Two new members of Zeta Phi Beta were introduced to a cheering crowd of about 1,900 Greek-life students last spring – signaling the return of an African-American sorority that was on campus for 23 years before its last member graduated in 2012. “It was amazing,” said Stacey Milner, assistant director of fraternity and sorority life. “What’s great about Georgia College is we have such a robust community. Those girls felt so welcomed. It was awesome seeing them reintroduced into the community but, more importantly, to be embraced by them.” The moment says a lot about Greek life at a small university that has a distinguished past – but aims for a kinder, more diverse, and unified future. The Greek system appeared at Georgia College in the 1970s with original sororities like Alpha Delta Pi, Phi Mu, and Delta Zeta. The first African-American fraternity on campus, Alpha Phi Alpha, was also established that year. More chapters came in the 1980s, with memberships ebbing and flowing over time.
“About 35 percent of all students now join one of the 27 fraternities and sororities on campus,” said Dr. Andy Lewter, dean of students. “High Greek involvement speaks to the type of students Georgia College attracts: academically successful, motivated, involved, and charitable,” Lewter said. Value-minded students are changing the face of fraternities and sororities. Leaders are monitoring the behavior of their own members, supporting each other, and celebrating their differences. Junior management major Garett Poillucci is president of Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) fraternity. ATO helped shape him into a leader. He’s grown in his faith and met supportive friends through the Greek system. “The best part of Greek life at Georgia College is definitely the support you get from everyone,” Poillucci said. “A lot of schools have this idea that it’s a competition; and, if you’re not in a fraternity, I can’t talk to you. That is the complete opposite of Greek life here. We’re all one big happy family, and I love it.”
connection magazine | 16 | gcsu.edu