Valpo Greek Life

Hello all,
I know that when I was looking at colleges I was apprehensive about Greek life (fraternities and sororities). I did not understand much about what went on and the things I had heard were not very positive. Since about a third of Valpo students are a member of a fraternity or a sorority, I thought I would include a student perspective of what Valpo Greek life is like. Jacob Tewes is a Junior from Lincoln, Nebraska. Here is what he has to say about his fraternity experience:

"As a prospective college student living in Lincoln, Nebraska, I didn't really have any concept of Greek life or what it entailed. Sure, I'd seen animal house and heard stories about former classmates doing crazy initiations (that I knew weren't all true) at UNL, but I didn't care because it just didn't seem like something for me. When I came to Valpo, I didn't really even realize they were around until a bunch of the guys on my floor started wearing Greek letters around. I'm sure I could have sought them out, but I certainly never felt pressured to rush. Actually, I only became interested when I realized three of the people I respected most on campus just happened to be in the same fraternity. I started checking it out and joined when I came back in the fall. I think it was a great decision and I've really valued my time in the fraternity.

I guess if there's an idea I think prospective students should hear, it would be this: don't be intimidated by Greek life. They aren't going to hunt you down and haze you (at least not at Valpo) and they aren't going to get in the way of your college career. I really like the balance of Greeks and independents (non-Greeks) we have on campus, and I've appreciated Greek life from both perspectives. I knew they did a ton of philanthropy and threw great (all non-alcoholic) dance parties before I joined, and now some of my best friends are my brothers."