When people picture sorority life, the stereotypes are familiar: party girls, mean girls, dumb girls and more.
Others think of sorority representation in movies like “Sydney White,” “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising,” “Legally Blonde,” or viral “Bama Rush-Tok,” an intense social media series of the University of Alabama’s competitive and toxic recruitment process.
But at Illinois Wesleyan, sororities are very different. Illinois Wesleyan has four Panhellenic sororities—Alpha Gamma Delta, Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Sigma Kappa.
About 18% of IWU students participate in Fraternity-Sorority Life (FSL). I once believed Greek Life wasn’t for someone like me.
But now, as Panhellenic President and a former chapter president, it has taught me invaluable professional and life skills and granted me lifelong friendships.
Since my involvement in sorority life has had such a lasting impact on my college experience, I want to clear up some common misconceptions surrounding sorority culture.
Myth: Sorority girls are dumb.
Reality: IWU sorority women hold a higher cumulative GPA than the campus average.
The IWU sorority women’s cumulative GPA is higher than the female, male, fraternity and all-IWU cumulative GPA.
More than 40 majors represent FSL, with academic and mentorship programs supporting their scholarship.
Sorority women are thriving academically, with fall 2025 reporting the highest semesterly GPA in five years.
IWU sororities recognize that we are students first, and sisters second.
Myth: Sorority girls only party.
Reality: IWU sorority women are highly involved.
Sorority members are involved across campus—from student-athletes and student government leaders to members of theater productions, research labs and RSOs.
In fact, over 90% of FSL is involved in an RSO. Nearly half of sorority women are athletes, many hold leadership in other extracurriculars, and a majority of them work.
One member writes, “I find myself happier, more involved, and more connected to Wesleyan after joining a sorority.”
Myth: Sororities are dangerous.
Reality: IWU sororities promote friendship and safety.
While viral TikTok trends like “Bama Rush” portray highly competitive recruitment, IWU’s process looks much different. Rather, IWU Panhellenic recruitment is informal and values-based.
“Recruitment isn’t about trying to fit into a specific mold, but about finding a community where you feel supported and can grow,” Bri Steil, Panhellenic VP-Membership, said.
While prospective sorority members may be concerned, IWU sororities do not tolerate hazing. Members sign anti-hazing statements and advisors supervise new member events.
The new member process is for learning about your chapter and celebrating sisterhood.
Despite the stereotype, sorority members promote safety through workshops, group accountability, and support for each other.”
Myth: Joining a sorority is useless.
Reality: IWU sororities provide leadership and professional growth.
Sorority women are given access to benefits they might not initially consider when joining, such as alumni networks, leadership conferences and workshops, which provide useful life, safety and career-based skills.
Sororities also have 15+ internal leadership opportunities.
Additionally, sororities participate in philanthropy and volunteerism, raising nearly $8,000 for their philanthropies with 2,927 volunteer hours in fall 2025.
Because of these opportunities, many members win scholarships, honors, and awards.
“My sorority has helped me grow as a leader, taught me how to communicate, how to organize events and collaborate with others,” Shelby Rosendale, AGD President, said.
Myth: Sororities are only for stereotypical girls.
Reality: IWU sororities are for all women!
Many IWU sorority women claim they never considered joining FSL, yet it is one of the best decisions they have made.
As a woman of color myself, I was hesitant to join a sorority, but I’m so proud of how far FSL has come with inclusion.
“Sororities are made up of women with a wide range of interests, personalities and backgrounds,” Steil said.
“I have seen how our sisters come together from all different cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds to be part of the same organization and uplift each other,” Tanya DeG- root, KD President, said.
While stereotypes about Greek life circulate in the media, many IWU sorority members say their experience in a sorority is not defined by those portrayals and more by friendship, leadership, and community.
As a reserved high schooler who knew nothing about FSL and who struggled making friends, I never thought a group of sorority girls could truly understand me.
But Sorority life is not for one specific type of girl, and my chapter has helped me become the best version of myself.
It has taught me invaluable professional and life skills and granted me lifelong friendships.
