Special Summer Issue | . . "

 

Greek Life @ IIT: high cost, yields higher rewards

Bill Molchan
GREEK COUNCIL PRESIDENT

To join a Greek chapter is to take an
oath to hold yourselfto a higher standard. When
someone joins a greek chapter they agree to,
for the rest of their life, abide by their chapter’s
values and hold their fellow chapter members
accountable to those values. In exchange that
person is welcomed as a brother or sister by
every member of the fraternity or sorority.
It begins a relationship that is stronger than
friendship: a two way pledge of absolute trust
and confidence that creates a family that you get
to choose for yourself. A family that expands as
you grow and meet new and interesting people
whom you want to care about and to have care
about you. It is of course possible to have close
friends without utilizing Greek Life, but Greek
Life formalizes the promise and creates an
environment for those relations to thrive.

The stereotype about Greek Life is

 

Utsav Gandhi
CAMPUS EDITOR

For most undergraduates, one of the
most unforgettable components which make
up the college experience is life in the residence
halls.

Without it, four years of college
really seem incomplete. The sheer convenience
of living on campus is why even the lucky few
whose families live close enough for them
to commute are encouraged to look into on-
campus housing as an option.

For those from areas further away,
there’s perhaps no easier way of settling into
a life away from home than to share the
experience with your classmates and colleagues.
Halo marathons, midnight trips to McDonald’s,
and synchroniZed homework procrastination
are just some of the appealing side effects of
living on campus. And with such an incredibly
diverse college community like Illinois Tech’s,
this invaluable experience is magnified multiple
times.

You meet people from countries you
may not even be able to point out on a globe,
with cultures and cuisines vastly different from
your own.

These experiences build on your
character, and make you grow in ways your
parents may never have-imagined. In the end,
it’s when you get that empty-stomach feeling
on move out day when you truly look back

that it is a group of people who are inseparable
and that constantly attend parties together.
While yes, there are parties now and then, the
truth is so much more. To name two, Greek Life
is also about academic growth and supportive
friends. In my own experience, to speak with
fewer generalities: I have stayed up all night
helping my brothers study for calculus exams
on numerous occasions, even if I had class the
next morning. Reciprocally, I have had brothers
teach me about subjects ranging from Electrical
Engineering to the History of Middle Earth
(That’s a real class) all the way out to vocational
topics like Lighting Design and Carpentry.
To the second point, immediately after my
relationship with one my previous girlfriends
ended, I walked over to my chapter home.
Immediately upon entering one of my brothers
noticed I was upset, and inquired what was
wrong. He subsequently dropped everything
he was doing, gave me a flying tackle hug, and
was willing to talk or distract me as I needed.

and realize that every penny you paid for this
experience was worth it.

At IIT, living in MSV and SSV are two
completely different experiences, each with their
own pros and cons,

The dorm structure and large
common areas of MSV encourages dialogue and
conversation between its residents, especially
on the individual floors. Host to some of the
biggest pianos and one of the largest television
screens on campus, the MSV lounge area is
famous for hosting ice cream socials and FIFA
tournaments, mostly organized by the Resident
Advisors. Close proximity to most academic
buildings, the athletics center, and the cafeteria
are major plusses. Resident’s mailboxes are also
in MSV, making getting mail convenient.

The only sore points of MSV are
the lack of an elevator (which is a great way
to beat that freshman lS-pound weight gain!)
smaller rooms, shared laundry rooms (Sunday
nights are the worst times to do laundry. Keep
that in mind and you will be fine!), and shared
bathrooms (Which if you don’t try to shower
ten minutes before the 8:35 AM class like the
rest of the world, you will be fine).

If you’re looking for an open,
welcoming, friendly, and richly diverse dorm
experience, MSV is highly recommended.
Suggestions? Pack light and get/rent a
microfridge.

If comfort is your number one
priority, look no further than SSV.

With a kitchen and laundry room on

These examples illustrate some of my personal
experiences, but each chapter looks to support
and assist their members and the only way to
find if there is a chapter that can support you in
a way that fits you is to go out and visit them.

The first week of school is recruitment
week and all week long the Greek chapters will
be hosting events for anyone to visit, with no
obligation to join. Several chapters will invite
visitors to dinner or lunch to give a better chance
to be acquainted with the chapter. Even if you’re
not sold on wanting to join Greek Life you are
still welcome to attend the events.

If you decide you are interested in joining

a chapter the process is as follows: First, you
should indicate your interest to the chapter
so they can explain the small variances in the
process they might have. Then, if the chapter
agrees you are a good fit and would benefit from
the chapter you will receive a document known
as a bid which is a formal invitation to join.

These “bids” can not be given out until

each floor, elevators, bigger rooms, a rooftop
terrace to die for, a convenient location next to
Crown Hall, and a bathroom in each suite that is
shared with fewer people, SSV has a reputation
for being the fancy dorms on campus.

The SSV Resident Advisors have
traditionally organized fantastic programs
for their residents, which helps improve an
environment which can be somewhat anti—social
and much quieter than the hustle of MSV’s floor
lounges and common areas. If you live in SSV,
though, don’t let the “distance” from the athletics
center be a deterrent to stop exercising in the
cold winter months!

- SSV is close to the Green Line, so use
that as an excuse to explore the city of Chicago.
Also try to engage more with your floormates
in the common kitchen areas, comfortable
lounges, and by participating in the programs
which the RAs organize.

Gunsaulus Hall may also be an option
for some of the eligible upperclassmen at the
university.

Gunsaulus has many apartments
which allow students to step up from dorm
life while still experiencing the convenience
of living on campus and having access to the
services that Residence and Greek Life provides.
The views of Lake Michigan from the upper
floors are worth waking up to every morning,
and the combined package of independence
with on—campus convenience makes Gunsaulus
Hall an option definitely worth considering if
one is eligible.

the end of the first week of school, in part to
give all parties time to consider their decision.
It is possible to receive multiple bids, but it is
only possible to accept one. Most chapters give
you a time period, for example a year, that the
invitation is valid for, in the event you want to
take some more time to get to better meet the
members of various chapters and decide which
one fits you best.

After accepting a bid there is a new
member process specific to each chapter usually
consisting of an explanation of the chapters
history and values. After the process is complete
you are “initiated” into the chapter officially,
becoming a brother or sister and earning all
the joys and commitment that comes with it. If
you are looking to get the most of your college
experience, or have been here for awhile and
find that you aren’t quite satisfied with your
experience, give Greek Life a chance. A chance
costs but the time to visit a fun event and you
have everything to gain.

What NOT to bring
to campus housing

These items are NOT
allowed in McCor
mick Student Village,
State Street Village,
Gu‘ aulus Hall and
(larman Hall:
Aloyhol (xi‘you are
under 2 1)
Appliances with an
exposed heating
element

Candles & in-

tense

Drum \Cts

Hot plates

Illegal drugs
Banned substanc-
es

Microwaves (permit,
ted in (}U, SSV, CA
apartments]

Music Amplifi-

CI'S

Pets (except fish in
a tank less than 3

gallons)
Ref

cubic

01's over 3.0
or it) cubic

feet il'cnergy star

(,‘uuri \i' of]!

Multiple
tutors in ti

room k artmenl
Rice cookers (SSV
apartments are
equipped ’
microwaves; residents
otCarman and (Jun-
suulus are permitted
to bring micrw
waves)
Sp c limiters
'l'ousicr 01’ lildStL‘l' UV-
ens [permitted in (iU,

' apartments)

Weapons
Hookahs
Explosives

Fire l’mpellants
EXiCIlHUl‘I cords
& outlet split—
tei‘s

I’lt'iisc klIUH' i/Iiit iii]
aim/7115 liuzisiii i is
sum/(veil

is prohibited in iii]

S‘umkiiig

rumpus housing,