The undergraduate student body at Elon University is equally balanced. • The Eco-Reps need to interact more with the Residence Life and Greek Life staff in the fall semester. ... Greek Life at Elon. “You can’t dismiss the relationships are formed,” Williams said. Elon University - EU - Greek Life The Nation's Cutest Pledge Classes Spring 2016. According to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, 42 percent of Elon’s student population belongs to a Greek organization. Florida State University. Unlike ethnic minority groups, it is impossible to determine the precise representation of LGBT students within Elon’s Greek system; however, Shana Plasters knows that this demographic is represented. Greek life dominates the social scene. These percentages exclude members inducted in 2015. These numbers also do not represent members of Elon’s National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), which governs historically Black fraternities and sororities. “I think those people are discouraged because they don’t see a broad representation.”. | By Approximately 40 percent of Elon undergraduates are currently members of a fraternity or sorority. Students must deliberately seek diversity. Fraternity and sorority life is only a small part of some people's college experiences, and while it may seem like the majority of Elon University students do join fraternities and sororities, only 43 percent of the student body is involved in it. All the Panhellenic Association's chapters on campus hold events throughout the semester to raise money for their philanthropy. Elon also has a student run PR firm called Live Oak Communications where students work with real businesses and learn everything about being in the PR industry. “In terms of our work in diversity, that’s probably one of the biggest areas for us,” Plasters said. A few frustrations though, that the university focuses on getting more students but not on improving housing first or hiring more professors first. If you come to Elon, the easiest way to make friends is to get involved in something. If you’re interesting in joining a sorority or fraternity, go for it! According to this data, in fall 2014 there where more White members of historically Black Greek organizations, than there were African-American members of Panhellenic and Interfraternity organizations. “I’ve looked for opportunities to make friends outside of Greek life,” Anderson said. I remember reading these reviews in high school and being concerned about the presence and popularity of it. Florida State University. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Change ), Elon Greek life creates communities, divides diversity, the percentage of students involved in Greek life rise, Local opinions vary on religious satire after Charlie Hebdo, Local Opinions on Religious Satire Call for Respect. ( Log Out /  So what’s the balance?”, Encouraging diversity and connecting communities, ‘what’s the balance?’. Best Colleges for Education in America. I wish I had someone to tell me to slow down last year and not constantly wish for the next best thing to happen to me because then you completely miss out on what’s happening right in front of you. “A lot of my friends in my sorority only have friends in Greek life. I spent most of my freshman year planning for the next project or when I would get to see my family again, and during all that time I was missing important moments. Applications for each honor society are available below. A lot of my friends are members and have all had wonderful experiences. About 31 percent of undergraduates participate in Greek life, which drives a big part of the social scene but is not the only way for people to build connections or have fun, students say. Sure, it has created homes for many men and women at Elon, and many meet their best friends through it, but there's no point getting caught up in it this early on in the school year. “The more that a group is homogenous, you run the risk that they’re homogenous in their thinking,” Plasters said. The San Giuseppe Salami Company factory is located in Elon four miles north of campus. There’s some comfort there and some movement toward better growth and development. ( Log Out /  187 of 817. In situations like these, we have to remember to try to be present and not wish time away. Along with Fraternity and Sorority Life, there are over 200 organizations that you can join. “We have a White girl in our chapter, and she lives by what AKA stands for,” Vaughn said. The fraternity and sorority community provides brotherhood and sisterhood for over 2,600 men and women every year. “I think in that NPHC is a lot smaller and makes things more exclusive. Elon’s Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Association (PA) have a GPA requirement to rush of 2.8, and National Pan-Hellenic Council’s (NPHC) is 2.5. Elon University’s Panhellenic Association (PA) governs the nine female fraternities and sororities that are members of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), as well as one affiliate member chapter. Sophomore Zachary Gianelle joined Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity during his first year at Elon. Elon University suspends Greek Life events and some sports after COVID-19 cases surge ... COVID cases top 9,000 a day for first time in NC as percent positive hits record high ... for discussion and interaction with professors. Currently, over half of Elon’s female undergraduates are involved in Greek life. Basically, if you’re not in Greek life, at DePauw, you’re a nobody. 43% of women and 26% of men on campus belong to one of the following campus-chartered organizations. All students and faculty interviewed for this article reported their opinion that the benefits of the Greek system outweigh the potential negative consequences. From August 1 to Election Day, about 33 percent of the Elon undergraduate student body registered to vote using TurboVote, which earned the university a #5 ranking. “It’s the place that I felt the most at home with the people who I thought would be most like me,” Moragne said. ( Log Out /  At Elon University in fall 2014, there were more White members of historically Black Greek organizations, than there were Black members of Panhellenic and Interfraternity organizations. “I don’t think that sororities discriminate based on minority groups,” Anderson said. Approximately 40 percent of Elon undergraduates are currently members of a fraternity or sorority. The diversity of Elon’s student population is not growing at the same rate as Greek membership. Fraternity and sorority life is only a small part of some people's college experiences, and while it may seem like the majority of Elon University students do join fraternities and sororities, only 43 percent of the student body is involved in it. From August 1 to Election Day, about 33 percent of the Elon undergraduate student body registered to vote using TurboVote, which earned the university a #5 ranking. Elon University of Elon, North Carolina, is a private liberal arts university, renowned as a national model for its engaged and experiential learning. Some of our groups are better about that than others. “I found out later that all the guys knew already,” Gianelle said. For some, it may be about really exploring their own biases or privilege around race or sexual orientation.”. I conversed with a senior, Hayley Robb, who is in a sorority at Elon University. Don’t let it consume your thoughts when you can’t control what happens. I can distinctly remember all the gossip going around campus about recruitment – an event that isn’t even held until the last week in January and takes up a lot of time for both men and women on campus. Top Private Universities in America. Over the past decade, Elon University has seen its enrollment increase by 23 percent. Overall, about 35% of Elon students go Greek. We have six Panhellenic chapters and two National Pan-Hellenic chapters on campus, all of which host their recruitment and intake processes in the spring semester each year. Before rushing at Elon University, one must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.5 for men and 2.7 for women. Joining clubs helps you meet a lot of people who all bring something special to that community. 187 of 817. If you’re interesting in joining a sorority or fraternity, go for it! While we were dating it was all right for him to show up at a party and for us to make out in the corner or the middle of the dance floor. 13. For Elon’s fraternities, disciplinary measures imposed by the university or an organization’s national administration have slowed the increase of student membership over the past decade; however, the percentage of women who undergo the sorority recruitment process has risen 55 percent since 2005. She has come to value the connections that she has made in Alpha Kappa Alpha, both on-campus and worldwide. There are a lot of different ways for students to meet that need. According to statistics provided by the Elon Office of Greek Life, 91 percent of students in Panhellenic and Interfraternity organizations initially identified as White. During her first year at Elon, Moragne embraced the Panhellenic recruitment process, which concluded in her initiation in to Elon’s chapter of Alpha Xi Delta sorority. Approximately 44% of undergraduate students at Elon are members of the fraternity and sorority community, which is comprised of 27 Greek-letter organizations. Despite finding acceptance among the members of his brotherhood, Gianelle knows that not all LGBT students may find such tolerant in Greek life. “There can be challenges in particular when you talk about having empathy for others who are not necessarily just like you. Vaughn also expressed the common misconception that historically Black Greek organizations are exclusive to one ethnic group. “I didn’t feel they were not targeting me as a perspective member, but I didn’t feel I would meet the expectations required in the rush process.”. June 2009 in Elon … Greek life gives students the chance to excel at Carolina. To many students that identify as an ethnic minority, NPHC organizations provide a sense of commonality and sanctuary, and reflect a past of minority accomplishment in the face of a historically segregated education system; however, to what extent does this historic segregation create divisions in contemporary academia? While one student notes, “It does get hard at times … not being in Greek life,” another assures that “there are plenty of other opportunities for students.” As for the town of Elon itself, students admit “the surrounding area can be a little barren,” but “hiking in the mountains, beach … You don’t have to break out of that circle to have a social life, but if you want to make friends outside of that circle you do have to try.”. Hi all--I'd love to hear your opinions about , and your thoughts about how important it is to join a sorority or fraternity at Elon. 198 of 1,674. This university is ranked at #1,640 in male to female diversity nationwide. Brianna Moragne, Class of 2016, identifies as African-American. Most Liberal Colleges in America. Courtney Vaughn, Class of 2015, joined the NPHC sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha as an alternative to Panhellenic organizations. I can remember being asked if I was going to participate in formal recruitment and which sorority I wanted to join before I even knew the name of my Resident Assistant. A lot of my friends are members and have all had wonderful experiences. The undergraduate population is comprised of … I hope you take a step back and take a deep breath. I’m just going to leave this here. Elon has received praise for its efforts to build a multi-faith center that is open to students of all religious traditions. Elon University Student Life. Caroline Anderson, Class of 2015, joined Sigma Kappa sorority during her first year at Elon. Stay on top of the information you need to navigate the admissions process amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past decade, Elon University has seen its enrollment increase by 23 percent. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. We want to be in a setting where we can just be authentic and genuine. 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