Greek Life vs. Theme Houses
When I close my eyes and think about what makes up the “classic” college experience, I think of minuscule dorm rooms, tailgates, late-night ramen noodles, major 101 lectures, fake IDs, Pitch Perfect, spring break and Greek life.
However, the way that college is portrayed in the media rarely ever lends itself to the lived reality. Here at St. Lawrence University, Greek life is deemphasized due to the presence of other organizations, including the social scene cultivated by the university’s unique theme houses. Although the notion of a theme house is somewhat similar to the community-based living provided by fraternities and sororities, the experience is arguably quite different.
Wherein fraternities and sororities are primarily focused on promoting bonds and furthering the academic standing of their members in specific, the mission of theme houses is to connect individuals who reside under their roof with others who are interested in their niche. Though Greek organizations immerse themselves in the broader Canton community through philanthropic opportunities and several annual events, theme houses regularly organize workshops, off-campus retreats and shows for students on the regular.
Another major difference is that Greek life offers more permanency than theme houses. Once pledged, you are a part of your chapter for life. Although this commitment may initially seem daunting, it can also be viewed as highly incentivizing. Upon initiation, members are granted access to aids, including legacy and alumni networks, which can be beneficial in landing job prospects or gaining social ins after graduation. In contrast, theme houses are more lax in terms of their membership policies, and individuals have been known to “theme house hop” throughout their four years on campus. While some people may enjoy the exploration theme houses allow for, the connective experience is mostly retired after one’s college years because the groups are solely SLU-centric.
At the end of the day, the decision to join a theme house or Greek life is highly personal, and there is a lot of positive potential to be gained by either experience. “Living in the L.I.G.H.T. House has provided a safe space to embrace who I am,” remarked Adriana Cecchetelli ’26. “Being surrounded by like-minded individuals who value and respect not only one another, but [also] themselves has been such a beautiful thing to witness and quite honestly learn from,” she concluded.
The same type of uplifting support can be offered by Greek life organizations. “Being a part of Greek life has given me a community of other girls that I know I can always count on,” said Beth Polcaro ’27. Cameran Stone ’25 reiterated this message, later highlighting other pros of her sorority experience. “By joining KDS, I have had immense opportunity to become better involved in the Canton community, which I have found so amazing.”
However, for as great as these groups can be for members, it is also true that their presence may also overwhelm those not involved. “I do feel like as nice as it is to belong to a group on campus, they are so cliquey that they almost make [joining one] the only social option. The exclusivity of the party scene makes people hesitant to go unless they are a member of one of those organizations, despite whether or not they’ve been invited,” argued Nora Kenyon ’27.
Cole Siebels ’26, a member of both ATO and Java, agreed. “There is a disconnect [between the cultures] which isn’t necessarily unhealthy, but it is unfortunate,” he asserted. “There should be an interconnected community between the groups [and the wider community]” Siebels said.
The hope is that, going forward, these groups improve their relationships with one another and continue to re-open their cultures to the broader student body coming out of COVID when the “cliquiness” was reported to be at its peak. This would not only bode well for the reputation of these organizations, but reduce the amount of students who feel intimidated to get involved and socialize with individuals of different interests.