Members of Greek organizations should be more inclusive to rid stereotypeThis year, TCU ranked in the Top 10 schools nationwide for influential Greek scenes.

Indeed, TCU has a reputation, both within the university and outside of it, of having a big fraternity and sorority presence. However, that stereotype does not reflect a majority of the student body.

More than half our student body is not affiliated with the Greek system in any way. Those who are not in a fraternity or sorority can often feel alienated by those who are.

One can walk from class to class and see those wearing shirts with Greek letters on them talking to others of the same. The same phenomenon can be observed in classes, at lunch, in the library or virtually anywhere else. Greek students sit together. They eat together. They study together.

Not everyone in the Greek system falls under that stereotype, but there are enough students who do act that way to make unaffiliated students feel left out.

Fraternities and sororities should try to be a bit less exclusive. Of course, part of the entire point of the Greek system is to create a close-knit group of friends, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But even when a sorority holds a mixer, most of the attendees are in fraternities.

So why don’t Greek organizations hold more open events, encouraging others outside the system to attend?

If Greeks mingled with independents a bit more, fewer students would feel left out and ostracized, and the elitist stereotype of fraternities and sororities might start to disappear, little by little. And that’s a win for everyone.

Associate Editor Jarod Daily for the Editorial Board