People decide to go to Dartmouth for a variety of reasons. Few come to Dartmouth because they are drawn by the presence of fraternities and sororities on campus. Yet, if you were to ask any of the recently graduated brothers of my house, they would invariably tell you that Greek life was the defining feature of their college careers. Greek life and the Greek system is the most distinctive feature of Dartmouth, separating us from many of our peer schools. Greek houses bring together a wide variety of students of varying backgrounds and beliefs, giving them a common bond of brother- or sisterhood that cannot be formed in the classroom alone.
What you will discover about Dartmouth is that beyond some of the "Animal House" stereotypes lies a community with a tradition of accountability and excellence that counts among its members achievement-oriented people and campus leaders. Once you get past the Greek systems' role in the social life of the campus, you will discover that there is really a lot more going on.
One of the first realizations freshmen tend to have when they arrive in Hanover is that it really can feel like the middle of nowhere. I tend to think of this isolation as a good thing, but to some this may seem like a harsh reality. Without a car as means of transportation outside the "Dartmouth bubble," most find that there is very little to do on a Friday or Saturday night in the surrounding community. Most turn to Webster Avenue by default. This is the role that "frat row" has traditionally played at Dartmouth. In the absence of women and any other viable social options, the old men of Dartmouth retired to their house basements to get each other drunk, forget about the cold and generally waste time. This is the sort of mythological time that popular stereotypes of Dartmouth Greek culture are based on. The current state of the Greek system bears little resemblance to this popularized description or any Belushi-inspired ideal. My apologies if this is disappointing.
Greek life at Dartmouth today is characterized not by reclusive basement dwellers, but by individuals who participate in a community they love. While many of the old traditions have not failed, the entire Greek system has clearly evolved since its conception. These days, Greeks populate all aspects of college life and participate in the full range of activities offered on campus. From Student Assembly and Class Council to sports teams and a cappella groups to student newspapers and activist groups, Greeks are a huge presence on campus outside of their houses. Inside the classroom, Greeks perform at the same level as the campus on the whole, and often achieve high marks for scholarship despite the diversity of their interests. Greeks are accountable to their community, and serve on the Committee on Standards and the Green Key society. Finally, Greeks also serve their community, racking up countless community service hours for their houses. The Greek system takes all these people, with their varying pursuits and interests and brings them together in a common and open social setting. Most of the fun of hanging out in a Greek house is not tied to campus alcohol culture, but the experience of meeting and spending time with so many different and talented people. This fact has become especially clear to me recently over my sophomore summer. The number of incredible people I have met and the connections I have made with my class as a result of my ties with my house has been amazing. This is truly the strength of this college.
Hopefully now you will realize that fraternities and sororities are not exclusive organizations, but are linked with and open to the entire community. I remember my first night on campus during freshman orientation two years ago, wandering up and down Webster Ave. with my shmob. Those houses seemed very intimidating to me then, as they may seem to you when you arrive. Once you go inside and past your own preconception of what a Greek house is, you will realize that the Dartmouth Greek community is a very open and constructive place.
