Greek Life at NAU

How it All Began

Greek life on campus today is nowhere near what it once was and it has come a long way. Since the formation of fraternities and sororities on campus, the Greek system has evolved drastically over the decades. This will help take a closer look at how Greek life on the Northern Arizona University campus started, how it has changed over time, and how it can positively impact those who choose to be a part of it.

Greek Week Chariot Race April 1961 Delta Chi & Tri Delta

The Beginning of Greek Life at NAU

Greek life is something that almost everyone today has some knowledge about; they may even be a part of a fraternity or sorority and/or be friends with someone that is active in Greek life. The Greek system has been a part of campus here at Northern Arizona University for decades, but the fraternities and sororities we see today are very different from the ones that were established decades ago. As explained by the university when they were established, that the men who would join the Greek system would be scholarly, “socially active”, and even “athletically oriented”. All of the campus Greek life originated as  scholastic clubs and honor societies that have transformed over the years into the “brotherhoods” and “sisterhoods” that we know today. 

When Northern Arizona University was founded in 1899, there was no presence of Greek life on campus. Fraternities and sororities were not popular establishments within the western United States, therefore there was no desire nor demand to incorporate them into campus life. On a website explaining the significance and history of  Greek life on campus at NAU, it was written that, “At Northern Arizona University, Greek life is meant for making new friends, gaining leadership experience, providing community service, and pursuing academic excellence. Their Greek organizations provide a social and academic support system designed to give an individual a well-rounded and enriching college experience.” (Saige, Greek Life Through Time – The Start of Greek Life, Northern Arizona University).  Northern Arizona University strived to follow in the footsteps of other college campuses that were embracing Greek life and the lifelong advantages that came with it. The first Greek life on campus here at NAU were two sororities established in 1958, but that was only the beginning. Since then, 16 fraternities and nine other sororities have established chapters here, and the chapters continue to grow in number and diversity. 

The 1966 book publication, The Fraternal Way, was the perfect way for Northern Arizona University to explain what the expectations of fraternities on campus were as well as promote them for students looking to join them.  Something they knew would catch the attention of students was an example of what being in a fraternity could do for one’s social life. So to entice new pledges they wrote:

“Social life–in it’s broadest sense, is an essential element of  college fraternity life. College years are some of the most formative years of your life. In developing social awareness and a correct manner of conduct, the college fraternity can offer unique advantages. Dinners, dances, exchanges and parties when spaced throughout the year are eagerly awaited events… We at Northern Arizona University believe that your fraternity experience will, if you make the most of it, provide an extra-curricular lesson in getting along with people of varied backgrounds, talents and personal goals” (The Fraternal Way, Northern Arizona University, 6).

The school was aware that the social life of its students was a crucial part of the college experience, so in addition to passages and excerpts highlighting the excitement surrounding Greek life, they made sure to include photographs of parties and Greek-related social functions to further entice students who were considering pledging or rushing each semester. 

As mentioned before, in a similar fashion to the evolution of Greek life on other college campuses, the Greek life here at Northern Arizona University originated as scholastic clubs and honor societies, but then over time became sororities and fraternities that continue to be community-oriented and scholarly-based. In The Fraternal Way, Northern Arizona University clearifies just how scholastic fraternities here at NAU would operate, 

“Scholarship plays a great part in the life of a fraternity man. Before you are accepted into a fraternity you must have a 3.00 grade point average and maintain that average for one semester as a pledge before you can become activated. Study habits comprise a great part of fraternity life. Help is given to those in need by those who are able and qualified to give it. A fraternity is a place for fellowship and brotherhood, even in the field of study”(Northern Arizona University, 3). 

It is very clearly stated that it was extremely important to both the university, and the fraternities themselves, that these organizations created well-rounded and scholarly men. 

Another emphasis was placed on the athletic focus of Greek life at Northern Arizona University. The Fraternal Way, went on to explain,

“The intramural program here at Northern Arizona University is an excellent one, providing opportunity for competition in over a dozen sports… It is the general attitude of each Greek organization to emphasize athletics; not only for the sole purpose of coveting the intramural trophy, but also for the physical release desired by each and every one of its members. Athletics is one way in which each fraternity coordinates unity among its brothers. Although emphasis is placed upon domination of the intramural trophy, most fraternities enter two or three teams as is necessary to provide an opportunity to participate for each of its members… All in all, if your particular concern is athletic value, there is no better place to find it than through a Greek organization” (The Fraternal Way, Northern Arizona University, 5).

Athletics have always been a largely popular component of collegiate life; the university knew that this was especially important. In order to appeal especially to the male student population, NAU made sure in its explanations via The Fraternal Way to explain that in a fraternity everyone would be included, and be able to participate in healthy and friendly competition with other fraternity houses. 

Greek life at Northern Arizona University plays an integral role in the daily life of many students today and the makeup of student life on campus. The fraternities and sororities were always meant to connect a central group of people for studying, athletics, social activities; thus achieving a sense of family. Establishing Greek life on campus was a gamble worthwhile. When it started, no one was sure that people would join or if it would last, but this has been proven wrong as we see that Greek life is so important on our campus and many others today and will continue to be for a long time.

The Positive Impacts of Greek Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=enIQHDvhJMA&feature=emb_title

Alumni Interview on the Positive Impacts of Greek Life

Being an alumni of any type of organization can have a positive impact on one’s life, whether it’s a greek or business organization. This can have positive impacts on alumni’s life when you are trying to meet someone or even trying to get a job after college. Being an alumni helps with the networking out of college so someone is never alone and always has help if they look hard enough. The perks of being an Alumni are that you get skills that a normal college student wouldn’t learn when they are older and experienced in the workforce. For example, you get better speaking skills, better personality traits, and most importantly life skills with the advice from older guys and other alumni as they are active brothers. These are qualities that an alumni has coming out of college as well as trying to perfect as they are looking for job opportunities.

Being an Alumni can also be a head start in life for like the parenting aspect and boss aspect. To further explain that when you are in a Fraternity or Sorority you are sometimes get a little which is someone you that is an associate or new sister. You get them as a little to guide them through the greek life or in general just life itself because you are someone that is looking out for them. I believe that this is important to an alumni because it gives them time to think about someone beside yourself knowing someone needs you. That can in a way translate to being a parent to know that someone is going to need you more than anything and that you have to be there. It’s nothing major but it’s something that is a lesson that you can learn at a young age and know what it is going to feel like when you are the only person someone can come talk to.

Some perks that comes with being alumni is the experience that one learns while they are in the fraternity. The experience is based off the path you take in the fraternity or sorority, meaning that if you want to take on an important role. An important role could be the executive board committee. This can come off being the president, vice president secretary or other position on the executive broad. This is kind of like when you are team captain of a team and you are the face to the public, but the executive broad helps makes decisions for the organization. This can help with the leadership quality that was talked about early but it also gives you communication skills. Meaning that you learn how to talk to different people and handle different situations under pressure. This is something that needs to be learned whether you are going to own a business or work for someone. It’s like working for customer service but only different thing is that these are friends that you meet from all over the country and get a new vibe from. This is something that money really can’t buy because it’s more than that it’s the connection you make with those people which gives you the experience. In my opinion this is one of the best things that you can get as alumni because some of these traits you learn, you will keep those for the rest of your life.

There are also things like trying to get a job and job preparation for an interview. Being an alumni has a benefit for that because you already have the practice to get that with just the things you do in the organization. Like for example, you usually have to do an interview to get into the organization and that is where the brothers see where your weaknesses are, as well as strong places so they could develop themselves as well. This goes back on to what was being said earlier as well as you learn certain things about yourself that you have time to develop and people with you to help you develop. Also, being alumni can get you opportunities within the organization so you can go further and help look out for other chapters around the country. There are people around the country and people that come to our fraternity that are older guys but were brothers from the 90’s or so that work for Phi Sigma Kappa. So that is where the networking comes in place and where you are able to get a job right out of college.

Alumni as well help by coming back and giving jobs out to other current brothers. It’s basically like the lottery if you are starting your own business and want to get people you can trust and know that are going to be dedicated. This is where the networking comes because at some point someone has to start it so other people can build other connections. Because nowadays it’s not about what you know but about who you know.

Another thing that Alumni, and I can say this from experience is that they help you get stuff that normal people couldn’t get. For example our Fraternity house that we have, one of our alumni’s real brother own a construction management company and he got us our new fraternity house that we have right now. This is kind of the networking that there is because you can call on older guys to come back and help out in certain situations.

Bibliography

Northern Arizona University. The Fraternal Way. Northern Arizona University, 1966.

Scott, Saige, et al. “Greek Life Through Time – The Start of Greek Life.” The Start of Greek Life . NAU Public Humanities, 2018

Best Schools. (2019, February 12). Joining a Fraternity or Sorority: The Pros and Cons of Greek   Life. 

 Love,James Robert,,II. (2015). The impact of living in a fraternity home on the leadership   identity of its members (Order No. 3708441). Available from ProQuest Central; ProQuest             Dissertations & Theses Global. (1696933535).

About Us…

My name is Megan Tatro and I am currently a sophomore at NAU studying International Affairs and Italian with minors in Business, Marketing and History. I have always had an interest in the Greek system because much of my family has been a part of fraternities and sororities. Learning how Greek life was created at NAU was very interesting to me because it’s really neat how each organization was formed as from a scholastic or honor club and that their fundamental ideals are all based off of school and a strong and respectful personality. 

My name is Richard  Valdez and I am currently a Senior at NAU studying Political Science with minors in Criminal Justice and Business. I decided to choose the Greek Life topic because I am currently in a fraternity at NAU called Phi Sigma Kappa. I know a little about fraternity life at NAU but I wanted to learn about the history of how it got started at NAU as well as how it got started around the world. I learned a lot about these organizations, like for one that there’s Greek organizations that are specifically for certain majors that will help you get further in your desired career when you get out of college. For me that is what Greek life is about; so that people can make this networking connections and be ready for the real world when you graduate.