Greek life is commonly associated with student life at the University of Mississippi. With 33 Greek organizations and around 8,700 affiliated student members, it is a common path for UM students to take as they enter the university. However, some students step off that path after being affiliated with fraternities and sororities for a while.
Luke McCool, a sophomore risk management and insurance major, cited social pressure as his initial motivation to join a Greek organization.
“Especially here at Ole Miss, it’s just kind of what a vast majority of people do, so I guess I just kind of followed the crowd, too,” McCool said.
Similarly, Andee Robertson, a sophomore public policy major, was drawn to Greek life because she felt it was a necessity in order to make new connections.
“I thought that’s what you did,” Robertson said. “Especially in the South, like you go to university and you rush. I don’t think I realized how many people weren’t involved in Greek life. I thought that’s just what everybody did.”
McCool and Robertson liked some aspects of their time in Greek life, such as the opportunity to create lifetime bonds, participate in philanthropy work and enjoy a variety of social events. But other aspects outweighed all those qualities and led to their exits.
McCool described the experience as a “culture shock” and recalls not clicking with his pledge class. Reflecting on leaving, McCool said that despite missing what it is like to be included in an organization, in the end, it was not the right path for him.
“I feel like back then, I was kind of trying to find my worth in a Greek organization,” McCool said.
Robertson says she was not gaining the benefits that people are told come with Greek life. The experience was no longer authentic to her, and she eventually found that other organizations outside of Greek life provided that satisfaction.
“It was like I was being forced to be in this room. I was paying to be in this room full of people that I didn’t know,” Robertson said. “I started to get involved with other organizations on campus that gave me a better outlet to make connections than Greek life ever did.”
After leaving Greek life, both students had slightly different perspectives on their decisions to leave.
“Looking back on it, I’m kind of like, half and half,” McCool said. “I wouldn’t be where I’m at today, and I wouldn’t have the friends that I have, had I not left. But I feel like I would have also had some good experiences had I stayed, and I feel like I would have had some bad ones.”
Robertson saw her exit as an opportunity to do something that she would genuinely enjoy.
“I think it was the best decision I made,” Robertson said. “I think getting out of (the sorority) and getting out of that mindset that I have to meet people within my sorority, and I have to make all these connections, and just let it happen naturally – I think that was the best decision for me. And now I get to spend my time doing what I want to do and not what I’m forced to do.”
McCool shares that even though there is a large Greek life culture at the university, it is all right if that path is not the one you take.
“I’d say Greek life is a great opportunity whether you’re rushing as a freshman or sophomore to meet new people and have new experiences, but it’s definitely not for everybody, and that’s totally okay,” McCool said.
Similarly, Robertson said that before joining a Greek organization, students need to know what is the best for them personally.
“I think it’s very important that incoming freshmen don’t get caught up on this idea that they have to do that, that it’s like a rite of passage. I think it’s very important to realize what’s important to you and what your personality is,” Robertson said. “I think it’s important that people realize that that’s not what you have to do. You need to do what’s best for you.”
