Category: Greek Life

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Winning the IF Dodgeball Championship

Intramural sports are extremely popular here at Grove City College. They allow students of all skills and talents to compete in a myriad of sports. Recently, we brought back IF sports which is inner fraternal sports. Inner fraternal sports is the league that all Men’s Greek groups compete for the IF cup, a prized trophy awarded to the fraternity that can succeed at the most diverse level of competition.

IF athletes compete in games like football all the way to bowling. This past month we played in the IF dodgeball championship. The Betas were the number one seed, and we had a first round bye. Games were set up in a standard fashion. Each team lined up on each side of the basketball court separated by the half court line. Standard dodgeball rules applied, and we ended up playing the Sigma Alpha Sigma Fraternity in the final and won in five games.

Ultimately, IF sports gives students the opportunity to compete with their brothers in hopes of winning the IF Cup. This opportunity has been so special to have back as it provides a new way for us to connect with other groups on campus and compete to glorify God. Not only is this a cool way to connect with groups on campus, but also it is a great way to connect with alumni and have pride in the current class of members. The conclusion of the IF season is coming closer with other sports such as softball and soccer entering playoffs. Grove City Greek Life provides a multitude of opportunities to grow closer to the community around you and the rebirth of IF sports brings this growth into the field of competition. While you have the ability to do this without being in a Greek group, playing for your fraternity exhibits a new type of competition on campus that I have found to be very fruitful and a memory I will always remember.

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Experience with Sororities at College

When it comes to meeting people and making friends at college, a lot of people immediately think of joining a sorority or a fraternity. At big schools, many people join groups to find or meet friends but everyone has a different reason. Being at a small school like Grove City College, not only are you here academically, but socially and spiritually. My faith is an important part of my life and was one of the reasons I decided to join a sorority.

Rushing a sorority can be very intense and time-consuming, but it is all in the way you look at it. The best way to approach rush is having a positive mindset and thinking that you are going to meet new people and form a friendship with them. If you meet people in a group and become friends with them because they are in that specific group, you will not have a long-lasting friendship. Take it from me. I rushed my freshman year and did not get into the group I was rushing, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I spent time figuring out who I was and what I was looking for in a group. I decided to try rushing sororities again and look at different groups, which led me to find a great group of girls who I became genuine friends with. Rush can be tiring, difficult, and time-consuming but it is worth it if you find a group of friends you can be yourself around.

For me, being in a sorority was more than being part of something on campus. It is being surrounded by a group of your peers who love the Lord and will push you in your faith, and who love you and will always be there for you. Not only do you get to know people in your class, but you look up to seniors and get to know them and get advice and wisdom from them. For some people, sororities and fraternities can be seen as being “exclusive” and “cliquey” but once you get to know all of the people in those groups, you come to find that they are great people.

Joining a group might not be for everyone, but my best piece of advice is to try it. You may not join a group but you get to know people on campus and become friends with them. As my parents always say, “What’s the worst that can happen?” You do not like the groups; you do not have to join it. Try something new! Get out of your comfort zone! Meet new people!

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Sophomore Spotlight: Lucca Baccari

Whether you are a prospective student looking at Grove City College or you have decided to attend Grove City in the fall, college is a time for people to learn and grow. You may not know what the “college experience” looks like, but that is okay! The best advice you can get is hearing from current students who found ways to adapt to the college environment and succeed socially and academically.

Lucca Baccari, a sophomore mechanical engineer, decided on Grove City College not only because of the baseball team but because of the reputation of having strong academics and a small, tight-knit community surrounding the campus. When asked about adjusting to “college life” he said to schedule out your weeks so you know when assignments are due but also what events or activities are happening so you can go to them. This method works best for Lucca as he is very busy juggling his workload, baseball, and being in the Beta Sigma fraternity. Finding a balance between a sport and academics in college is difficult but he makes it work by planning ahead on the weekends and working ahead on assignments, especially when he is in season. His best piece of advice for student athletes is to “have good time management and not procrastinate on assignments. You don’t want to fall behind in academics or your sport because it can be hard to recover.”

When asked about the impact that Grove City College has had on his faith, Lucca said “It’s grown to a whole new level. You’re surround by people who have come from completely different walks of life who teach you different things to help you in your walk of faith.” Faith is important to campus life, but also to the community that surrounds the college. The community of Grove City focuses on “building each other up and creating a positive experience on campus, whether it be academically or socially.”

The best piece of advice Lucca has for prospective or incoming students is to “participate in campus life as much as possible. Not only does it benefit you by helping you meet people but continues to build the campus community.” Do not be afraid to get out of your comfort zone to meet people. The community at Grove City College creates many opportunities and experiences for people!

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The Spartan Life: Living Arrangements Outside of Greek Groups

At Grove City College, we have a lot of different ways to participate in Greek life. From living in the group to just attending events, Greek life adds a lot of character to our small campus. But sometimes, Greek life just isn’t what every student wants to be a part of. I considered joining a housing group on campus but, after receiving a bid, I realized it wasn’t for me.

 

Grove City College has a unique campus life that prioritizes community more than other, similar colleges. Because of this, Grove City College does not house any national fraternities or sororities; each group that is present on campus only has affiliations here on campus. This helps pursue the goal of community unity because the groups are focused on their immediate surroundings, untied from the regulations and expectations of national groups. The Greek groups on campus are expected to bring the campus community together through numerous events such as dances, games, and food-oriented get-togethers. This provides a very unique and memorable campus life experience at Grove City College.

 

Starting the end of Freshman year, students may rush to join these housing groups for their Sophomore year. But some students may find that the Greek life isn’t for them and there’s nothing wrong with that. You may not be a part of the same experiences that those in these housing groups, fraternities, and sororities have, but your time at Grove City College will be full of similar experiences.

 

Life outside the Greek halls isn’t much different than if you were on the hall. Unlike most colleges, all groups still live in the dorms on campus; there are no frat/sorority houses off campus. You’ll be able to hang out in your friends’ rooms, who may be in a Greek group. You’ll still be able to walk out of your room and see your friends in the halls. You’ll still walk to lunch with them the same way that you would if there were no housing groups.

 

For me, many of the friends I have made through sports or through classes are in different Greek groups on campus. Even though I don’t want to live on a hall with a lot of guys, I still feel that I am able to be a part of their small community on campus. I still have meals with them and hang out in their rooms without feeling pressured to join them.

 

During your sophomore year, you may realize that you are spending a lot of time with your friends who are all in fraternities or sororities. If this is the case, you can always try to join! You’re never locked into a fraternity, sorority, or housing group at Grove City College. It’s up to the group but you can join during whichever year you are currently in!

 

Grove City College’s goal of achieving campus unity is expressed through its student housing arrangements. It doesn’t matter what background you come from, Grove City College has the right college living style for you.

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How Greek Life Has Prepared Me for Life After College

Coming into college, I had no expectations of joining a Greek group because I was expecting to be fully invested in playing sports. However, after talking with my friends and going to rush events in the fall, I found that Greek groups here are very different than the stereotypical fraternities and sororities at larger schools.

They are very organized and respected on campus because they put on the majority of the fun events that happen at school. I decided to join a fraternity, and it has thoroughly prepared me for my life after college. There are positions within Greek groups that are voted on and people get elected to. These positions are the same as any other club, with a couple of exceptions. I held the role of Interfraternal Representative, which means that I am the representative for my fraternity at meetings with every fraternity. I had to learn to be responsible for a large group of people and represent the group well. This position is also an executive position within the group, which means that I and four other people are chosen to represent the group at a higher level and vote on important things for the group.

Along with having to deal with a large group of people, I had to plan events for the whole school and make sure that they all ran smoothly. For example, we put on multiple fun events every year, including the Monster Mash dance which is a big costume dance for the whole school. It is one of the largest events on campus, and it is our responsibility to coordinate everything with the sorority we put it on with and with the school so we can follow guidelines. We must be able to work with many different groups and people to coordinate large projects.

Another large reason why I am prepared for life after college was because I had the opportunity to meet and interact with many different people. Being in a large group like a fraternity enables you to become comfortable with dealing with a lot of different kinds of people and interact with different personalities, much like what you will have to do in the workplace. I have also found a great community of people that I would not trade for the world, and I know that they will support me in all my stages of life.

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Grove City College Student Spotlight: Episode 4 – Tegan Truitt

Episode 4 – Tegan Truitt

Welcome to the Grove City College Student Spotlight, where we sit down with Grove City students and converse about their college experiences. On today’s episode, we sit down with Tegan Truitt. Tegan is a senior Economics and Philosophy major, the chaplain of the Adelphikos, the captain of the Ultimate Frisbee team, and co-captain of the debate team. We talk about his experience as a student in Oxford, why Grove City’s Economics program is different from other schools, fraternity life, evangelizing through Frisbee, and the story of his baptism at Grove City local church, Grace Anglican.

You can listen to this or other episodes at either of the links below on your streaming platform of choice.

Disclaimer:

This podcast is a student project and the views represented do not reflect those of Grove City College.

Listen to us online at our website

Click Here to listen to: Episode 4 – Tegan Truitt

Or check us out on Spotify

 

 

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A Glance of Pledge Week

Pledge week is a lot of fun for students at Grove City College. It is the process of becoming a member of a Greek group. The Beta Sigma fraternity was founded in 1922. Its colors are red, which represents loyalty, black, which represents strength, and white, which represents pride. The fraternity has 4 main symbols, the bulldog, the handshake, the brick, and the stars, which all symbolize something different. The Beta Sigma Fraternity holds 2 main events a year, the Monster Mash and Professor Preach off. David Bereck, the pledge master (PM) for the Beta Sigma Fraternity, says that it is a week that “unites the pledges with the fraternity as brothers of Christ”. It is a week of building relationships, community, and commitment to the group. A PM is one member of the sorority or fraternity that leads pledge week. He (or she), is in charge of making the schedule of events, attending the events, and leading the rushes from task to task. The PM must act a certain character for the week. He is to act scary and intimidating so that the rushes can build a tighter bond and endure the week together. David says that the most difficult part of being PM is acting the part and not breaking down and helping the guys out. Each morning, the pledges have a time of devotion together before breakfast. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, they attend chapel together. Each evening, they have dinner together, usually with a different sorority each night. The purpose of this is to meet new people who are also involved in Greek life. Throughout the week, pledges must complete certain tasks that are created by the PM. They can be anything from counting the number of cars in the parking lot to presenting a five-minute presentation about the difference between bread and toast. It is a week of endurance, fun, and loyalty. At the end, it is all worth it because you have life-long brothers or sisters.

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The Truth Behind Sororities on Campus: Sigma Theta Chi

Sigma Theta Chi sorority sisters of Grove City College

Sigma Theta Chi, also referred to as the Sig Thets, is one of eight sororities on Grove City’s campus. Junior Sig Thet Samantha Funderlich only has wonderful things to say about her experience joining this sorority.

When asked to describe her sorority in three words, Samantha said, “The sisters of Sigma Theta Chi are loyal, sincere, and fun.” I could not think of a more accurate description for the Sig Thets. Sig Thet members are striving to uphold the ideals in their constitution as well as create a space for disciple making in the sorority. Samantha expressed how her group on campus has affected her walk with Christ when she said, “…I have become a better person and a strong Christian, specifically through the women in my family line. I would not have asked for a better experience at Grove City College.”

Sigma Theta Chi sorority sisters of Grove City College
Junior Samantha Funderlich and her fellow Sigma Theta Chi sorority sisters enjoying the Grove City sun.

In addition, Samantha described her experience and what that has been like since being an active member of the group, commonly referred to as “actives.” She said, “Since my first experience with the girls, I have formed deep friendships and mentor relationships with the other actives. Having all of the older actives pour advice and love into our relationships was a great experience being a junior, I have loved every part of being able to guide the younger women to becoming who God wants them to be.”

Grove City provides its students with ample opportunity to find community, discipleship, and life-lasting friendships. One way to find all three of these things is by joining Greek life on campus. Sororities at Grove City give students the chance to meet new people, specifically through the process called Rush. Not only are these groups at Grove City incredible for community within the group, but Greek Life is also amazing for community building with other groups on campus. Samantha Funderlich has experienced this first hand through joining the Sigma Theta Chi. Samantha would recommend joining a sorority because “they are great for benefiting the community through philanthropy/charity work, provide you with leadership opportunities, networking through actives and alumni, and above all else: creating fun memories and relationship.”

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The Truth Behind Sororities on Campus: Gamma Sigma Phi

Sisters of the Gamma Sigma Phi Sorority

Grove City College has a multitude of sororities that students can choose from upon arrival. One of the eight sororities on campus is Gamma Sigma Phi, often referred to as Gamma Sig.

Sophomore Gamma Sig Becca Cloyd is extremely honest regarding her thoughts on sororities coming into college and more specifically her group on campus. When asked to describe how the Gamma Sigs have affected her since arriving at Grove City, Becca said, “I was very apprehensive about sororities in general at the beginning of freshman year, but on

Sisters of the Gamma Sigma Phi Sorority
Sophomore Becca Cloyd (middle) with her Gamma Sig sisters on a beautiful day at Grove City College.

ce I met the Gamma Sigs I started to really be interested. Since joining the Gamma Sigs, I have felt more love and certainty in friendships than I ever have before.”

Becca continued explaining the specifics of how the Gamma Sig sorority has impacted her faith journey as well as providing her with life-long skills. “I think that I have grown in my faith. It has also taught me a lot about community and living with people who don’t always share the same thoughts and opinions…and since I am a Management major and will have to work with people who have different views than me at some point.”

Sororities, specifically the Gamma Sigs, provide an ample amount of opportunities for girls to be welcomed into the group. Friendships that last are found within this group on campus. Becca describes her experience of how she struggled with friendships her entire life but joining a sorority and living on a hall with her fellow sisters has proven to provide relationships below the surface level.

Becca’s experience with the Gamma Sigma Phi sorority at Grove City, has provided her with the opportunity to become immersed into the student body, host events on campus, and experience mentor-ship within the group. When asked to describe the Gamma Sigs in three words, Becca says, “community, laughter, and joy.”

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The Truth Behind Sororities on Campus: Alpha Beta Tau

Sororities at Grove City College are unlike sororities at public universities. These groups on campus are closely regulated by the College, provide an ample amount of ministry opportunities, and create space for students to form life-long friendships.

There are eight sororities on Grove City’s campus. This provides a chance for students to find a group that best fits one’s personality.

Sororities at Grove City College include the Alpha Beta Tau sorority.
Junior Leah Bovard with her little Alexis King.

The largest sorority on campus is Alpha Beta Tau, also known as ABT. Junior ABT Leah Bovard has had nothing but excellent things to say about her group. When asked to describe her sorority in three words, Leah said, “Genuine, intentional, and fun-loving.” Leah then described the types of relationships that have formed since joining the ABTs and said, “I have formed so many different relationships in ABT, I have met some of my best friends. I have also become friends with people I wouldn’t have met outside of the sorority and been able to bond with people going through similar tough life events.”

Some of Leah’s best friends include her little, Alexis King. Now, a little is a new member of the sorority who is being mentored by her big, in this case Leah. The big-little relationship is set up so that the new girls in the sorority can have an upperclassman mentor them in the ways of the sorority but in life as well.

Leah was asked if she would recommend joining a sorority at Grove City to prospective students and she responded with a resounding yes. She expanded on this notion by saying, “Grove City sororities have an interesting opportunity to be a Christ-centered living community for students, something that is not seen through Greek life at most other schools.” Leah is also extremely honest about what her experience in Greek life at Grove City has been by saying, “While there will be times when you think life would be easier without it, the times where the group feels like your home away from home are exponentially greater.”

Within the Alpha Beta Tau sorority at Grove City, close-knit friendships are being born through community, fellowship, and a wide variety of girls that make up the group. The ABTs are a group of about sixty girls who are extremely welcoming, kind, and ready to lead new members in the way of Christ.