04/26/2020
Commonly Asked Questions About Being in a Sorority for Parents and New Students!
As college admissions are coming in, and fall is quickly approaching us, preparation and planning are going through every student and parent’s mind right now! Deciding where to live, which major to choose, picking meal plans, and the list goes on. For many, the prospect of Greek life is something they’ve been looking forward to for a while, or are maybe just starting to consider the idea. Whatever the case may be, we wanted to answer some commonly asked questions about our sorority, chapter, and Greek life at PSU!
~What are the benefits of being in a sorority?~
Being in a sorority is an incredible opportunity for so many college students to find their home. Young women learn how to be leaders, surround themselves with other positive and strong women, and gain valuable life skills. Members have access to academic resources, lifelong networking, practical professional skill training, and so much more. Our 5 membership standards in Alpha Chi Omega (academic integrity, character, financial responsibility, leadership ability, and personal development) embody all of these values. Through philanthropic work, leadership positions, and endless support from fellow sisters, we believe that every woman that comes through our chapter goes above and beyond these standards!
~Is being in a sorority right for me?~
Our sorority is open and accepting to all women looking to find a home and a place to belong and make a difference in the world. Alpha Chi Omega does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, s*xual orientation, religion, or other characteristics protected by applicable law. Women, including those who live and identify as women, regardless of the gender assigned to them at birth, are eligible for membership in Alpha Chi Omega based solely on our five membership standards. If you are looking for a place to make lifelong friendships, do fantastic work for charities, and spend time with caring women, then a sorority is a great fit! All people are unique and can bring something wonderful to our organization, so there’s never a “type” of woman we want. We look for genuine personalities and kind hearts.
~What is your hazing policy?~
Alpha Chi Omega has absolutely zero tolerance for hazing of any kind. Hazing includes humiliating tasks, intimidation, isolation, physical or emotional harm, forced consumption of substances, coercion to break the law, or any other activity in which new members are made to do something that would make them feel uncomfortable. We want all new members to feel welcome and safe, and you can be assured that we do not participate in any form of hazing whatsoever.
All of our new member activities include things such as fun games and sisterhood get-togethers! We love extending our kind outreach to others, and making Alpha Chi Omega an unsafe environment is never okay with us.
~How much time commitment is Alpha Chi Omega?~
While being a member of Alpha Chi Omega requires active participation, we know that life happens. Many of us are working full-time jobs as well as being full-time students, so we understand that not everyone can attend every event. Excuses must be submitted through our officers, or special leave-statuses may be obtained depending on your situation. If you have concerns about your availability, contact us for further information or questions!
Typically, we hold weekly chapter meetings, which every unexcused active member is expected to attend. Those in leadership positions may attend weekly meetings as well. We hold philanthropy, tabling, and sisterhood events, which we encourage all sisters to participate in. New members are usually expected to complete 4 community service hours for their first term, and lifetime members are expected to complete 10 hours a term.
~Do you have a chapter house?~
Due to the unique layout of our campus in the middle of downtown Portland, it is currently not possible for us to own a chapter house. However, we still hold weekly chapter meetings, sisterhoods, and other events so that we can stay connected as a chapter. While it is by no means a requirement, many sisters end up rooming together anyways, since they develop such close friendships!
~What are dues?~
Dues are financial payments made to the sorority to cover membership initiation, badges, national fees, conventions, food, rooms, clothing, storage, and so much more. Dues are paid during fall, winter, and spring term, and payment plans are available. Please email us at [email protected] or message us on Facebook for more information on dues!
~Can non-freshman join?~
Absolutely! In fact, the majority of our new members through fall formal recruitment and COB are not freshman. We welcome students from anywhere, no matter your age or class standing.
~Will being in a sorority hurt my grades?~
While being a part of a sorority is a time commitment, the women in our chapter have excellent grades. Our sisters are given many resources to succeed in this area, as it is one of our five standards. We hold our members to certain GPA standards, and make sure they have all of the help and support they need to stay on track. Regular study tables and academic check-ins are
just a part of the work that our amazing VP Intellectual Development does to help our chapter.
~What about parties and drinking? I’m worried about getting hurt or pressured.~
This is a very common and understandable concern parents and students have when considering Greek life. In our chapter, we prioritize the safety of our members over everything else. We are extremely strict about our hazing policy, which includes absolutely no “partying” or drinking with new members. There is a social imbalance of power that members hold over new members looking to be recruited/initiated, and it is simply unethical to allow new members to be put into that position. Every woman in our chapter adheres to these guidelines, and we have executive board members designated to make sure all events are safe. We are a dry chapter, meaning that all of our events are alcohol-free. If at any time a sister feels unsafe, whether at an Alpha Chi Omega event or not, our VP Risk Management (along with any other sister) is there to help them.
~I’m still not sure if I want to join. Where can I get more information?~
Our website, Instagram, and Facebook have lots of information on them about recruitment, our volunteer work, and who we are. Feel free to reach out to us with ANY questions and we would be happy to answer them for you. If you want to meet the women and ask questions in person, we have an information night (date TBA) during our Fall Formal Recruitment process. Attending that session is a great, low-pressure way to make the decision of joining a sorority, meet other Panhellenic sororities, and get a feel for our chapter. Stay tuned for dates and signups for Fall Formal Recruitment!
