The Blue Banner

I transferred here my junior year and began my search for a place to fit in.

I knew a few people already active in Greek Life and convinced myself that I should at least attempt to see what it was about, even though I knew that Greeks here would be just like Greeks at the other school's I had seen. I was wrong.

The ladies of Alpha Xi Delta welcomed me with open arms and were not dumb like the ones portrayed in Legally Blonde. They were friendly, nice and seemed to really care about their sisters and their causes.

As I have become more immersed in Greek Life, I have come to realize that this is very true. I am passionate about Alpha Xi Delta, I love working alongside other Greek organizations and love reaching out to the community of Asheville. ?

Greek Life at UNC Asheville has given me many opportunities to meet new people, faculty members who are Greek, community members who love UNCA and other members of Alpha Xi Delta who love it as much as I do.

Without this experience I would not have grown into the woman I am today and would not have had the opportunity to take such an active role in my sorority and in my school.

I believe that it is because of Alpha Xi Delta that I love UNCA. My favorite part is telling people that I am a sister of a sorority, and I go to school in Asheville. Their reactions are priceless. Greek Life here is important, but it isn't anything like what you expect.

Here is a short overview about the groups on campus.

Fraternities and sororities are organizations made of active collegians who have a desire to join something bigger than themselves and to be a part of a lifelong bond with the people in their organization.

UNCA plays host to three such organizations: the Mu Eta Chapter of the Fraternity Sigma Nu, the Epsilon Phi Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta, the first group to coin the word "sorority," and the Zeta Tau Chapter of the second largest women's Fraternity, Alpha Xi Delta.

Each of these organizations are different in their own way, but in their hearts each member has an unending love for Greek Life.

Unlike the stereotypes seen in the TV show Greek or in movies like American Pie Beta House, UNCA Greeks do not spend their entire lives partying, drinking or causing trouble. Members of these organizations spend a great deal of time in useful occupations for both campus life and the community of Asheville.

Gamma Phi Beta works with each of its members, "to foster a nurturing environment that provides women the opportunity to achieve their potential through life-long commitment to intellectual growth, individual worth and service to humanity."

While nurturing each sister, the Gamma Phi's support CampFire USA and Asheville's local HelpMate Shelter for battered women through on-campus fundraisers.

According to Kim Beaver, the 2008-2009 Gamma Phi Beta president, the most important part of being a Gamma Phi is the sisterhood.

These ladies do not meet any stereotype of sorority life and are proud of it.

Alpha Xi Delta prides itself on helping each woman in her organization, "realize her potential" as they support Choose Children with fundraisers to start libraries, promote literacy in Buncombe County and other such ventures.

Members in Alpha Xi Delta have the highest GPA in the Greek System and in the entire organizational system at UNCA.

Sigma Nu is a "brotherhood of men" who treat each others as equals. It was founded at VMI as a reaction against the hazing of underclassmen. It's expected of them to live all of their lives according to their open creed of "Love, Honor, and Truth" and apply those three ideas as they strive to be gentlemen and support things like Asheville's Big Brother/Big Sister organization and Our Voice, the Sexual Violence and Rape Crisis Center downtown.

Not one of these organizations fits into any stereotype for Greek life, just like UNCA does not fit into a preconceived mold for university life.

So, do not discount these men and women who have fallen in love with their organizations. What they do is important. They reach out into the community of Asheville, they love UNCA, have excellent grades and strive to live up to the ideals of their organization.

Now if all of that was Greek to you, don't worry it was the same to every member of each organization before they fell in love with their individual group.

For an opportunity to learn more, Google each group, read up on it, look for flyers announcing events for the groups and attend and meet the members of Alpha Xi Delta, Gamma Phi Beta and Sigma Nu.

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