Campus dynamics: Greek Life proves to be more than just letters

Greek Life is a key organization on the University of South Dakota campus and is widely known around the United States. Aside from the social aspect of the program, the houses on the USD campus participate in service work and focus on academics. Meet senior Liz Green, junior Joe Erickson and sophomore Jessica Johnson, three students who are active members in the Greek system at USD.

Liz GreenAs president of Alpha Xi Delta, Liz Green said she keeps herself busy and involved on USD’s campus. Although her schedule is full, she said being apart of Greek life is both fun and beneficial.

“People should get involved because of the opportunities and the bonds that you make with your fellow sisters,”

Starting the second semester of her first year, Green decided to join Alpha Xi Delta when she was invited by her roommate to stop by the house.

“I just really clicked with the girls.”

Green said her house does a lot for the community and participates around campus.

“I really like the involvement,” Green said when asked what she likes about being a part of a sorority.

Students may not know that service work is a big part of being in Greek Life. Most houses on campus have a charity that they donate to and the events that they do on campus are fundraising for these charities. Last year Alpha Xi Delta raised over $5000 for Autism Speaks.

Although highly involved, Green is just like most students; she likes to hang out with friends and watch movies, or simply go to the kitchen at Alpha XI Delta and talk about the ups and downs of her day with her fellow sisters.

Joe EricksonMost students would recognize junior Joe Erickson from his cheering on the sidelines of football and basketball games, or playing one of his intramural teams. But he also plays a big role in his Greek house, Lambda Chi Alpha, as vice president and past social and recruitment chair.

Erickson has been a member of Lambda Chi Alpha since he was a first-year. He decided to go to the house when a couple of guys from his floor asked him to join, and he has never regretted it since.

“They made me feel like I was at home,” Erickson said.

This holds true even today because of the bond he said he has with his fraternity brothers.

“Once you join, it becomes who you are,” he said.

Highly involved on campus, Erickson enjoys hanging with his brothers the most.

“There will be times when I come home late and one of my brothers wants to go to Walmart just to have something to do,” Erickson said.

But he said being a part of the house not only creates these bonds, but it also ensures future connections. Erickson said he got a job at Custer State Park this summer because one of his brothers helped him with the process.

Erickson said students should get involved in Greek Life, because it is so much more than the stereotypical view of fraternities. It is a great resume builder, he said, and it shows dedication to brotherhood.

“Students don’t realize the philanthropy work the Greek system does.” His house collected 22,950 pounds of food for The North American Food Drive last year.

Besides spending time with his brothers, Erickson likes to go running, fishing, hunting and just hanging out watching a movie or ESPN. An average college student dedicated to the life he has created for himself at college.

Jessica Johnson

Sophomore Jessica Johnson is a nursing major at USD. She is involved in Heros, Dance Marathon and the National Society of Leadership and Success. But one thing students might not know is that she is an active member of the Alpha Phi chapter on campus.

Hesitant of first joining a sorority, Johnson took her time as a first-year deciding if she wanted to be a part of Greek Life.

“I looked at Greek Life on the portal and went to the meeting. They said it gets you more involved and keeps you on track with school,” said Johnson.

Greek Life requires a standard GPA and service hours. On top of the activities they are involved in throughout Vermillion, they have events on campus to raise money for their charity, the Backpack Program.

Alpha Phiesta was a fundraiser where members of the Alpha Phi chapter  served Mexican food to fellow students and had a “fiesta,” raising $6000. The money raised last year was donated to a charity in Vermillion called the Backpack Program, which ensures students food over the weekend.

“The guy at the program was so thankful for our donation that he started crying…it felt good to be a part of something like that,” said Johnson.

Johnson said joining a sorority is a great decision, because it opens up so many doors to relationships with fellow sisters.

“You always have your big sister or other sisters to go to when you need advice on school or life situations,” Johnson said.