Monday afternoon was the beginning of Greek Row’s annual recruitment week. The week, also known as “Rush,” provides an opportunity for prospective members to decide whether or not greek life is for them.

Throughout the week, prospective members and the 13 chapters on campus will be sizing each other up to decide who will fit best where. When all is said and done, at the end of the week, many will find themselves among their new brothers and sisters.

Membership in a fraternity or sorority is a great way for students to get involved in something extracurricular as a college student. However, it would be unwise to believe that the greek system is the only way for one to get involved as a student.

New students often arrive at the U feeling as though their only option in becoming involved is to “Rush.” This is simply not the case. While Greek Row might be the first and most aggressive in recruiting new students to its cause, it is definitely not the only, nor the best, option available for everyone.

Yet the campus continues to be somewhat divided along greek and non-greek lines. While the greek community does much for the campus by way of Philanthropy Week and other services, it is mostly viewed as a rather exclusive community. Those who are not affiliated with a greek sorority or fraternity do not benefit directly from its presence here on campus.

Additionally, many feel that they know very little, if anything, about the greek community if they are not directly involved. Regardless of the realities that exist, there is a feeling that Greek Row is a type of elite club for certain kinds of people, depending on one’s prescribed stigma.

While the stigmas associated with the greek community may be unfair and troubling, what is more troubling is the fact that many students feel that greek life is the only option one has for involvement. Furthermore, it is equally distressing that many students who would otherwise contribute substantially to the greater U community are lost among the sea of “brothers” and “sisters” on 100 South.

It is difficult to find a place wherein one may place blame for such a phenomenon on campus. To think that the fault lies with the greek community alone would be hasty and naive. The problem realistically lies within the system itself, where students at a commuter school are offered little information about what the options for involvement may be.

Hopefully, the future will see more students involved in extracurricular activities through several different clubs and organizations, rather than depending on a system that, by its nature, inherently draws students away from campus.