While reports of Greek organizations restricting membership have made national headlines, some members of the VCU Greek community say they don’t mind reinforcing stereotypes.
Robert Dunn, a 20-year-old marketing major, is the president of the Eta Xi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Dunn said his organization has an image to maintain.
“I think the image depends on the person looking in,” Dunn said. “We’re known as the pretty boys. We’re always dressed nice, with the clean haircut.”
Cara Jenkins, Greek life coordinator, said while fraternities and sororities might not be as popular at VCU as they are at other universities, there are organizations present on campus that represent the Greek lifestyle.
“Greek life is very small here,” Jenkins said. “Schools like Virginia Tech and U.Va (University of Virginia) have three times more Greek chapters on their campuses than we do.”
As coordinator, Jenkins’s job is to better inform the community about Greek life. Jenkins urges fraternity and sorority members to use campus events to engage the student body to become more involved and better informed about Greek organizations.
Shevonne Dreher, a 20-year-old clinical exercise major, said to be a part of a sorority or fraternity, you have to look, dress or act a certain way.
“In some of the organizations here on campus, there is just a certain look you have to have,” Dreher said.
Though she wants to join a sorority, Dreher said, she would never base her choice on an organization’s image.
“I have family in a particular organization, and they tell me things about the sorority that I like, and that motivates me to want to join,” Dreher said. “I’m not going to join any organization because I look a certain way.”
Dunn said those who are involved in Greek life have different perceptions of Greek images than those who are not involved.
“We as brothers look at each other as guys who are always trying to better ourselves,” Dunn said. “Being around campus, we have an image of being friendly and particular about how we look.”
Shante Calloway, a 20-year-old criminal justice major, also said Kappa Alpha Psi has an image to uphold. As a student on campus, Calloway said she understands where the stereotypes originate.
“Some would say Kappas always have to be dressed up, and they always have to be really nice looking and put together,” Calloway said. “When I see them, I never see them with wrinkled clothes. They’re always dressed to impress.”