Greek life at ASU, like many other universities in the U.S., has cultivated a unique culture with its own traditions and values. However, the representation of "Greek life" at ASU deviates from the genuine values that people from Greece, like me, take pride in.
"Our Fraternity & Sorority community here are ASU is centered around four aspirations: Leadership, Scholarship, Service, and Philanthropy," said Brigette Wynn, Coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life at ASU, in an email.
While these aspirations might be the foundation of ASU's Greek organizations, they don't always emerge in everyday activities or reflect traditional Greek values to the broader community.
"The only thing I know about ASU frats and sororities, about Greek Life at ASU is that they party a lot … socialize and make connections and party," said Ioanna Grivas, a senior studying psychology from Athens, Greece.
This focus on socializing often overshadows the importance of deeper Greek cultural values.
"Our organizations connect with their heritage based on their organizations founding history and traditions," Wynn said. "There are many examples of this throughout all of our council. First one, Alpha Chi Omega, celebrates Hera Day on March 1st. Alpha Chi Omega has Hera as their patron goddess and on this day they dedicate to aid in the happiness and well-being of others.”
While these practices aim to honor heritage, it's worth noting that Greek mythology is not the same as Greek history. Instead of exploring Greece's complex history, including its philosophical roots and struggles in more recent wars, the focus tends to remain on mythical figures that lack the depth of real Hellenic achievements. This approach, centered on mythology over history, raises questions about whether it is an attempt to mask a superficial understanding of Greek culture, falling short of honoring its true historical depth.
"I don't think there is a huge emphasis on traditional Greek values with the activities and events in Greek life," said Marinus Nordstrom, a sophomore studying health sciences who is part of a sorority, in an email. "I am not quite sure of what traditional Greek values entail regarding brotherhood/sisterhood."
Despite a lack of association with Greek values, Nordstrom said her sorority upholds a strong set of its own values. "Collectively, there is a huge emphasis on fellowship, supporting one another, and creating a healthy environment," she said.
Wynn said in an email that Greek life organizations also work to uphold academic standards. Some of the organizations work toward this by having academic support initiatives, hosting study nights and recognizing members on the Dean's list.
"Our all-Greek GPA for Spring 2023 was 3.28, and for Fall 2023, it was 3.22," Wynn said.
Despite these efforts toward academic excellence, it remains unclear how this pursuit connects to the core values of Greek culture. It's concerning that members and the broader community may not fully grasp the deeper cultural principles meant to define their organizations, raising doubts about whether they can authentically represent Greek heritage without a more profound understanding of its meaning.
"Brotherhood and Sisterhood are the founding values for all of our Greek organizations," Wynn said. "The founding for all Greek organizations is based on when certain populations of students started attending college. Some organizations started off as secret or literary societies. Other organizations started as a way to create an inclusive space for themselves on campus."
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However, this interpretation raises concerns about what Greek values truly mean to these fraternities and sororities. The notion of secret societies, exclusive networks, and self-serving support systems seems more aligned with elitism than the inclusive spirit that Greek standards represent.
"I mean, I'm fine with letters from the alphabet," Grivas said. "I'm not fine when it comes to flags, like when they use the Greek flag. When I see Greek flags in the dorms of the frats or the sororities, I get really upset because they don't even know what as a country, what we went through to raise that flag again."
Grivas said she feels proud seeing Greek letters around campus because "we gave something else to a different culture, a different society, a different country." However, she said she gets offended when those same people who are using those letter to represent their organizations can't even pronounce them.
This sentiment reflects an understandable mix of pride and frustration, underscoring the tension between cultural appreciation and superficial representation within ASU's Greek life. The most troubling aspect is not the use of Greek letters themselves, but the superficiality and lack of meaning behind their “traditions” and names.
Ultimately, this isn't about blaming the students for their lack of knowledge about Greek heritage, but rather critiquing an organization that appears to prioritize image over substance.
Just as it is the responsibility of a parent to teach a child, it is the organization's duty to foster a deeper understanding of what it represents. At a multicultural university like ASU, which has 152 different International Student Organizations, ignorance can be offensive because there is no justification for it.
Greek life at ASU may offer valuable experiences, but it should not be mistaken for an authentic representation of Greek culture. For those who come from Greece, it serves as a reminder that cultural symbols, when transplanted without context, often lose their true meaning.
Editor's note: The opinions presented in this column are the author's and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
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Edited by Sophia Braccio, Sophia Ramirez, Tiya Talwar and Madeline Schmitke.
Reach the reporter at dmanatou@asu.edu.
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Dimitra is a junior studying biomedical engineering and physics. This is her second semester with The State Press. She has also worked as a research assistant in Kirian Lab.
