Tonight will kick off the National Pan-Hellenic Council’s 2010 recruitment season. Pretty soon it’s going to seem like every girl on campus is in a house, and current sisters will be wearing their greek letters daily. This weekend and the next will see record numbers of young women flocking to Walnut and Comstock avenues in a sea of polished locks and perfectly accessorized outfits.

As a senior, I’ve seen this all before. Tonight starts a strategic game of smiles, conversations, ‘less eyeliner, more mascara’ and faking friendships until they turn real. It’s an annual event, and a reminder of what I’ve chosen not to be a part of.

It might sound like I’m just another sorority-hater, but freshman year I had never felt so left out. With every girl on campus showing sorority involvement more than ever, I felt like I was the only one who wasn’t participating. I called home to tell my mother I regretted not joining in, and I planned to pledge sophomore year. Sophomore year came and went, and I rationalized that the process wasn’t worth the commitment if I was going to spend a semester abroad and graduate early.

Still, with greek life thrust into the spotlight, I sometimes wonder if I’m missing out by not joining in. Sororities frequently have organized social events and, as my post-graduate unemployment looms in front of me, I’m sure I’d appreciate a network of sisters spread across the nation.

Maria Angelov, a junior policy studies and political science major, said she remembers hearing so many of her classmates talking about recruitment and feeling like everyone on campus was taking part in greek life – except her.

But not everyone has felt the same way. ‘Maybe from time to time I think it would be fun to go through and see what it’s like, but I’ve never really thought I wanted to rush,’ said junior international relations major Brittany McLaren. ‘I know it’s not for me.’

As much as I’ve always known I didn’t fit into sorority life, recruitment week has still always been a hard time to be an ‘independent.’ But even though greek life will seem bigger than ever for these next two weeks, sororities and fraternities only make up about 20 percent of Syracuse University’s student body, according to the Student Life Web site.

For those of you who know greek life isn’t for you, here’s a reminder that you’re not alone. I’ve loved my time here at SU, and I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like to leave the friends I’ve made here. It may have taken me a couple years to realize, but I know that even though I’m not in a house, I’ve still made a home.

Courtney Egelston is a senior magazine journalism and political science major. Her column appears weekly and she can be reached at cbegelst@syr.edu.

Published on January 26, 2010 at 12:00 pm