By: Jessica Pike, Contributor
When the word sorority is heard, the image that pops into your head is usually stereotypical of the partying and drinking that has been portrayed on television so often. As an incoming first year student at USM, I had no idea what a sorority was until someone actually explained it to me. The official definition of a sorority, as found on Google, is a society for female students in a university or college, typically for social purposes. However, a sorority is so much more than that.
Alpha Xi Deltas (AXiD) President, Kim Mills, gladly offered to answer some questions to show what a sorority is all about. Each sorority has its own philanthropic ideals, and AXiD largely helps fundraise for Autism Speaks. The same can be said of fraternities, like Phi Mu Delta which does fundraising for St. Jude’s Hospital by hosting events on campus, such as throwing a Grilled Cheese Night. Each sorority also has values that it tries to adhere to. Some of the basic pillars of AXiD are Leadership, Sisterhood, Knowledge, and Service. Everything these sisters strive towards is based on one of those characteristics.
There are a total of 33 members in the sorority, but more will be joining during Rush Week, which is the main recruitment event at the beginning of each semester. This is when recruits learn the history, values, and responsibilities of being a sorority sister and make friends at the same time. Any girl, with any major is welcomed to express interest. If you feel comfortable and hold a certain GPA, you can go through the selection process. It’s a great place to learn skills like event planning, social media usage, and leadership, all within a fun setting. If you don’t like what you see, you can always just decline to join.
When I talked to the AXiD President, I asked her why she joined a sorority. Mills explained that she had lived on campus her first year, but was very shy and didn’t have many friends, so she decided to go to a recruitment event. It was the first time she felt like she belonged since she went to college. Mills learned new things, made new friends, and now she’s even the chapter President.
Every sorority is different and each college has different types. The USM Greek Life has a no hazing policy and actually gives you even more academic resources, like study groups. Of course, there are some sororities out there that revolve around the partying and drinking scene, but the key is knowing where to look. USM has two official sorority groups and two fraternity groups that are on the USM website. If you aren’t interested in joining a sorority, there are other great, diverse communities outside of USM that you can join too.
When I went to some of the Rush Week events, I found that the sisters were a colorful bunch of individuals, but very welcoming. I enjoyed both events I went to, and even applied. In my opinion, I think everyone should at least check out a sorority or fraternity.