Panhellenic Love on Elon's Campus
Elon’s campus is known to many for its variety of Greek life on campus. Greek life is a large part of many students on campus as approximately 2,600 students join Greek life on campus. As the Elon University website states, “Approximately 44% of undergraduate students at Elon are members of the fraternity and sorority community, which comprises 27 Greek-letter organizations. Three student-run councils govern these organizations: the Interfraternity Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and the Panhellenic Association.”
Although Greek life is so near and dear to many students' hearts, the love and appreciation between other sororities and fraternities are not always present on campus.
I personally noticed this while undergoing recruitment for my sorority. I noticed that due to the competition and fierceness, I had witnessed multiple organizations down talking other women or belittling something about an organization. It is something that concerns me as specifically sororities with only women should be attempting to uplift other women instead of trying to take them down.
When speaking with Elon University Panhellenic President, Corinne Brager, she enlightened us about multiple aspects of Panhellenic and what it can do for Elon’s campus. Brager explained that they are, “trying to foster panhellenic love and the tri council community, while celebrating sisterhood and allowing the Panhellenic organization to be an outlet for others.”
Brager discussed the aspects of Panhellenic on Elon’s campus which can sometimes make it difficult to love and appreciate one another and instead show envy. Brager discussed that Yik Yak left a lasting impact on Elon’s recruitment and Greek life organizations.
Yik Yak was a major cause of the jealous and bitter attitude that some people held during recruitment. Yik Yak is an app where anonymous comments can be posted about anything, and if a person is within a 5-mile radius of that comment, they can view it. During recruitment and prior to, there were hundreds of Yik Yak’s calling our particular sororities or even specific people in them. Only due to the stress, Yik Yak created a large environment for people to post whatever they wanted, and be able to get away with it.
“Understanding that people are unique individuals and appreciating that,” Cinda Birch, Elon University Panhellenic Vice President of Public Relations said. “The internet is a toxic place, reminding members that spreading Greek Unity is important as a responsibility of Panhellenic women is uplifting and respecting our community.”
Although tensions were high during this period of time, Brager believes that “Thinking of Panhellenic as a whole unity which strives to empower women, rather than focusing on negative stereotypes or competitions can create a warmer and safer environment. Women in sororities should make an attempt to be a little more uplifting and show solidarity as panhellenic women.”
In order to further this goal, there is only one way we can as Panhellenic women. Instead of having an immediately judgemental attitude or following stereotypes about a particular organization, it is our responsibility as women in Greek life to attempt to lift women up instead of bringing others down.
“Women here are a part of a larger Panhellenic community, which is the largest women group on campus,” Brager continues. “Women here should think ‘how can I use that platform to empower people in my chapter to think of other chapters’. “I think the goal is there and accessible. I just think it's going to take a mindset change from all women, even myself.”
Besides adjusting a mindset, Panhellenic is working hard to create more Panhellenic events and incorporate different sororities and fraternities to mix with one another. “Attend other organizations' profit shares and philanthropy events,” Birch said. “This is a great way to support other Panhellenic organizations.”