Dear Parents of First-Year Students:
As a parent or guardian, you are certainly interested in the choices and decisions your student will make throughout his or her college experience. One of the choices he or she has available is whether to join a fraternity or sorority. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and the student leaders of the Fraternity and Sorority Community feel strongly that you and your student should have as much information as possible when considering this option and we hope you will find the information contained in the Parents Guide to Greek Life brochure (coming soon) helpful.
When considering fraternities and sororities many parents may think of the negative images portrayed in popular media. The Greek community at Cornell prides itself for not living up to those kinds of stereotypical behaviors. Instead, we believe that Greek life can provide an opportunity for quality enhancement to the undergraduate collegiate experience and is a great way for students to make Cornell their home away from home. The history of Greek life at Cornell dates back 140 years. With such a tradition, Cornell has created one of the largest and most successful Greek communities in the country.
Why have we been so successful? We believe it is Cornell’s tradition of freedom with responsibility coupled with the endless commitment of Cornell’s faculty, staff and alumni as well as our relationship with the national organizations, who serve as mentors to the undergraduates. Together, we strive to advance the community’s vision, mission and values. Moreover, through a system of self-governance, the undergraduates hold themselves accountable to their values, actions, and policies. With eight full-time staff members and six graduate staff members, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (OFSA) exists to guide the students through this process of self-governance and supports the tradition of excellence of Greek life at Cornell.
If your student decides to join a fraternity or sorority, we ask that you partner with us to support that decision and to help us create a positive experience for all new members. We encourage you to check in with your student routinely to see how the new member period is progressing. Should anything about their experience concern you, do not hesitate to contact the OFSA at (607)255-2310. Conversations will remain confidential, if so desired. We are proud of our fraternity and sorority system and are confident in our ability to promote a caring community. We trust you will join us in this effort.
Sincerely,
Travis T. Apgar
Robert G. Engel Associate Dean of Students
