, philanthropic and primarily social organizations.
It may surprise some people to know this, but varsity athletic teams at Colgate and all over the country are very similar to Greek organizations in certain aspects. Members of a team spend a lot of time together.
Although Colgate does not have an official policy which prevents female student-athletes from participating in Greek Life, few athletes make the choice to do both.
"I am not a part of Greek Life on campus, although many of my friends are members of Greek organizations. However, this has not affected my Colgate experience."
My feelings on Greek life are deeply conflicted. On the one hand, I love frat parties. What with the variety of music played and the amount of neon generally worn, they're like the best middle school dance you could ever imagine. I'm rarely as happy as I am when dancing in a crowded basement to an insane mash-up.
Colgate's Panhellenic Executive Board has faced its fair share of obstacles in the last few years: the loss of one of our few sororities, the continued lack of understanding between Greek and non-Greek student groups and, most recently, the introduction of unexpectedly large new member classes, which could potentially amplify the already-present issues stemming from a lack of cohesion within the Greek system itself.
Having served on the Inter-Fraternity Council for three consecutive years now, I have been both a witness to and a participant in the beneficially active role that Greek Life serves on this campus.
Colgate's desire to assert greater control over the Greek Life system takes on new forms each year. Currently, members of Greek Life take issue with the frequent Campus Safety walk-throughs of Broad Street housing.
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