NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — At a small campus like Westminster College, social life is often seen as split between students involved in Greek life and those who are not, but students indicate the real distinction lies in how individuals form connections, build community, and feel a sense of belonging, not in strict separation.
For students outside of Greek life, the social experience can still feel full and engaging. Freshman Gianni Disora describes his experience positively, saying,
“I would say my social experience is pretty good because since the campus is so small, I still know a lot of people who are in the fraternities.” His experience reflects how the campus’s size allows for overlap among social groups, even for those not directly involved in Greek organizations. He also acknowledges the role Greek life plays in shaping campus culture, adding, “Yes, I do because I feel like it gives people something to look forward to each weekend and gives them a reason to stay on campus instead of going home.”
Despite Greek life’s impact, Disora does not feel left out, noting his schedule keeps him occupied.
“I am so busy already, I don’t feel excluded,” he said, emphasizing how personal schedules and commitments can shape social experiences. He also pointed to the time commitment as a major reason for not joining, explaining, “If I joined a frat, I would not get any free time, and it would be hard to get homework done or even get free time with my friends who also aren’t in frats.” For him, maintaining balance is a key priority.
Junior Zoie Reid shares a similar perspective, highlighting the role of athletics in shaping her experience.
“I would describe my social experience as really full and balanced. Being on the volleyball team keeps me busy and gives me a strong built-in community,” she said. Between athletics, classes, and friendships, she has found multiple ways to stay connected on campus. While she recognizes Greek life’s presence, she sees it as one part of a larger social environment. “I think Greek life definitely plays a role in the social scene because it creates organized events and spaces for people to connect. At the same time, it’s just one part of campus life,” Reid said.
Reid also feels included in campus life, largely due to her commitments.
“Personally, I haven’t really felt excluded. My schedule is already pretty full with volleyball and other commitments, so I’ve always had other ways to stay involved and social on campus,” she explained. She also sees benefits to remaining unaffiliated, particularly when it comes to time management and flexibility. “One benefit is having more flexibility with your time. Without the added commitments, it’s easier to focus on academics, athletics, or other interests,” Reid said. Ultimately, she believes involvement matters more than affiliation, adding, “I think your college experience really depends on what you choose to get involved in.”
On the flip side, students involved in Greek life describe a strong sense of belonging and structure that shapes their college experience. Allyssa Antis, a sister of Zeta Tau Alpha, explains that her involvement has been transformative. “Greek life has shaped my social experience on campus by giving me new friends who are like family. It’s made me feel a sense of belonging outside of athletics and has made me feel like more than just an athlete,” she said. Through events, service, and shared experiences, she has found a support system that extends beyond typical friendships.
Supporting this idea of positive contribution and building on her personal experience, Antis also believes that Greek life strengthens the campus community overall.
“I think Greek life creates a stronger sense of community… Shared rituals, regular meetings, philanthropy events, and even living together all create repeated interactions which naturally build connection and trust,” she said. In addition to social benefits, she highlights the opportunities for personal and professional growth, noting her leadership role as Merch Chair and the skills she has developed through it.
While she acknowledges that Greek life can appear exclusive, Antis believes that perception is often misunderstood. “Greek life could definitely maybe feel exclusive from the outside… but I think that closeness is often mistaken for intentional exclusion,” she explained. She added that many organizations actively work toward inclusivity through open events and collaboration. Addressing common misconceptions, she said, “I think a common misunderstanding is that relationships in Greek life are surface-level… In reality, a lot of those relationships are built through shared responsibilities, challenges, and time commitments.”
Myles Henne, brother of Alpha Sigma Phi, echoes similar sentiments from the fraternity perspective, emphasizing the sense of connection that Greek life provides. “Being part of Greek Life has made my campus experience much more engaging. It gave me a strong core group of friends, which made it easier to get involved and meet people across different organizations,” he said. For Henne, Greek life helps transform the campus into a more connected and supportive environment.
He also highlights the deeper value of these organizations beyond social events. “Greek life creates a strong sense of community through shared goals and constant interaction… it’s not just social; it’s also academic and personal support,” Henne said. Through leadership roles such as Recruitment Chair and President, he has gained experience and built networks that extend beyond campus. “From a networking standpoint, I’ve connected with alumni and other students,” he added.
Henne, like Antis, addresses misconceptions about Greek life, noting that the experience involves more than just social events.
Despite their different affiliations, students prioritize connection, involvement, and b
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — At a small campus like Westminster College, social life is often seen as split between students involved in Greek life and those who are not, but students indicate the real distinction lies in how individuals form connections, build community, and feel a sense of belonging, not in strict separation.
For students outside of Greek life, the social experience can still feel full and engaging. Freshman Gianni Disora describes his experience positively, saying,
“I would say my social experience is pretty good because since the campus is so small, I still know a lot of people who are in the fraternities.” His experience reflects how the campus’s size allows for overlap among social groups, even for those not directly involved in Greek organizations. He also acknowledges the role Greek life plays in shaping campus culture, adding, “Yes, I do because I feel like it gives people something to look forward to each weekend and gives them a reason to stay on campus instead of going home.”
Despite Greek life’s impact, Disora does not feel left out, noting his schedule keeps him occupied.
“I am so busy already, I don’t feel excluded,” he said, emphasizing how personal schedules and commitments can shape social experiences. He also pointed to the time commitment as a major reason for not joining, explaining, “If I joined a frat, I would not get any free time, and it would be hard to get homework done or even get free time with my friends who also aren’t in frats.” For him, maintaining balance is a key priority.
Junior Zoie Reid shares a similar perspective, highlighting the role of athletics in shaping her experience.
“I would describe my social experience as really full and balanced. Being on the volleyball team keeps me busy and gives me a strong built-in community,” she said. Between athletics, classes, and friendships, she has found multiple ways to stay connected on campus. While she recognizes Greek life’s presence, she sees it as one part of a larger social environment. “I think Greek life definitely plays a role in the social scene because it creates organized events and spaces for people to connect. At the same time, it’s just one part of campus life,” Reid said.
Reid also feels included in campus life, largely due to her commitments.
“Personally, I haven’t really felt excluded. My schedule is already pretty full with volleyball and other commitments, so I’ve always had other ways to stay involved and social on campus,” she explained. She also sees benefits to remaining unaffiliated, particularly when it comes to time management and flexibility. “One benefit is having more flexibility with your time. Without the added commitments, it’s easier to focus on academics, athletics, or other interests,” Reid said. Ultimately, she believes involvement matters more than affiliation, adding, “I think your college experience really depends on what you choose to get involved in.”
On the flip side, students involved in Greek life describe a strong sense of belonging and structure that shapes their college experience. Allyssa Antis, a sister of Zeta Tau Alpha, explains that her involvement has been transformative. “Greek life has shaped my social experience on campus by giving me new friends who are like family. It’s made me feel a sense of belonging outside of athletics and has made me feel like more than just an athlete,” she said. Through events, service, and shared experiences, she has found a support system that extends beyond typical friendships.
Supporting this idea of positive contribution and building on her personal experience, Antis also believes that Greek life strengthens the campus community overall.
“I think Greek life creates a stronger sense of community… Shared rituals, regular meetings, philanthropy events, and even living together all create repeated interactions which naturally build connection and trust,” she said. In addition to social benefits, she highlights the opportunities for personal and professional growth, noting her leadership role as Merch Chair and the skills she has developed through it.
While she acknowledges that Greek life can appear exclusive, Antis believes that perception is often misunderstood. “Greek life could definitely maybe feel exclusive from the outside… but I think that closeness is often mistaken for intentional exclusion,” she explained. She added that many organizations actively work toward inclusivity through open events and collaboration. Addressing common misconceptions, she said, “I think a common misunderstanding is that relationships in Greek life are surface-level… In reality, a lot of those relationships are built through shared responsibilities, challenges, and time commitments.”
Myles Henne, brother of Alpha Sigma Phi, echoes similar sentiments from the fraternity perspective, emphasizing the sense of connection that Greek life provides. “Being part of Greek Life has made my campus experience much more engaging. It gave me a strong core group of friends, which made it easier to get involved and meet people across different organizations,” he said. For Henne, Greek life helps transform the campus into a more connected and supportive environment.
He also highlights the deeper value of these organizations beyond social events. “Greek life creates a strong sense of community through shared goals and constant interaction… it’s not just social; it’s also academic and personal support,” Henne said. Through leadership roles such as Recruitment Chair and President, he has gained experience and built networks that extend beyond campus. “From a networking standpoint, I’ve connected with alumni and other students,” he added.
Henne, like Antis, addresses misconceptions about Greek life, noting that the experience involves more than just social events.
Despite their different affiliations, students prioritize connection, involvement, and balance in campus life. Many non-Greek students value having flexibility to join multiple communities, while Greek members emphasize the structure and close bonds that organizations provide. The shared experience is less about which group students join and more about the campus’s interconnected social environment, where exclusion is less common than assumed.
Ultimately, the comparison between Greek and non-Greek life is not about which experience is better, but about what fits each individual. At Westminster College, students can find meaningful connections in a variety of ways, whether through fraternities and sororities, athletics, or other campus involvement. The result is a campus culture where different paths coexist, allowing students to define their own social experiences while still remaining part of a larger community
alance in campus life. Many non-Greek students value having flexibility to join multiple communities, while Greek members emphasize the structure and close bonds that organizations provide. The shared experience is less about which group students join and more about the campus’s interconnected social environment, where exclusion is less common than assumed.
Ultimately, the comparison between Greek and non-Greek life is not about which experience is better, but about what fits each individual. At Westminster College, students can find meaningful connections in a variety of ways, whether through fraternities and sororities, athletics, or other campus involvement. The result is a campus culture where different paths coexist, allowing students to define their own social experiences while still remaining part of a larger community
