Anyone’s whose heard anything about Greek life in college will probably tell you the only thing they associate with the organizations is dangerous hazing during a new members’ pledge period. And while many schools have had incidents with hazing, students at the University of Maryland are finding that their biggest struggle is balancing school -work with their new time commitment to pledging.
“ You have to drop out of school. It’s the only way,” Baylee Less, a freshman Jewish Studies major, jokes.
Though Less, a new member of Sigma Delta Tau, may be joking, others in her position feel she’s got the right idea. As pledging, defined by PledgingSucks.com as, “ a time period when a new member is learning, dedicating, and proving loyalty to a specific organization” demands grueling hours that take away most of a students’ time for studies, pledges have had no choice but to find new ways to make sure they hit the books.
Elyse Sauer, a freshman Math education major who is currently pledging for Phi Sigma Sigma explains, “ I basically just do work ahead of time and don’t procrastinate.”
Freshman Psychology and Occupational Therapy major Jessica Brown, also a new member of Sigma Delta Tau, agrees, explaining,” I made check lists and went to the library in between classes and did work ahead of time.”
While some students made time during their day for their studies before their pledging obligations, others cut out leisure activities and free time to ensure their work was their number one priority.
“ I just watched a lot less TV”, freshman Bio-Engineering major and new member of Sigma Delta Tau, Bridgette Lappe, said.
Amanda Plavner, an undecided freshman and fellow sister of SDT, can sympathize with giving up free time.
“ I tried to do my work on weekends and get ahead,” she said.
And while these students had to apply extra time to make sure their school- work was accomplished, it seems that once all new members are initiated, their academic futures may be bright.
According to FastWeb.com article, “ To Pledge or Not to Pledge: Pros and Cons of Frat Life”, “ They can help students get and keep good grades throughout college because most of them require a certain GPA to become a member.”
An article from YoungAdults.About.com, titled, “ 12 Benefits and Advantages of Greek Life”, offers further explanation saying, “ A Greek house brims with instant study buddies and exam cram support.”
However, until all of Maryland’s Greek life pledges can use these new advantages, many are left to improve their grades in the last few months of the Spring 2013 semester. And for next year’s pledges, freshman Nuero-Physiology major Sarah Bernstein of Sigma Delta Tau has a few words of advice: “ don’t sleep. Survival of the fittest.” Well said.