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Pan-Hellenic councils encourage young women to seek communities, friends and goals by joining Texas State sororities.
Gabriela Perez, advertising junior, said she joined her sorority, Delta Zeta, for a number of reasons.
“It’s a great way to meet new people and get involved with the university,” Perez said. “It makes you work harder on your grades, and you make the friends that you know will be there forever.”
“Women will have a chance to attend events at the different sorority houses with the six groups of the Pan-Hellenic Council,” said Michelle Lopez, associate director of student activities.
Texas State Pan-Hellenic President Laura Fowler, communication studies senior, said recruitment for the six Texas State Pan-Hellenic organizations is “a mutual selection process,” meaning the girls choose the sororities they wish to belong to and the sororities choose the girls they believe are the best matches.
“Texas State sororities are well known for always finding a sorority for girls,” Fowler said.
Registration for the Pan-Hellenic organizations has ended, but Fowler said girls can get a head start on next semester now.
“They could definitely go online (www.txstatepanhellenic.com) and attend events that we’re holding if they’re interested,” Fowler said. “Sororities definitely hold a lot of different events throughout the year that they can attend and get them involved, and maybe next fall they can go through recruitment. It’s a really, really formal process.”
Others who missed registration could consider joining the Multicultural Greek Council.
MGC President Sarah Rebollar said the council is viewed primarily as Latino-based but is open to anyone and includes members who are Anglo, Black, Puerto Rican, Brazilian and more.
Like the Pan-Hellenic Council, Rebollar said the MGC holds GPA requirements.
According to Lopez, academic excellence is a priority in greek life.
“They create a community to make sure they are living up to highest standards for academic excellence,” Lopez said.
Grade reports from the last few years can be viewed online on the academics page at www.txstategreeks.com. According to Lopez, the average Panhellenic GPA at Texas State has been higher than that of all women combined at the school for the past nine semesters. Fowler said the over-all Pan-Hellenic GPA last semester was a 3.0.
Another aspect of going Greek includes doing community service, Lopez said.
“Every sorority is linked with a philanthropy, and we work together,” Fowler said. “We do an all Greek clean up where we go around San Marcos and clean up. Each sorority has a philanthropy that they are involved in.”
Fowler said some philanthropy projects include doing volunteer work at the Ronald McDonald House and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They also promote breast cancer awareness and research.
An upcoming event is the annual Greek dodge ball tournament that will take place at Jowers Sept. 27 and will benefit the San Marcos Education Foundation, Fowler said.
According to Fowler, hazing during initiation into a Pan-Hellenic organization is not tolerated despite rumors.
“Initiation with sororities is actually more of a ceremony, and it’s just where we present the girls their membership,” Fowler said. “It’s not threatening at all. Most sororities have what I would call a beautiful ceremony. We absolutely do not allow hazing at all. It’s more of a beautiful ceremony is how I would describe it.”
Joining greek life at Texas State links girls to the campus and builds character, Lopez said.
“I think (women should join sororities) if they’re looking for an opportunity to become connected to Texas State, but also really to go through some personal development and growth,” Lopez said.
When it comes to joining a sorority, money is a factor.
“There’s a lot of first-time fees as a new member to a sorority, but there are also a lot of payment plans that will help you break up the dues by semester,” Fowler said.
Rebollar said getting involved with the MGC may be a more affordable way for students to get involved in greek life.
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