At Le Moyne College there is no presence of “Greek Life,” which has left many wondering why. According to Joseph Della Posta, the school’s director of communications: “Le Moyne has never had a Greek life presence on campus,” but Della Posta
said “the college doesn’t have a formalized opinion on the topic. Like anything related to campus life, we would look at any new initiative and decide the merits based on a variety of factors.”
I hope the school embraces it. You are most likely aware that some people have a bad opinion about Greek Life and as many of us who support it know, there are many misconceptions of what Greek Life is about.
During high school, I worked at Theta Chi for three years at Colgate University. It gave me major opportunities, even though I was not even a brother. When you join a fraternity or sorority you become a brother and or sister for life, and being a part of Greek life allows you to build lifelong friendships.
After working at Theta Chi fraternity at Colgate for three years, I can tell you I’ve had nothing but positive experiences within the fraternity. And I have had the pleasure to meet some of the best mentors that I could ever ask for.
Another misconception is that Greek life is nothing but reckless parties. However, to be in a fraternity or sorority, that person needs to maintain a certain GPA and the fraternities/sororities are required to perform charitable acts such as volunteering their time to help others and the overall well-being of the local community.
After speaking with Benji Ishimaru (Colgate ’23), there are three positive aspects that come to mind. According to Benji, Greek life has offered him a multitude of benefits, one of which often goes unnoticed: Networking.
“Attending events in New York City has allowed me to connect with alumni who share a bond through our shared organization,” he said. “This connection feels special, he said, as there “is a genuine willingness to support one another.”
Another positive aspect that Benji expressed is that “living with fraternity brothers created some of my most cherished memories from college. Sharing a house with close friends was incredibly enjoyable, and over time, we truly became a family.”
A third aspect that was extremely positive for Benji is that “being part of a fraternity provided valuable academic support,” he said. “Older members offered guidance on courses and professors, enhancing my college experience.”
While Le Moyne College has never embraced Greek Life on its campus, the perspectives surrounding it varies widely. As Joseph Della Posta stated, the college remains open to new initiatives, evaluating them based on various factors. Greek Life, is often misunderstood; however it offers profound opportunities for lifelong friendships, mentorship, and academic support.
Contrary to popular belief, its not all about parties but also involves charitable acts and academic excellence. As mentioned by Benji Ishimaru, Greek Life offers excellent networking, fosters tight-knit communities, and enhances academic experiences.
These positive aspects could offer extreme benefits to embracing Greek life. I hope Le Moyne decides to make that decision. I think it would bring a lot of new potential, a lot of new energy, for the school and all our students.
