I Am In A Sorority, But That Doesn’t Mean I Am A Bad Person

I am a sophomore at Penn State. I am in a sorority. I am a person who cannot wait for the weekend and football season. I believe everyone should come to Penn State to experience THON. I am a part of greek life at Penn State and was having the time of my life with my best friends living on my sorority floor and going to the best school on the planet.

Then a tragedy happened — probably the worst thing that ever could have happened. A boy lost his life while having too much fun. Ask any undergraduate where they were when they found out. I was in an apartment, sitting on a couch surrounded by people who knew and were just finding out. No one ever tells you when you’ll have one of those moments where it all of a sudden isn’t fun anymore.

That was my moment.

After that, our happy little valley became something secretive, mischievous and angry. People were grieving and people were upset asking their friends why they were being affected.

Then the administration handled it in a way where it made all of greek life look like they were to blame. YES, it was a tragedy. YES, restrictions had to be made. However, the media decided to turn it around on greek life which includes sororities and fraternities.

They made it into something that was bad. That I, as a human, am a bad person because I am in a sorority at Penn State.

I am in a sorority at Penn State.

That doesn’t mean I don’t work day in and day out to get good grades.

That doesn’t mean I don’t hold doors for people and say thank you when someone does the same for me.

That doesn’t mean I don’t care about how people are being treated and judged based on what organization they are a part of.

That doesn’t mean just because I am in a sorority, I am a bad person.

I am kind, optimistic, positive and caring to the people around me. Greek life at Penn State raises the most money for THON, the LARGEST student run philanthropy. That, along with raising money for their own philanthropies, as well as believing in values such as growth, friendship and loyalty.

I understand the tragedy, I understand the angry people. However, next time think of the people who you are talking about and to. Just because I wear my letters around campus does not make you better than me. If anything, it makes you look small, because I am supporting an organization that changed my life and made me stronger for it.

You are just degrading the stereotype and believing it to be true for every girl in a sorority.

• fraternities
• greek life
• Penn State
• regulations
• sororities