Where are all my non-Panhellenic ladies out there? Oops. Sorry, if you’re like me, then it may take you a bit to figure out what Panhellenic means. Well, it’s an umbrella term for those involved in Greek Life, which includes sororities. Ahh, sororities. You’re either in one or not, plain and simple. I can say that this blogger has not gone Greek, and here are some signs that you the dear reader might not be in a sorority either.
Sign 1: ‘Big’ and ‘Little’ Are Sizes
These terms strictly refer to the sizes of food all the way to people. To you they are not things you would put the word ‘my’ in front of. Instead they help you convey to the cashier at McDonalds what size fries you want. I know I’ve seen one too many tweets that have confused the hell out me that say: “OMG, my Big is the best ever.” And don’t even get me started on when my sorority friends explain that they have ‘grand-bigs’, as well.
Sign 2: Thinking You Can Bring Non-Greek Guys to Frat Parties
Wait, I can’t bring my boyfriend inside to a frat party where they give away free alcohol to girls? This has never happened to me, mainly due to my lack of formal boyfriends, but I’ve had non-sorority friends who have legit tried to get their boyfriend into a frat party and see nothing wrong with it. Even I know that’s a no-no.
Sign 3: You Tailgate in an Actual Parking Lot
When there’s a big football game on campus, you typically aren’t cool enough to get invited to the backyard of a satellite house to tailgate and actually never attend the big game. Instead, you end up tailgating in a parking lot next to the stadium out of the back of your mom’s bright red minivan, sans alcohol.
Sign 4: You Only Have 3 Friends
When a bunch of girls congregate based on their shared interests, like sororities, then friendships are bound to happen. But chances are if you’re not in a sorority, you may not be the most sociable of people. I know I’m not. It takes a lot for me to actually leave my dorm room on a Friday night or even make new friends. In this situation, you might have accumulated only like three friends. That’s all I need.
Sign 5: All the Names of Fraternities and Sororities Sound Similar
All the different Greek tags and titles sound the same the to you. It’s hard to keep track of all the names when you’re not in a sorority. To you, all of the sororities are called Kappa Sigma Delta Omicron Gamma. Wait, isn’t there a Pi too?
Sign 6: You Envy the Formals
When you stalk your friends’, who are in sororities, pictures you get jealous of their opportunities to dress up fancy and being allowed to act classy for the night. But after a bit of stalking, you get over it, and go back to enjoying your sweatpants wearing, ‘Varsity Party’ weekend.
Sign 7: You Don’t Own One of ‘Those’ Bags
You see them on every college campus: massive canvas tote bags, usually black, emblazoned with letters that belong to an ancient language. You don’t own one of those bags, you just merely see them from afar and carry your notebook in your Jansport or Urban Outfitters backpack.
Sign 8: Your Friends Aren’t Your Sisters
Your sister is not some girl you just met this year, your sister is actually that bitch down the hall of your childhood home, who has been stealing your clothes or serving as a tattle tale to your parents your entire life.
Well girls, there you have it. Those were just some of the random things that I have noticed that differentiates the sorority sisters from girls like me. Comment below with other signs you may have experienced during your time at college!
Photo by Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash
people like this author are so god damn annoying. living the bubble life
i actually take that back, i thought this post was PRO greek life
you’re stupid ^
This is pointless.
3. There are many non-Greek girls attending tailgates. Since when was an “invite” necessary? Also, many parking lot tailgates include alcohol, it’s up to the individuals and is not exclusive to fraternity tailgates.
4. Just because a girl isn’t in a sorority doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have a lot of friends. Yes, sororities are a great way to meet girls and make friends, but they’re not the only way. Some girls are involved in academic organizations, clubs, sports, jobs, whatever.
8. The most untrue. People can form such intimate bonds even if they aren’t in sororities. Just because there isn’t a “sister” label on it doesn’t mean that such a relationship does not exist. Furthermore, there are many sororities where certain sisters fight with each other or do not act sisterly towards one another.
Stop trying to make Greek Life seem like some elitist society where everyone else sucks.
I think it’s an OPINION piece people. It’s meant to be funny. Everyone is so damn PC these days.
^ El oh effing el. Yes, everyone’s opposition to this article is based in political correctness. I’m sure it can’t possibly have anything to do with being patronized by some little naive skank who needs to feel like her college club is important and elite.
Let’s not beat around the bush here: The comments have been absolutely correct in their feedback. I’m sure once upon a time greek life was truly elite and fancy. Then like everything, the masses like the author had to go and ruin it by needing to constantly justify faux-superiority due to raging insecurity. Simply put, the author wrote this because they wanna make believe they have actual merit to offer their opinions on society, as a result of paying $3,000 a year to be in a friendship club. I was in Greek life and I had a great experience, but that doesn’t mean I can’t see through the defining shallow nature of this “piece” or other poor aspects of Greek life at large in general. There is a difference between an opinion piece, and an opinion piece based in the narcissistic delusions of an insecure 19 year old girl. Being that this is the latter, it’s hardly surprising that “people” would try to relate political correctness to opposing this piece;If anything, that’s the only humor here, seeing as I can offer nothing but pity towards the author.
If anyone disagrees with my OPINIONS, then state your case based in logic and facts, not ad hominems and such. Pro tip though to the defenders: You might just wanna sit this one out and inform the author she went a little far here,but until then, keep blaming the GDIs and political correctness……….
Dear AlumTerp,
First off, thanks so much for commenting on this piece! It really means a lot to us at Unwritten when our readers our compelled enough by a piece to comment on it! However, I think you may have been confused by the tone of my piece. To me it seems that you believe I am involved in Greek Life, and that I was critiquing sororities from a member of a sorority’s point of view. I just want to let you know up front that I am not involved in any Panhellenic group whatsoever, and that I wrote this piece merely as an outsider looking in, hoping to provide a comedic narrative for girls like me. Thanks for your comment and I hope you continue to read Unwritten!
all of you guys commenting this piece are beyond ridiculous… the blogger states in the article SHE IS NOT IN GREEK LIFE. Sooo she is obviously talking about her OPINION about NOT being in it. So chill the fuck out and make sure you read the piece before you bitch about it.
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As an non-Greek girl, I find this article pretty insulting. ‘
I don’t envy formals, and I certainly have more than 3 friends. I also never wear sweatpants nor do I stalk people’s pictures from greek events. I understand this is an opinion piece but the generalizations go way too far.
“if you’re not in a sorority, you may not be the most sociable of people.” Speak for yourself honey, me and my non-greek friends are very social.
“It takes a lot for me to actually leave my dorm room on a Friday night or even make new friends.” That’s sad and I feel bad for you.
I’ve actually gone ahead and created my own version of this same article and here, I’ll share it:
Signs You’re Not in a Sorority
1. You’re not in a sorority
As another non-Greek girl, thank you. This comment was perfect. My list:
1. I understand what a Big and Little are. Its not some foreign mystery
2. I don’t see why you would want to go to a frat party with your boyfriend…
3. Tailgates aren’t elitist. I don’t have to flash fancy letters to have fun before a football game. They are usually really nice (or drunk anyway) so they’ll let you grab a drink or play a round of beerpong
4. I have a plethora of friends, both greek and not greek. Speak for yourself, you’re making non-greek girls sound like loners
5. I’m smart enough to figure it out
6. Who said I don’t have opportunities to dress fancy? Instead of stalking people’s photos I actually go out and enjoy myself
7. Why would I care its a BAG
8. The biggest LIE of all. Just because im not in a sorority doesn’t mean my friends aren’t my best friends or even my sisters. I value all of the friendships I have made throughout my college experience
This article wasn’t cute or funny. It was insulting. Written for “girls like you?” Um no.
well this is messed up. i’m in a sorority and i’m saying that.
I’m in a sorority/ fraternity and this is offensive to me, my sisters, and my friends who are non-greek alike. The sorority hate that exists for people that aren’t apart of Panhellenic or NPHC (there are two different types with a lot of the same intentions) is judgemental and uneducated based off of either a bad experience with a group of girls poorly representing their sorority values or based off of misconceptions of what it means to be party of one of these groups.
For one: when it comes to formals/tailgates/parties of any sort: drinking is not mandatory and drinking in your letters is a BIG no no. They also aren’t so elitist. Often any person can walk into these events (for the exception of a formal). Formals you can attend if you’re someone’s date! Regardless of being greek or non. Most sororities are making their rules a lot more lenient about same-sex couples and for the most part that is a reflection of your school’s beliefs–so it isn’t just something that you can never attain; make some Greek friends and you can go to a formal if you really want!
For two: Sisterhood isn’t something that is negative. It’s about making friends. I am tatted up, have facial piercings, would never wear Lily Pulitzer, love to sit and play video games, and I really am not all that social; but that hasn’t stopped me from making friends who are totally unlike me other than our mutual bond over being a part of a sorority. Also, I don’t own/use one of “those bags” I have a backpack too in which I heft my ton of books to and from class. And to say you only have a few friends (but DAMN are the genuine) if you’re not a member is also offensive. That’s your own prerogative. You’re not forced to like everyone in your sorority and you’re not bound to be unsociable if you’re not.
And yes, dues exists. And yes, they are expensive–but if you actually ask the people in charge of maintaining them not only is there a lot of funds to help girls unable to pay their dues and the money doesn’t go to buying alcohol and having a big party, it is often to help throw philanthropy events, maintenance fees for your house, sometimes housing and meal plans. If you have ever paid for on-campus living you will know these fees exist at huge prices regardless.
The tailgating one is ridiculous. Most people that tailgate have alcohol and just because it is there does not mean you have to consume it (nor will you be pressured to if you have made friends with people you are comfortable). Plenty of people in sororities/fraternities don’t go to any of these events whatsoever and no one (that matters) is judging them for that.
Sororities have a lot of great opportunities while active and afterwards. There is a ton of networking, study hours, social events, philanthropy events and so on which you have the choice to be a part of but are certainly not forced to. While saying this, it is totally YOUR choice to join Greek life, and no one is forcing you to do one way or another. But it is not fair to enforce Greek life segregation particularly when it is totally inflated out of personal opinion. I’m not saying sorority life is perfect, there is a lot that goes into it–but I disagree with writing articles like this that alienate certain people just because of what they do. There is no one particular “right” way to attend college but there is a very “wrong” way to emphasize a position that is not properly supported.
These comments are ridiculous hahaha. You all need to chill out. I mean really, you’re getting offended over an online article? Greeks and non-Greeks alike, get over yourselves and this article. Haha move on people.