SI ff Saily Sar Hrel
Greek life
encourages
community
■ Members say there are
always friends around when
living in a Greek house.
BY KAREN JOYCE
STAFF WRITER
Students involved in the
University’s Greek system feel that
Chapel Hill’s sororities and fraterni
ties have a carefully balanced “diet"
of work and play that makes living
in the Greek houses a great experi
ence.
Most of the 850 students who live
in UNC’s Greek houses are involved
in what Ron
Binder, director
of Greek Affairs,
calls “a three
step approach to
housing,” where VH
students make
the transition H
from residence jt
halls to off-cam
pus housing. Director of Greek
“The reason Affairs RON BINDER
students like liv- said students enjoyed
ing in ffaterni- living in Greek houses
ties or sororities because they
is the same rea- P™de a community
son they like atmi,sphere -
Carmichael or
other small dorms on campus,”
Binder said.
“They provide a community
atmosphere.”
Jason Grogan, a sophomore
member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity
from Charleston, S.C, said, “There’s
always something to do and there’s
a lot more freedom than in resi
dences on campus.”
To encourage studies, many of
the Greek houses have recently
installed computer labs and copy
machines and are beginning to wire
for Internet access.
To most students, however, the
best part about the Greek system is
really just the time spent at the
house.
“It’s more than just great food, it’s
that there’s always someone to talk
to, and they’re always positive, no
matter the circumstance,” said
Melissa Suarez, a member of Alpha
Chi Omega sorority and a junior
transfer from the University of
Maryland.
The secretary of Phi Mu sorority,
junior Kristen Bliven from Winston-
Salem, said, “It’s been really posi
tive for me, but the main thing is
that it’s such a home atmosphere for
everyone.”
Although life in a Greek house
seems nothing but charming, mem-
iKT * jmi ~V\
\m i h
DTHIMATT KDHUT
Gibson McCall, Garen McClure, Jason Allbert and other members of Lambda
Chi Alpha fraternity regularly take evenings to eat dinner together.
bers say it does have its downside.
The fraternities and sororities can
often become too noisy to encourage
studies.
“It’s just like a dorm in that it’s
noisy,” said Chip McDowell,
President of Lambda Chi Alpha fra
ternity.
“But people here know our social
calendar, and they can plan their
study needs around it,” said
McDowell, a junior from
Chattanooga, Tenn.
The houses also have some prob
lems with the numbers of members
Your First g^'_
KENSINGTON TRICE
• townhouse/garden condos Monday-Friday 9-5 Weaver Dairy Rd. 967-0044 .
1997 HOUSING GUIDE
compared to the number of rooms
available.
Often students find themselves
with two rather than just one room
mate.
“The rooms are a lot bigger, but
that’s still a lot of stuff to fit in one
room,” Bliven said.
Not only does a lot fit into one
room, but a lot fits into each of the
Greek houses on campus.
Members said the community
atmosphere and the presence of
good friends makes life in Greek
houses something to enjoy.
Industrial flush toilet
not a good come on
I have to admit when two of
my friends and I elected to move
off campus last year, I was a bit
nervous. After all, I’d have to fork
out more cash, the commute to cam
pus wouldn’t be so quick and I’d
have to (gasp) cook for myself.
Why, you ask, if I was so nervous,
did I make the big move?
Simple: time alone.
You know what I’m talking
about. Time to sit (or stand, or
crouch, etc.) and be myself. More
like, be with myself.
Sure, you can “spend time alone”
in the ole dorm room, but there are
too many people floating around to
feel comfortable “exploring your
self.” In an apartment, you typically
don’t know the neighbors, and they
don’t come bugging you during your
“time alone.”
My roommates, whom I’ll call
J.D. and Dennis, also love the bene
fits of spending time alone in ye ole
apartment. At least once a week, we
each have time to “spread out” in
the place and not feel hindered to do
our respective things. Plus, Vis-Art is
but a short drive away.
But making the move off campus
carries with it a lot more benefits
than just a bigger space you can call
your own.
For one, you really can’t entice a
love interest with an invitation to
your dorm room.
I remember vividly the time I
invited a lady to my palace in
Morrison Residence Hall.
Me: “Hey baby, wanna see my
suite’s industrial-flush toilet?”
Her: “Hell no, monkey boy l’m
headed to Townhouse.”
If the above isn’t sufficient to con
vince you to move off campus, think
of all the great dorm parties you’ve
Tuesday, February 4, 1997
attended.
Then
think of all
the great off
campus par
ties you’ve
been to.
’Nu ff
said.
Perhaps
the single
best aspect
of living off
campus is
lOEROLISON
DOMINANT YOUNG
PERSON
that you don’t have to go through
any stupid “meet-your-neighbor”
activities. Granted, I didn’t go to any
of those things when I lived in the
dorm. But at least no one’s inviting
me to eat pizza while I learn how to
live with schizophrenic suitemates
who like to shave chickens in their
spare time.
But don’t be misled off-campus
life offers benefits for everyone. The
civic-minded individual will feel
more a part of the Chapel Hill-
Carrboro phenomenon. No longer
confined to the dorm, the off-cam
pus resident must fend for him/her
self in the big city. And in so doing,
(s)he develops a certain affinity for
the greater community.
At least that’s what the brochure
says.
Anyway, getting out of the dorms
ranks among the wisest choices I’ve
made at this University, along with
taking leisure studies and giving up
The Beast.
So take a little time and toss
around what I’ve argued. See if ven
turing off campus would help you.
I’m persuaded that it will.
But whatever you do, keep in
mind it’s time alone that really
matters.
11