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Sep 2011  |  By Allison Sickert  |  Comments

A Parent’s Guide to Greek Life

Hazing, drugs and alcohol are common concerns parents have when their child decides to join a fraternity or sorority.

Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at the University of Illinois, Andrew Hohn, talked with Make It Better about the questions parents most commonly ask about Greek life.

What is the cost of joining a fraternity or sorority?
Each organization sets its own membership dues. Your son or daughter should be asking what the total cost of membership is and what is included in that price. If your daughter is participating in formal recruitment she will be given a financial information sheet for each chapter, which outlines the cost of membership before she has the opportunity to join.

The first year of membership typically has additional one-time costs like new member fees, initiation fees, etc.  Your child should ask about these costs as well.

Are fraternity/sorority members required to live in their chapter house?
Most chapters with housing do have live-in requirements for their members.  Your son or daughter should ask what that requirement is, because this can vary from chapter to chapter.

What should a parent do if they think their child is being hazed?
Hazing is against the law in the state of Illinois. If you sense your student may be participating in inappropriate activities as a result of membership in a fraternity or sorority, you should contact the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs for the college. The more information you can provide the better. It is very difficult for our office to respond to a concern when a parent calls, but doesn’t want to give us the name of the organization their son or daughter is considering pledging.

Do fraternities and sororities have a minimum GPA for membership?
Each national fraternity and sorority sets minimum grade point average standards. All chapters have an officer position dedicated to academic programming. Fraternities and sororities also acknowledge the academic achievements of members with awards, scholarships, and various forms of recognition every year.